Rocío Torres Bobadilla

COLOMBIA: lawyer Rocio Torres seriously threatened and under surveillance for defending communities against large multinationals

14 February, 2025

Rocío Torres Bobadilla is a Colombian lawyer, environmental and human rights defender. She has over 16 years’ experience as a litigator, researcher and writer on environmental, nature rights, business, human rights and right to development issues. She has represented peasant, Afro-descendant and indigenous communities, as well as trade unions, in cases against major multinationals. She was part of the legal team that promoted recognition of the first river with rights in Latin America – the Rio Atrato – and the third in the world.

The lawyer’s security situation in her country has deteriorated as a result of her work defending communities against multinationals. One example is the case against the Swiss company Glencore for its irregular mine closures, in which the Colombian Constitutional Court recently handed down the first ruling in the matter, finding in favour of the communities affected. Ms Torres is representing the case of mass redundancies faced by more than 300 workers as a result of these irregular mine closures.

For the past two years, Ms Torres has been subjected to surveillance, phone calls and threats against her and her family. This situation has worsened over the last four months, as she is being watched on business trips and harassed by people who take photos and videos of her to intimidate her. In addition, members of her family have been subjected to acts of violence which suggest that they are linked to her professional activities.

These events have been reported to the Colombian authorities for further investigation. It should be noted that the lawyer has already been recognised by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights as a victim of state surveillance in cases of serious human rights violations.[1]

The Observatory strongly condemns the threats, surveillance and harassment against the lawyer Rocio Torres Bobadilla and her family.

The Observatory demands that a serious, exhaustive and impartial investigation be carried out into the threats, surveillance and harassment to which lawyer Rocio Torres Bobadilla has been subjected, and that all necessary measures be taken to guarantee her safety and that of her colleagues in the exercise of her profession.

The Observatory calls on the Colombian authorities to ensure that the attacks on the lawyer Rocio Torres Bobadilla and other human rights lawyers in Colombia cease.

The Observatory recalls that, in compliance with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, in particular principles 16 and 17:

“Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (…).” (Principle 16)

 “Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.” (Principle 17)

[1] Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. (2023). Caso Miembros de la Corporación Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” Vs. Colombia (Sentencia de 18 de octubre de 2023). https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_506_esp.pdf