Annual report pursuant to the agreement concerning annual reports on human rights and free trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia – 2025

ISSN 2819-4152

For the period of January 1 to December 31, 2025

1. Executive summary
2. 1. Introduction
3. 2. Reporting requirements
   1. 2.1 Canada's statutory obligations
   2. 2.2 Time period under consideration
   3. 2.3 Actions under consideration
   4. 2.4 Scope and limitations
   5. 2.5 Human rights under consideration
4. 3. Colombian human rights context
   1. Peace processes
   2. Follow-up on the Recommendations of the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Repetition (CEV), and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP)
5. 4. Government of Canada’s support for human rights in Colombia
   1. 4.1 Canadian advocacy and engagement on human rights in Colombia
   2. 4.2 Canada's international assistance to Colombia
   3. 4.3 Canada’s promotion of inclusive trade in Colombia
6. 5. Government of Canada’s approach to responsible business conduct and the evaluation of commercial transactions on human rights
   1. 5.1 Responsible Business Conduct (RBC)
   2. 5.2 Canada’s export controls review process
   3. 5.3 Human rights evaluation methodologies for key crown corporations: Export Development Canada, FinDev Canada and Canadian Commercial Corporation
7. 6. The Canada-Colombia trade relationship
8. 7. Canada’s actions under the CCOFTA Implementation Act in 2025
   1. 7.1 Overview of actions taken under the CCOFTA Implementation Act
   2. 7.2 Tariff elimination schedule
9. 8. Canada’s actions under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and Environment Agreement
   1. 8.1 The Agreement on Labour Cooperation
   2. 8.2 The Environment Agreement
10. 9. Consultations
    1. 9.1 Public consultations
    2. 9.2 Consultations with provinces and territories
11. Conclusion
12. Annexes
    1. Annex 1: Canada fund for local initiatives in Colombia
    2. Annex 2: Canada's bilateral development initiatives in Colombia
    3. Annex 3: Canada’s peace and stabilization operations initiatives in Colombia
    4. Annex 4: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Labour Cooperation Agreement
    5. Annex 5: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Agreement on the Environment
    6. Annex 6: Canada’s climate and biodiversity initiatives in Colombia
    7. Annex 7: Canada's merchandise trade with Colombia, 2001-2025, millions
    8. Annex 8: Actions taken by Canada under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Implementation Act
    9. Annex 9: Public consultations

Executive summary

Canada's 15^th annual report pursuant to the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (the Agreement) includes a review of actions taken between January 1 and December 31, 2025 by the Government of Canada in the context of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA), the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Agreement on Labour Cooperation), the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Environment Agreement), and an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia.

In accordance with the implementing legislation, section 15.1 of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Implementation Act), this report has retained its focus on the impacts of tariff reductions undertaken under the CCOFTA according to the Tariff Elimination Schedule of Canada.

As has been the case in every previous year, the 15th annual report did not identify  any actions taken by the Government of Canada in 2025 through the implementation of the CCOFTA (i.e. tariff reductions related to the CCOFTA and actions taken under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation or the Environment Agreement) that have had a negative impact on human rights in Canada or Colombia.

This report goes beyond the Agreement’s reporting requirements to include assessments of other issues, including the human rights context in Colombia, Canada’s programming, advocacy and capacity-building activities to promote human rights in Colombia, Canada’s mechanisms and tools to protect human rights in Colombia and an overview of the Canada-Colombia trade relationship.

To prepare this report, the Government of Canada launched a public consultation process between March 3 and April 3, 2026. The Government of Canada received one submission.

The Government of Canada also consulted with provincial and territorial governments on whether any of their respective human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any comments, questions or expressions of concern, related to human rights and the implementation of the CCOFTA in 2025. The Government of Canada received feedback from seven provinces indicating that their human rights commissions or equivalent bodies did not receive any comments or expressions of concern. Since the entry into force of the CCOFTA, no concerns have been registered via these mechanisms, which form part of the obligations under the agreement.

