Colombia's Government Apologizes for Political Genocide Against Patriotic Union Victims

Colombias government, under President Gustavo Petro, has issued an apology for the political genocide against victims of the Patriotic Union (Colombia), marking a crucial step towards accountability.

• In a formal apology, the Colombian government acknowledged its responsibility for the genocide committed against the Patriotic Union (Colombia), fulfilling a mandate from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
• President Gustavo Petro emphasized that while the apology does not fully repair the harm caused by paramilitarism, it represents an essential first step in recognizing historical injustices.
• The political persecution faced by the Patriotic Union (Colombia) primarily occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, resulting in thousands of deaths and disappearances linked to left-wing politics.