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Additional Resources

Immigration Detention through the Lens of International Human Rights: Lessons from South America – Global Detention Project Working Paper No. 23

September 2017

Colombia Immigration Detention

Quick Facts

Detained minors (2017): Not Available
International migrants (2015): 133,100
New asylum applications (2016): 399

Centres List

No detention centres data available

Statistics Expand all

A. Detention, expulsion, and incarceration statistics

Not Available

Total number of detained minors

2017

Total number of detained minors

Number	Observation Date
Not Available	2017
Nowak, M., "Secondary Dataset of the United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty: Total Detained best sources", OHCHR, November 2019.

119,269

Criminal prison population

2017

Criminal prison population

Number	Observation Date
119,269	2017
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
119,815	2014
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
120,032	2013
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
84,444	2010
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
63,603	2007
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
68,020	2004
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
49,302	2001
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
44,398	1998
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
33,258	1995
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
27,316	1992
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief

0.7

Percentage of foreign prisoners

2017

Percentage of foreign prisoners

Percentage	Observation Date
0.7	2017
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
0.7	2014
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief

236

Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)

2017

Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)

Number	Observation Date
236	2017
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
246	2014
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
247	2013
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
181	2010
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
142	2007
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
159	2004
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
121	2001
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
115	1998
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
90	1995
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief
78	1992
International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). Undated website. "World Prison Brief." http://www.prisonstudies.org/world-prison-brief

B. Demographics and immigration-related statistics

48,229,000

Population

2015

Population

Number	Observation Date
48,229,000	2015
United Nations Population Fund, State of World Population, http://www.unfpa.org/fr/world-population-dashboard

133,100

International migrants

2015

International migrants

Number	Observation Date
133,100	2015
International Migration, 2015, Wall Chart, UN Population, http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/migration/migration-wallchart-2015.shtml

0.3

International migrants as a percentage of the population

2015

International migrants as a percentage of the population

Percentage	Observation Date
0.3	2015
International Migration, 2015, Wall Chart, UN Population, http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/migration/migration-wallchart-2015.shtml

310

Refugees

2018

Refugees

Number	Observation Date
310	2018
UNHCR Population Statistics, http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/overview
277	2017
UNHCR Population Statistics, http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/overview
221	2016
UNHCR Population Statistics http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/persons_of_concern
226	2015
UNHCR Population Statistics http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/persons_of_concern
213	2014
UNHCR Population Statistics http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/persons_of_concern

0.01

Ratio of refugees per 1000 inhabitants

2016

Ratio of refugees per 1000 inhabitants

Number	Observation Date
0.01	2016
UNHCR, "Statistical Yearbook 2016", February 2018, www.unhcr.org/statistics/country/5a8ee0387/unhcr-statistical-yearbook-2016-16th-edition.html

399

Total number of new asylum applications

2016

Total number of new asylum applications

Number	Observation Date
399	2016
UNHCR Population Statistics http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/persons_of_concern
720	2014
Statistical Annexes to the Statistical Yearbook 2014, Table 26, "Indicators of host country capacity and contributions", 8 December 2015, https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/country/566584fc9/unhcr-statistical-yearbook-2014-14th-edition.html

22.9

Refugee recognition rate

2014

Refugee recognition rate

Number	Observation Date
22.9	2014
Statistical Annexes to the Statistical Yearbook 2014, Table 26, "Indicators of host country capacity and contributions", 8 December 2015, https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/country/566584fc9/unhcr-statistical-yearbook-2014-14th-edition.html

11

Stateless persons

2016

Stateless persons

Number	Observation Date
11	2016
UNHCR Population Statistics http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/persons_of_concern
12	2015
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Country information: Statistical snapshot. http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home

Domestic Law Expand all

A. LEGAL TRADITION

Legal tradition Show sources

Name	Observation Date
Civil law	2017
World Legal Systems. University of Ottawa. http://www.juriglobe.ca/

B. LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Constitutional guarantees? Show sources

Yes/No	Constitution and Articles	Year Adopted	Last Year Amended
Yes	Articles 28 and 29	1991	2018
Government of Colombia, "Colombia's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2015", corteconstitucional.gov.co/inicio/Constitucion%20politica%20de%20Colombia.pdf