Human rights conditions in Colombia deteriorated markedly in 2025, driven by the expansion of armed groups, weak state protection, and entrenched poverty affecting rural, Indigenous and Afro‑descendant communities. Violence against human rights defenders remained acute in 2025. With 187 social leaders and 39 peace signatories killed, Colombia remains among the world’s most dangerous countries for social leaders.^{Footnote 1}

Nearly a decade after the 2016 peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), violence has re‑emerged in new forms, with dissident FARC factions, the National Liberation Army (ELN), the Clan del Golfo and other armed groups competing for control of illicit economies.  Despite the government’s “Total Peace” agenda, 2025 marked one of Colombia’s most severe humanitarian crises in a decade.

For Canada, the protection of human rights is a core democratic value and an important foundation for peace, security, and geopolitical and economic stability. Government of Canada officials raise human rights issues with the Government of Colombia at all levels. The Government of Canada also advocates for the full implementation of the 2016 peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC, particularly the ethnic chapter and gender equality priorities, and funds projects that support its implementation. Supporting the work of human rights defenders in Colombia remains an integral part of the work of the Government of Canada.

Within this context, Canada is working to leverage private sector relationships and civil society expertise to bring economic opportunities to rural, conflict-affected areas, in particular for women and underemployed youth. These efforts include employing proven models for agricultural cooperatives and rural financing. Canada is currently implementing an innovative results-based payments project with cacao producers in conflict-affected areas that provides licit economic opportunities and improved livelihoods for rural producers in a growing economic niche. Canada also supports women human rights defenders and women-led human rights organizations through the Women’s Voice and Leadership program.

In 2025, total bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries was valued at $3.8 billion, an increase of $2.5 billion or 180.6 per cent from the pre-CCOFTA levels in 2010.

1. Introduction

Canada and the Republic of Colombia signed the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (the Agreement) on May 27, 2010. Under Article 1, the Agreement obliges each Party to prepare and table an annual report to its national legislature on the effects of measures taken under the Canada–Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA) on human rights in both countries, and to make these reports public.

The Agreement entered into force on August 15, 2011, concurrently with the CCOFTA, alongside the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Agreement on Labour Cooperation), and the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Environment Agreement).

This report joins a range of actions through which Canada supports Colombia's efforts toward greater security, prosperity and respect for human rights. The Canada-Colombia relationship also includes longstanding development cooperation; support for Colombia's justice, security, and peacebuilding efforts; expanding trade and investment; mobility between countries (tourism, study, business, immigration); and close cooperation on regional and multilateral issues. Colombia is a constructive, valued partner for Canada in the region and internationally, with a shared commitment to the values of democracy, transparency, multilateralism, and economic cooperation and integration.

2. Reporting requirements

2.1 Canada's statutory obligations

Canada's obligations under the Agreement are incorporated into Canadian law under section 15.1 of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Implementation Act (Implementation Act):

15.1 Pursuant to the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of Parliament by May 15 of each year or, if that House is not then sitting, on any of the 30 days next thereafter that it is sitting, a report on the operation of this Act during the previous calendar year, containing a general summary of all actions taken under the authority of this Act, and an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia.

2.2 Time period under consideration

The 15th annual report covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025.

2.3 Actions under consideration

The implementing legislation specifies the report be on actions taken by the government under the authority of the Implementation Act within the designated period and an analysis of the impact of these actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia. The Implementation Act covers the CCOFTA, the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and the Environment Agreement.

2.4 Scope and limitations

This report considers the impact of the Government of Canada’s actions on human rights under the CCOFTA, the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and the Environment Agreement, including tariff reductions. Private sector activities are not within the scope of this report.

As a follow-up to the consultations undertaken with domestic stakeholders in 2019, some modifications to the report’s format, content and methodology were phased in over three years between 2021 and 2023 (covering activities of 2020-2022). These modifications are also reflected in this year’s report.

2.5 Human rights under consideration

Canada will continue to be a consistent voice for the protection of human rights and take action to address the root causes of human rights violations, contributing to a more just and inclusive world. Promoting respect for human rights is at the heart of Canada’s international policies and engagement. Canada works bilaterally, regionally, multilaterally, and through international trade, development and consular assistance, to strengthen the rules-based international order that protects universal human rights, democracy and respect for the rule of law. Canada is a strong global advocate for strengthening the international human rights system and for human rights defenders and their vital work.

