This statement expresses Amnesty International’s concern that refugees in the Andean region are protected from forcible return (refoulement) to the countries they have fled. It points out that many of those fleeing their homes are forced to do so as a direct consequence of human rights violations, frequently committed in a climate of violence and insecurity arising from internal conflict between government forces and armed opposition groups. Colombia is cited as as an example. AI’s concern about the protection of populations “displaced” in the context of an internal conflict, as in Peru, is also addressed: such populations are often viewed with suspicion by the authorities and can become victims of human rights violations.