Core pieces of national legislation Show sources

Name	Year Adopted	Last Year Amended
Decreto Numero 4000 de 2004, por el cual se dictan disposiciones sobre la expedición de visas, control de extranjeros y se dictan otras disposiciones en materia de migración	2004
Gobierno de Colombia, "Decreto Numero 4000 de 2004, por el cual se dictan disposiciones sobre la expedición de visas, control de extranjeros y se dictan otras disposiciones en materia de migración", 30 November 2004, migracioncolombia.gov.co/jdownloads/Decretos/Decretos%20-%202004/DECRETO%204000%20DE%202004.pdf
Decreto Numero 834 de 2013, por el cual se establecen disposiciones en materia migratoria de la República de Colombia	2013
Gobierno de Colombia, "Decreto Numero 834 de 2013, por el cual se establecen disposiciones en materia migratoria de la República de Colombia", 24 April 2013, funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=52926
Decreto Numero 1067 de 2015, por medio del cual se expide el Decreto Único Reglamentario del Sector Administrativo de Relaciones Exteriores	2015
Gobierno de Colombia, "Decreto Numero 1067 de 2015, por medio del cual se expide el Decreto Único Reglamentario del Sector Administrativo de Relaciones Exteriores", 26 November 2015, cancilleria.gov.co/sites/default/files/Normograma/docs/decreto_1067_2015.htm
Decreto 4062 de 2011, por el cual se crea la Unidad Administrativa Especial Migración Colombia, se establece su objetivo y estructura	2011
Gobierno de Colombia, "Decreto 4062 de 2011, por el cual se crea la Unidad Administrativa Especial Migración Colombia, se establece su objetivo y estructura", 31 October 2011, secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/decreto_4062_2011.html

Additional legislation Show sources

Name	Year Adopted	Last Year Amended
Decreto 2840 de 2013, por el cual se establece el Procedimiento para el Reconocimiento de la Condición de Refugiado, se dictan normas sobre la Comisión Asesora para la Determinación de la Condición de Refugiado y otras disposiciones	2013
Gobierno de Colombia, "Decreto 2840 de 2013, por el cual se establece el Procedimiento para el Reconocimiento de la Condición de Refugiado, se dictan normas sobre la Comisión Asesora para la Determinación de la Condición de Refugiado y otras disposiciones", 6 December 2013, acnur.org/fileadmin/Documentos/BDL/2014/9437.pdf

C. GROUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE IMMIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

Immigration-status-related grounds Show sources

Name	Observation Date
Detention to establish/verify identity and nationality	2004
Gobierno de Colombia, "Decreto Numero 4000 de 2004, por el cual se dictan disposiciones sobre la expedición de visas, control de extranjeros y se dictan otras disposiciones en materia de migración", 30 November 2004, migracioncolombia.gov.co/jdownloads/Decretos/Decretos%20-%202004/DECRETO%204000%20DE%202004.pdf
Detention to effect removal	2004
Gobierno de Colombia, "Decreto Numero 4000 de 2004, por el cual se dictan disposiciones sobre la expedición de visas, control de extranjeros y se dictan otras disposiciones en materia de migración", 30 November 2004, migracioncolombia.gov.co/jdownloads/Decretos/Decretos%20-%202004/DECRETO%204000%20DE%202004.pdf