Canada's international engagement is based on the principle that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and that all individuals shall have the equal protection of the law, including the universal rights to exercise their freedom of opinion and expression and peaceful assembly and association, whether in-person or online.

3. Colombian human rights context

Colombia is the fourth largest country geographically in South America with an ethnically diverse population of approximately 53.4 million people^{Footnote 2}. As an emerging free market economy with strong democratic traditions, Colombia joined the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2020. Colombia has an advanced normative human rights framework, which has served as a model for other countries in the region, and has ratified most international human rights instruments and International Labour Organization (ILO) fundamental conventions.^{Footnote 3}

Over the last two decades, Colombia has made significant strides in reducing poverty and violence, supported by economic growth, social investment, institutional strengthening, justice reform, and peacebuilding efforts, and has achieved important progress in building peace, security, and the rule of law. In recent years, however, this progress has stalled and, in some areas, reversed. The lack of full implementation of the 2016 peace agreement has led to increased conflict with new groups filling the gaps left by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), particularly in rural areas. Additionally, the effects of climate-related events, such as floodings, droughts, and wildfires, have further affected social and geographic inequalities and hindered economic growth.^{Footnote 4}

Several government institutions in Colombia have a human rights mandate and focus. Among those are the (1) Ministry of Equality and Equity, the (2) Presidential Council for Human Rights (Consejería para los Derechos Humanos), the (3) Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar), the (4) Ombudsperson’s Office (Defensoría del Pueblo) and the (5) Attorney General's Office (Procuraduría General de la Nación).There are 19 government institutions comprising the Technical Secretariat of the Intersectoral Commission for the Prevention of Recruitment, Use, Utilization, and Sexual Violence against Boys, Girls, and Adolescents (CIPRUNNA). Notwithstanding these institutional levers, President Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” policy continues to face significant hurdles, underscored by the suspension of peace negotiations with one of Colombia’s most prominent armed groups, the National Liberation Army (ELN), amid rising violence. Despite negotiations initiated with nine of the largest armed organizations in the country,^{Footnote 5} there have been repeated setbacks and few tangible results^{Footnote 6}. The most significant development in 2025 has been the Doha peace talks with the armed group Clan del Golfo (EGC), during which the Government of Colombia held an initial round of Qatar‑mediated negotiations, reached preliminary confidence‑building measures, and committed to continuing the process.

Violence remains prevalent in several regions, with continued significant numbers of human rights defenders and civil society leaders threatened and killed. According to Human Rights’ Watch, Colombia continues to rank among the countries with the highest number of killings of human rights defenders^{Footnote 7}. Because different organizations use varying metrics and methodologies to track this type of violence, this report draws on data from several sources to provide a more complete picture of Colombia’s human rights situation.  Indepaz (Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz), a well-respected Colombian non-profit organization focused on peacebuilding and human rights, reported 187 killings^{Footnote 8} a significant increase from the 173 killings recorded in 2024, which brings the total number of such deaths to more than 1,700 since the signing of the 2016 Peace Agreement. Similarly, Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office (Defensoria del Pueblo) recorded 177 killings, with^{Footnote 9} cases concentrated in regions heavily affected by the internal armed conflict. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) received 157 allegations of killings of human rights defenders, of which 61 were verified, 64 were found to be inconclusive, and 32 were still being reviewed at the time this report was^{Footnote 10}. Violence remained high despite Colombian authorities’ efforts to continue implementing a series of early warning and protection measures for human rights defenders under threat. Civil society actors remain concerned about a lack of resources and over‑fragmentation among Colombian national and territorial institutions, leading to insufficient protection measures or prevention efforts. Although the Ombudsperson's Office continues to emit early warnings, the lack of government presence in many remote territories, and delay or lack of action when human rights defenders submit official complaints, also affect trust in the government. While the government was hoping the ceasefires with different illegal armed groups would contribute to safety, it has not, to date, led to noticeable improvements.

