Colombia: CFWIJ condemns state representatives walk-out from Jineth Bedoya court hearing.

March 16, 2021, Bogota - State representatives walked out in “protest” from a virtual hearing in Jineth Bedoya’s case. The hearing aimed to determine the role of the Colombian state in the ordeal that Jineth went through in 2000. This is the latest in a series of attempts by the state to impede the investigation.

On March 15, a virtual public hearing was conducted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to investigate the horrific treatment journalist Jineth Bedoya faced two decades ago. The Colombian state representatives who were present in this public hearing withdrew in a so-called protest, citing bias. The hearing was the first of three investigating the abduction, rape, and torture of journalist Jineth Bedoya in 2000. The court aimed to determine the role that members of the Colombian state might have played in the trauma that Jineth experienced. Despite the state delegation ensuring the recusal of five of the six judges present on the bench, it walked out claiming a “lack of objectivity” in their questioning of Jineth. The court then announced the hearing suspended, with the remaining two yet not rescheduled.

The reason that the case proceeded to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in May 2019, was because local Colombian courts failed to abide by the recommendations issued to it, to ensure a fair trial. Jineth was abducted from outside a prison in Bogota, which she was visiting at the time to conduct an interview with a member of a paramilitary group. She was moved to a different location where she was physically and sexually assaulted. The state attorney general’s office confirmed the allegations. However, only three of her attackers were actually sentenced by the Colombian courts, while several high-ranking suspects escaped the trials scot-free. This walkout is another example of similar questionable behaviour that the state officials have demonstrated in the past in response to Jineth’s complaints.

In a statement issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights later in the day, the organization clarified that they intend to proceed with the case regardless of the actions of state representatives. However, the dates of next two hearings have not yet been decided. On the other hand, in a truly underhanded move, the state of Colombia extended Jineth Bedoya the option to settle the matter outside the courts through national television. Jineth’s legal team has publicly refused the option and criticized the manner in which it was extended in the first place.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the actions of the Colombian state officials in the strongest terms. Their behaviour indicates an attempt at a cover-up. It is the duty of a government to protect its journalists and citizens, these repeated efforts to delay justice is a demonstration of extremely despicable behaviour. Jineth has already waited over two decades for justice, any longer should be a matter of shame for the Colombian government.