D. CRIMINALIZATION OF IMMIGRATION-RELATED OFFENCES

E. LENGTH OF DETENTION

F. PROCEDURAL STANDARDS

G. NON-CUSTODIAL MEASURES (ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION)

H. VULNERABLE PERSONS

I. MANDATORY DETENTION

J. EXPEDITED REMOVAL AND RE-ENTRY BAN

K. COVID-19 UPDATES

Latest Update Show sources

Update Status	Observation Date
Migrants and refugees in Colombia find themselves in a particularly vulnerable situation due to the Covid-19 crisis and the measures taken by the government, including confinement and border closures. Many have lost their homes and been left on the street as they are not able to afford rent. UNHCR has urged the country to adopt measures to support all vulnerable populations during the pandemic. However, of the 33 emergency decrees issued by the government to date as a consequence of the pandemic, none of them mention support for migrants. The GDP has been unable to find any reports indicating the measures taken to assist migrants and asylum seekers in detention. It is likely that people arrested for immigraiton reasons are held in prisons or police stations. Colombia’s President Ivan Duque announced the suspension of visits to all of the country’s 132 prisons until adequate measures are put in place to ensure that Covid-19 does not spread within prisons. On 25 March 2020, the “National Carceral Movement” denounced the use of firearms and tear gas by the prison administration in response to a peaceful protest. The group of prisoners reports that 39 detainees were injured. The Ministry of Justice subsequently decided that 10,850 particularly vulnerable prisoners would be released and placed under “transitory house arrest” to mitigate the risk of infection. Prisoners that will be allowed to leave are those older than 60, nursing mothers, severely ill inmates and prisoners with sentences lower than five years who have served the obligatory three-firth of their sentence, but were never released.	2020
R. J. Angarita, “Se suspenden las visitas a todas las carceles del pais,” LaFM, 12 March 2020, www.lafm.com.co/colombia/se-suspenden-las-visitas-todas-las-carceles-del-pais
National Carceral Movement, “INPEC arremete violentamente contra población carcelaria de Cucuta,” 25 March 2020, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2803453063079689&id=884072338351114
A. Alsema, “Colombia to Release More Than 10,000 Inmates from Prison Over Coronavirus Fears,” Colombia Reports, 31 March 2020, https://bit.ly/3dSAM1R
S. P. N. Montoya, “Cómo están viviendo los migrantes venezolanos la pandemia del coronavirus?” Agencia Andalou, 25 March 2020, https://bit.ly/2UVotJi
M. Palomares, “Y quien se hace cargo de los venezolanos?,” Proyecto Migracion Venezuela, 2 April 2020, https://bit.ly/3bIIdGI
Global Detention Project, “Immigration Detention in Colombia,” https://www.globaldetentionproject.org/countries/americas/colombia
A Wall of the Modelo Prison in Bogota, Colombia, (https://colombiareports.com/colombia-to-release-more-than-10000-inmates-from-prison-over-coronavirus-fears/)

International Law Expand all

1. Relevant international treaties and date of ratification

International treaties Show sources

Name	Ratification Year
ICPED, International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance	2012
UN Treaty Collection
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities	2011
UN Treaty Collection
CTOCTP, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children	2004
UN Treaty Collection
ICRMW, International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families	1995
UN Treaty Collection
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child	1991
UN Treaty Collection
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	1987
UN Treaty Collection
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women	1982
UN Treaty Collection
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination	1981
UN Treaty Collection
PCRSR, Protocol to the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees	1980
UN Treaty Collection
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations	1972
UN Treaty Collection
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights	1969
UN Treaty Collection
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights	1969
UN Treaty Collection
CRSR, Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees	1961
UN Treaty Collection

Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified

13/19

Individual complaints procedure Show sources

Name	Acceptance Year
CEDAW, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 1999	2007
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Human Rights by Country. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/Pages/HumanRightsintheWorld.aspx
ICCPR, First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966	1969
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Human Rights by Country. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/Pages/HumanRightsintheWorld.aspx

Ratio of complaints procedures accepted Show sources

Number	Observation Date
2/9
UN Treaty Collection
2/9
UN Treaty Collection

Relevant recommendations issued by treaty bodies Show sources

Name	Recommendation Excerpt	Recommendation Year
Committee on Migrant Workers	§23. The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary steps to ensure that migration status checks are conducted in a way that does not violate the rights of the persons concerned, particularly the right to integrity of the person. The Committee also recommends that the State party ensure that the procedures used when detaining migrant workers and members of their families who are in an irregular situation, including those who are in transit, are in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Convention. The Committee invites the State party to make sure that conditions in temporary migrant holding centres meet international standards.	2013
Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. 'Concluding observations on the second periodic report of Colombia, adopted by the Committee at its eighteenth session (15–26 April 2013)'. CMW/C/COL/CO/2. 27 May 2013.
Committee on Migrant Workers	§21.The Committee noted that the centres run by the Administrative Department of Security (DAS) are used to detain migrants in an irregular situation. However, the Committee is concerned at gaps in the information provided by the State party with regard to the procedures for the detention of migrants by the Administrative Department of Security. §22. The Committee invites the State party to provide detailed information on the procedures applied by the Administrative Department of Security for the detention of migrant workers and members of their families. The Committee would also like to receive detailed information on the registration system and the physical conditions of the facilities in which migrants are held in the DAS centres. §23.The Committee notes that it is planned to establish a migrants’ reception centre in the near future. §24. The Committee recommends that the State party finalize its plans for a migrants’ reception centre, so as to establish a special centre to receive migrant workers and their family members, which respects and guarantees the rights enshrined in the Convention.	2009
Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. 'Consideration of reports submitted by states parties under article 74 of the convention: Concluding observations of the committee on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families: Colombia'. CMW/C/COL/CO/1. 22 May 2009.