In 2025, developments in neighboring Venezuela continued to significantly affect Colombia, particularly in border departments where most Venezuelan migrants and refugees enter the country. Colombia remains one of the principal destinations for Venezuelans, hosting more than 2.8 million of the 7.9 million people who have left Venezuela since 2017^{Footnote 11}. Despite a decline of 42% in transcontinental migration through the Darién Gap in 2024^{Footnote 12}, regional data indicates that Colombia continued to host and receive significant numbers of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, underscoring its role as a principal destination country in the region. These continued arrivals place additional pressure on already overstretched public services—particularly health, education, and protection systems—in border regions^{Footnote 13}, and while Colombia’s Temporary Protection Status (TPS) program has facilitated regularization and access to services, humanitarian organizations report that shelters and support infrastructure along key migration routes have sharply diminished.^{Footnote 14} The unexpected dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2025 further restricted Colombia’s capacity to respond to overlapping humanitarian pressures^{Footnote 15}, as reduced international assistance risks undermining protection and integration efforts for Venezuelan migrants—many of whom lack stable legal status and rely on systems previously supported by U.S. funding—while also affecting Colombian communities impacted by conflict.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Colombia ranks among the top four countries globally in numbers of displaced persons, with 6.8 million individuals remaining in vulnerable situations. Additional concerns include child recruitment by non‑state armed groups, high levels of sexual‑ and gender‑based violence, homicides and threats against vulnerable groups (including LGBTQI+, Indigenous, and Afro‑Colombian communities), extortion, and the continued use of antipersonnel mines. Reprisal killings of demobilized FARC members also persist, with Indepaz reporting 39 peace signatories killed in 2025.^{Footnote 16}

In areas vacated by the former FARC, it is reported that other non-state armed groups have filled the void by increasing or consolidating their presence and their involvement in illegal economies, putting communities at risk. The human rights situation of historically marginalized groups and leaders in these areas remains a grave concern. The increase in targeted killings and threats against community and social leaders is particularly concerning, occurring mostly in rural regions. According to a report by Human Rights Watch, armed groups have strengthened their control in certain areas of the country, coexist or even have formed alliances, while also clashing one against another in disputed areas.^{Footnote 17} The impact of the ongoing conflict varies significantly by region. The number of armed group members in Colombia has grown significantly, from approximately 15,000 in 2022 to approximately 22,000 in 2025.^{Footnote 18} According to Fundacion Ideas para la Paz, armed groups expanded by 23% (5000 new members) in 2025.^{Footnote 19} While the International Crisis Group previously estimated that the Gulf Clan was expanding by roughly 20 percent every six months, no updated 2025 growth figure has been published. Nonetheless, 2025 reporting indicates that the group continued to consolidate territorial control, expand its criminal economies, and strengthen alliances with local armed actors, particularly in the Caribbean and Pacific corridors.^{Footnote 20} Illegal armed groups appear to continue advancing and expanding their armed governance through actions that control the social, political and economic life of civilians who live in these territories under their control. According to United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the forced recruitment of children by illegal armed groups in Colombia has quadrupled over the last five years. While 116 cases of recruitment were verified in 2020, that number climbed to 453 by 2024. These figures are based on the latest UN^{Footnote 21} conflict. During that same period, Colombia’s armed forces rescued 257 children from various illegal armed groups.^{Footnote 22}

Peace processes

As a result of the 2016 peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC, more than 13,000 former FARC combatants demobilized. The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC) has supported the implementation of the peace agreement, with a focus on verifying the commitments related to the reintegration of former FARC members, as well as the guarantees of protection and security for communities in areas most affected by the conflict, and also monitors the implementation of the rural reform and ethnic chapters of the peace agreement. According to the UNVMC report (S/2025/849), as of October 2025, more than 6,100 former combatants participated in individual and collective productive initiatives. However, significant challenges remain with the peace agreement’s implementation, including delays in government investment, tensions and violence surrounding the coca eradication process, and reparations for victims. On October 31, 2025, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UNVMC until October 31, 2026, while significantly reducing its scope.  The mission will no longer verify the ethnic chapter of the 2016 agreement or compliance with restorative sentences issued by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), and has reduced its number of international observers from 188 to 120.

The Organization of American States (OAS) also monitors Colombia’s peace efforts through the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP-OAS). Since 2004, MAPP-OAS tracks violence, human rights issues, and peace negotiations in rural areas affected by armed conflict. With its mandate renewed until 2027, it continues to ensure oversight and support for Colombia’s peace process.

