United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mrs Mary Robinson has urged the Colombian government to do more to protect human rights activists from mounting violence and harassment.
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Although most acts of violence and intimidation were blamed on right-wing paramilitary groups, there were increasing reports of members of the security forces and other public employees seeking to undermine the work of human rights groups, she said.
"This contributes to a climate in which criminals feel they can threaten and attack human rights defenders with impunity," Mrs Robinson said.
In a statement released today, Mrs Robinson referred to death threats against a group of human rights lawyers, the Jose Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Group, as well as against a women's rights group and called on the Colombian government "to step up efforts to protect human rights defenders."
Colombia has been racked by civil war for decades, with Marxist guerrillas, security forces and paramilitary squads all being blamed for widespread rights abuses.
In May, Colombians elected a tough-talking political independent, Mr Alvaro Uribe, as president after he promised to crack down harder on guerrilla violence. Mr Uribe takes office in August.