2. Regional treaties, regulations, and directives

Regional legal instruments Show sources

Name	Year of Ratification (Treaty) / Transposed (Directive) / Adoption (Regulation)
ACHR, American Convention on Human Rights	1973
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Basic Documents in the Inter-American System. http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/mandate/basic_documents.asp
IACPPT, Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture	1998
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Basic Documents in the Inter-American System. http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/mandate/basic_documents.asp
APACHR, Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights	1997
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Basic Documents in the Inter-American System. http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/mandate/basic_documents.asp
CBDP, Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Convention of Belem do Para)	1996
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Basic Documents in the Inter-American System. http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/mandate/basic_documents.asp
IACFDP, Inter-American convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons	2005
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Basic Documents in the Inter-American System. http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/mandate/basic_documents.asp

3. Bilateral/Multilateral agreements linked to readmissions

4. Non treaty-based international human rights mechanisms

Visits by special procedures of the Human Rights Council Show sources

Name	Year of Visit	Observation Date
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance	1996	2015
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Country and other visits by Special Procedures Mandate Holders since 1998. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/countryvisitsa-e.aspx
Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences	2001	2015
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Country and other visits by Special Procedures Mandate Holders since 1998. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/countryvisitsa-e.aspx
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance	2003	2015
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Country and other visits by Special Procedures Mandate Holders since 1998. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/countryvisitsa-e.aspx
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health	2007	2015
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Country and other visits by Special Procedures Mandate Holders since 1998. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/countryvisitsa-e.aspx
Working Group on arbitrary detention	2008	2015
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Country and other visits by Special Procedures Mandate Holders since 1998. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/countryvisitsa-e.aspx
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions	2009	2015
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Country and other visits by Special Procedures Mandate Holders since 1998. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/countryvisitsa-e.aspx

Relevant recommendations of the UN Universal Periodic Review Show sources

Recomendation Issued	Year Issued	Observation Date
No	2009	2017
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review * Colombia, A/HRC/10/82, 9 January 2009, https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/colombia/session_3_-_december_2008/ahrc1082colombiae.pdf
No	2013
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Colombia. 4 July 2013. A/HRC/24/6.

Institutions Expand all

A. Governing structures

B. Institutions responsible for immigration detention

Custodial authority

Agency	Ministry	Ministry Typology	Observation Date

C. Detention monitoring institutions

D. Outsourcing and privatisation

E. Expenditures

F. Foreign sources of funding for detention operations

Socio Economic Data Expand all

A. Economics and Development Indicators

Gross Domestic Product per capita (in USD) Show sources

Gross Domestic Product per capita (in USD)	Observation Date
7,903	2014
The World Bank. GDP Per Capita (current US$).

Remittances to the country Show sources

Remittances to the country (in millions USD)	Observation Date
4,232	2014
International Migration, 2015, Wall Chart, UN Population, http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/migration/migration-wallchart-2015.shtml

Unemployment Rate Show sources

Unemployment Rate	Observation Date
	2014
The World Bank. Unemployment, total (% of total labor force), 2014

Net official development assistance (ODA) (in millions USD) Show sources

Net official development assistance (ODA) (in USD)	Observation Date
1,221.3	2014
OECD - DAC, Net ODA in millions USD, 2014, http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats

Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP) Show sources

Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP)	UNDP four-tiered ranking	Observation Date
97	Medium	2015
Human Development Reports

B. Attitudes and Perceptions

Country Links

Government Agencies

Ministry of Interior
- http://english.mininterior.gov.co/
- notificacionesjudiciales@mininterior.gov.co
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migración
- (57-1) 6055-454
- noti.judiciales@migracioncolombia.gov.co
- http://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/index.php/es/

International Organisations

UNHCR Colombia
- http://www.acnur.org/donde-trabaja/america/colombia/
IOM Colombia Country Page
- https://www.iom.int/countries/colombia

NGOs, NHRIs, and Research Institutions

Fundacion Esperanza
- http://www.fundacionesperanza.org.co/index.shtml
Human Rights Watch Colombia
- https://www.hrw.org/americas/colombia
Norwegian Refugee Council Colombia
- http://www.nrc.org.co/
Ombudsman
- +57 (1) 314 7300
SJR Colombia
- http://www.sjrcolombia.org/

Media

Semana
- http://www.semana.com/

Additional Resources

Immigration Detention through the Lens of International Human Rights: Lessons from South America – Global Detention Project Working Paper No. 23

September 2017

Why hasn’t South America witnessed the same growth in immigration detention regimes that has occurred in the rest of the world? This Global Detention Project Working Paper discusses developments across the region through the lens of international human rights standards.