Most of the original peace signatories are still in the reincorporation process, while FARC dissident groups are largely made up of new recruits.  The Comunes party, a political party created by former FARC members under the terms of the 2016 Peace Accord, was guaranteed 10 congressional seats—five in the Senate and five in the House of Representatives—for two legislative periods. These transitional, non‑competitive seats will expire in 2026, after which the Comunes will have to participate under the same electoral rules as all other political parties. In anticipation of this shift, the party has joined a broader political coalition to improve its electoral viability and seek the continuity of its legal status.

The Total Peace policy (Paz Total) was brought forward by the government in 2022 to end Colombia's ongoing armed conflict and break the cycle of violence through simultaneous negotiations with all illegal armed and criminal groups in the country. The policy allows for peace negotiations with armed groups recognized as having political status, such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) and FARC dissidents [Estado Mayor Central (EMC) and Segunda Marquetalia]. It also includes socio-legal spaces for the surrender of criminal organizations like the Gulf Clan, the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada, and urban gangs in Quibdó, Buenaventura, and Medellín.

Peace dialogues with the ELN and FARC dissidents stalled in 2024 and did not improve significantly in 2025. In 2025, Colombia’s efforts to advance President Gustavo Petro’s Total Peace policy unfolded within a complex and often adverse security environment. Negotiations with the ELN faced significant deterioration after the group launched an aggressive campaign in Catatumbo early in the year that left over 100 people dead and displaced more than 100,000.^{Footnote 23Footnote 24} These actions stalled dialogue and underscored persistent mistrust, marking one of the year’s most consequential setbacks. Simultaneously, talks with FARC dissident structures remained fragmented. Although certain factions of the EMC and the Estado Mayor de Bloques y Frente (EMBF)— a splinter group from the EMC— continued limited engagement, internal divisions and ongoing hostilities constrained substantive progress.^{Footnote 25}

Despite these challenges, the government maintained outreach to additional armed actors, including urban groups, signaling a sustained political commitment to negotiated solutions. However, rising levels of displacement, confinement, and attacks against civilians eroded the conditions necessary for meaningful advances. These dynamics ultimately shaped 2025 as a year of constrained progress, characterized by incremental openings overshadowed by persistent insecurity and renewed violence across multiple regions.

Efforts to negotiate with the largest FARC dissident network, the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), also struggled to advance. The group fractured into competing factions—one nominally committed to dialogue and another continuing armed operations—making it difficult for the government to move forward with a unified process. Although a ceasefire had been extended into 2025, it was repeatedly violated, and several commitments, including the creation of temporary concentration zones for fighters, did not materialize. Colombian outlets and international observers highlighted that these setbacks left the process fragmented and uncertain.

The government also maintained contact with the Clan del Golfo (Gulf Clan), Colombia’s most powerful criminal organization. In late 2025, both sides agreed to expand pilot programs in several municipalities and to prepare temporary zones for future demobilization steps. While this was one of the few areas showing movement, analysts emphasized that these were still preliminary confidence‑building measures rather than concrete steps toward disarmament.^{Footnote 26}

Dialogue spaces with other criminal armed actors—including groups in Medellín, Quibdó, Buenaventura, and the Sierra Nevada region—saw little progress in 2025. Violence and territorial disputes persisted, and no major agreements were reached. A recurring challenge across all negotiation tracks was the absence of a clear legal framework for how armed groups could surrender, face justice, or receive transitional benefits. This uncertainty slowed discussions and raised doubts about the credibility of the broader peace strategy. Independent security analysts, including InSight Crime, reported that several groups continued criminal activities during talks, reinforcing concerns that some actors were using negotiations to buy time or strengthen their territorial control.

Humanitarian indicators underscored the limited progress.^{Footnote 27} The Norwegian Refugee Council reported in November 2025 that more than 1.3 million people had been affected by movement restrictions in the first nine months of the year, reflecting persistent violence despite ongoing negotiations.^{Footnote 28} UN monitoring also noted that displacement, confinement, and attacks on civilians remained high in several regions.^{Footnote 29}

By the end of 2025, the overall picture was one of constrained and uneven progress. While the government maintained its commitment to dialogue, the combination of stalled talks, fragmented armed groups, ongoing violence, and legal uncertainty meant that the Paz Total policy delivered few tangible results during the year. The security situation continued to shape—and often limit—the possibilities for negotiated solutions, leaving the long‑term outlook uncertain as Colombia approached the final year of the Petro administration.

Follow-up on the Recommendations of the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Repetition (CEV), and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP)

In 2025, the Committee for Follow-up and Monitoring (CSM) of the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Repetition (CEV) reported mixed progress in the implementation of the 220 recommendations of the Comisión de la Verdad, highlighting advances in institutional design and victim‑centered mechanisms while warning of serious setbacks in security and political conditions.

The CSM confirmed improvements in several areas. Notably, the government advanced the National Search System for Disappeared Persons, which was strengthened through operationalization and coordination efforts across agencies. Progress was also recorded in acts of acknowledgment and public recognition of responsibility, particularly toward victims in exile—an essential step for guaranteeing dignity and visibility in transitional justice. Furthermore, rural transformation measures saw incremental gains, including the establishment of the National Mixed Commission on Peasant Affairs and the introduction of legislative proposals to harmonize ordinary and Indigenous justice systems, both of which align with structural recommendations to advance territorial equality and intercultural governance. The reform of the Victims’ Law incorporated a durable solutions approach, reflecting CSM guidance on overcoming protracted displacement.

However, the CSM underscored critical setbacks that jeopardized the overall trajectory of implementation. The report highlighted a severe deterioration in security conditions, with assassination of social leaders and former combatants continuing at alarming levels, and a 60% rise in child recruitment documented for 2024, affecting many regions prioritized for peacebuilding. The committee also expressed deep concern over escalating gender‑based violence, including feminicides and transfeminicides targeting women human‑rights defenders and LGBTQI+ communities^{Footnote 30}. Given these dynamics, the CSM concluded that while institutional progress is visible, political will and security guarantees remain insufficient, requiring urgent commitments to protect communities, ensure accountability, and consolidate the long‑term vision outlined by the Truth Commission.

In 2025, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) issued landmark restorative‑justice sentences, including sanctions against former FARC commanders for systematic kidnapping and rulings against military personnel involved in the “falsos positivos” cases, in which civilians were extrajudicially killed and falsely reported as combat casualties, marking unprecedented accountability for macro‑criminality. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recognized progress in restorative justice, particularly the adoption of a National Precautionary Measure to protect memory, truth, and the search for victims of enforced disappearance.^{Footnote 31}

The JEP also advanced in macro‑case investigations, issuing imputations for war crimes such as the recruitment of minors and initiating its first adversarial trial against a non‑cooperative defendant. Collaboration with territorial authorities and the design of mechanisms to implement sanciones propias—the JEP’s restorative sanctions, which combine restrictions on liberty with reparative measures for victims and affected communities—strengthened future restoration.^{Footnote 32}

4. Government of Canada’s support for human rights in Colombia

The Government of Canada maintains a whole-of-government approach to its bilateral relations with Colombia through its political, consular, commercial, international assistance, and peace and security activities and programming. Canada leverages an array of its bilateral engagement and programming tools in Colombia to support Colombia's efforts to address human rights challenges.

Canada plays a leading role within the international community in Colombia on the promotion of human rights. In addition to significant programming aimed directly at improving human rights conditions in Colombia, the Government of Canada holds regular human rights consultations with the Government of Colombia as part of its broader bilateral consultations, and the Embassy of Canada participates in formal and informal groups on human rights with civil society, government, other countries and multilateral organizations. Canada also regularly engages with Colombian civil society organizations, human rights defenders, unions, journalists, women's organizations, international humanitarian agencies, UN agencies, and government bodies.

4.1 Canadian advocacy and engagement on human rights in Colombia

Canada continued raising concerns with the Government of Colombia at all levels of engagement. Examples include highlighting the situation of marginalized and vulnerable populations, specific cases of imminent threats against members of civil society organizations, and advocacy for corrective actions. Canada also advocates for women's rights and gender equality in Colombia.

Promoting respect for and supporting human rights defenders is an integral part of the human rights work undertaken by the Embassy of Canada to Colombia. In line with Voices at Risk: Canada's Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders, Canada’s approach to supporting human rights defenders is based on three values: 1) human rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated; 2) do no harm—the safety and privacy of the human rights defenders are paramount; and 3) consent—actions on specific cases should be taken with the free, full, and informed consent of the human rights defenders in question, wherever possible, or of their representatives or families, in the alternative.

Canada contributes directly to the protection of human rights defenders and social leaders in Colombia through different programming channels such as the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs), the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and the Women's Voice and Leadership - Colombia project (WVL-Colombie).

PSOPs provides contributions to the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund and to other projects focused on accessing justice through the transitional justice system, on strengthening Indigenous protection mechanisms and on preventing the involvement of children in armed conflict. The programming integrates a “do no harm” approach to mitigate the risks to project participants.

Through the CFLI and the WVL-Colombia project, Canada supports local development initiatives aimed at promoting human rights (particularly those of women, Indigenous Peoples and LGBTQI+ groups), governance and democracy. In 2025, seven human rights initiatives in Colombia were selected for support through the CFLI, with a total value of $270,000. The initiatives benefited populations in the departments of Antioquia, Caqueta, Choco, La Guajira, Meta, and Norte de Santander. See Annex 1 for examples of CFLI programming in Colombia in 2025.

WVL–Colombia provided support to 15 women’s rights organizations (WROs) and national networks working to empower women and girls, promote their rights, and advance gender equality. This support included a combination of stable, multi-year funding; fast and reactive funding to respond to urgent needs; technical assistance and capacity-strengthening; and alliance-building support.

Embassy representatives meet regularly with human rights officials, such as the Representative of the Colombia Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Colombian Ombudsperson, the Presidential Advisor for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the Inspector General, human rights directors from the Ministries of Defence and Interior, and numerous civil society organizations. Officials from Global Affairs Canada also hold meetings in Canada with Colombian and Canadian civil society organizations to discuss their ongoing concerns surrounding human rights and Colombia's peace implementation, especially threats and killings of social leaders and HRDs. These meetings provide Canadian officials the opportunity to hear first-hand about the challenges facing communities in Colombia, especially in remote and rural areas. When the Embassy receives credible information regarding threats or attacks against known HRDs, the Ambassador sends letters to the relevant Colombian authorities to raise the issue, share our concerns, and ask for effective measures to protect the individuals and to investigate.

In 2025, the Embassy of Canada traveled several times around the country including to conflict-affected regions to visit communities. These visits (including others conducted virtually or through project monitoring visits) enable Canadian officials to meet with local government and security authorities; civil society organizations; rural communities, including women, Indigenous and Afro-Colombians; regional human rights ombudspersons; humanitarian organizations; and members of international non‑governmental organizations that are active in the field.

4.2 Canada's international assistance to Colombia

Canada and Colombia share more than 50 years of collaborative engagement on development cooperation. Canada's total international assistance in Colombia was valued at $51.5 million in 2024/2025.^{Footnote 33}

Canada’s support is delivered through a diverse range of civil society, multilateral, academic, private sector and government partners. It includes official development assistance (ODA), such as bilateral development programming, humanitarian assistance and support to multilateral organizations, as well as peace and security initiatives and other forms of assistance through partners such as the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), international financial institutions, provinces and municipalities and other federal government departments. Through its investments, Canada supports Colombia's ambitious and transformational peace and development agenda, including through a focus on peacebuilding, inclusive economic growth, human rights, gender equality and women's empowerment, and rural development and innovation. See Annex 2 for examples of Canada’s bilateral development programming in Colombia in 2025.

In addition to its bilateral international assistance programming, Canada implemented 17 active projects in Colombia in 2025 through the IDRC. These projects provided support in areas ranging from protecting the rights of LGBTQI+ persons in situations of migration and forced displacement, to transforming food systems in Indigenous territories to improve livelihoods and environmental sustainability, and increasing awareness of gender-based violence in both legal frameworks and practice.^{Footnote 34}

Response to Venezuela’s migrant crisis

Canada recognizes the impact of the Venezuelan migrant crisis on Colombia and the additional strains it has put on health and education systems across the country, particularly in border areas. In 2025, Canada provided more than $22 million in humanitarian, development and security assistance to respond to this crisis, supporting multilateral programming that included health services, emergency food assistance, and humanitarian response coordination and oversight for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, as well as host communities in Colombia. Canada continues to implement initiatives aimed at improving access to education for migrant girls; protecting unaccompanied children; addressing sexual- and gender-based violence and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights; as well as providing economic integration measures to facilitate access to jobs and basic social services; and providing technical assistance to the Colombia government and institutions for improved migration management and policies.

Human rights promotion and protection

Canadian international assistance protects and promotes the human rights of groups in the most vulnerable situations and supports their increased participation and inclusion in equal decision-making. Canada supports the protection needs of internally displaced persons, including protection measures, humanitarian support and prevention of human trafficking and child recruitment into armed conflict. Our regional programming supports the efforts of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, which includes work with Colombia’s national authorities and national judicial systems as well as with civil society organizations to address discrimination, sexual- and gender-based violence and advance women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Economic development, financial inclusion and social impact investing

As a strategic trade and development partner, Canada has supported Colombia’s economic growth by investing in rural development, enterprise acceleration and climate action. Canada is leveraging its development investments by increasing Colombia’s capacity to develop markets, support promising social enterprises, and extend credit to rural regions of the country. Active projects aim for co-financing and innovative approaches and reflect Canada’s experience engaging rural communities, women and youth. Efforts align with the Colombian government’s emphasis on addressing rural underdevelopment and the historic exclusion of women, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian people, and other marginalized populations.  

Canada is working to leverage private sector relationships and civil society expertise to bring economic opportunities to rural, conflict-affected areas, targeting women and underemployed youth. These efforts are employing proven models for agricultural cooperatives and rural financing. Canada is currently implementing an innovative results-based payments project with cacao producers in conflict-affected areas that provides licit economic opportunities and improved livelihoods for rural producers in a growing economic niche.

Affaires mondiales Canada (AMC) utilise des mécanismes de déploiement d’experts (MDE) en Colombie pour fournir une assistance technique ciblée à ses partenaires des secteurs public et privé. En 2025, ce soutien a notamment consisté à aider les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME), les producteurs et les artisans autochtones à renforcer leur participation aux activités commerciales et économiques; à appuyer les PME dans l’adoption d’outils et de pratiques environnementales, sociales et de gouvernance (ESG); à fournir une assistance technique aux ministères et organismes afin de promouvoir des dispositions commerciales inclusives; et à aider les associations commerciales à adapter leurs outils et à permettre à leurs membres d’accéder aux possibilités offertes par l’Accord de libre-échange Canada–Colombie.

Supporting conditions for lasting peace

In 2025, Canada contributed $5.5 million in project funding for peacebuilding efforts in Colombia through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs). These efforts include:

• Support to transitional justice, human rights and civilian protection, as well as support to civil society, women's and ethnic people’s participation in the implementation of the 2016 Peace Process, including through an intersectional approach focused on LGBTQI+ people. Support for the participation of these groups is vital to pave the way for long-term peacebuilding in conflict-affected communities;
• Support to Colombia’s “Total Peace” policy through projects focusing on the participation of women and youth to contribute to prioritization exercises, as well as the issue of recruitment of children and youth into armed groups and criminal gangs;
• Support to the Organization of American States’ Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS) to monitor and promote human rights and the protection of vulnerable communities and individuals in the post-peace accord context;
• Funding the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) supporting the implementation of thematic and territorial priorities related to the peace agreement, as defined by the Government of Colombia. These include integral reparation for victims, guarantee for truth, justice, and non-repetition, security guarantees for human rights defenders and human rights organizations, gender equality and women's empowerment, mine action and communication at the territorial level of progress regarding stabilization and peace consolidation. In 2025, MPTF projects also included some dedicated funding to support the Government’s negotiation and dialogue processes with armed groups and criminal gangs; and
• Funding to UNICEF to provide technical support to peace negotiation actors to promote child right provisions in peace negotiations; work with national and local governments to advance gender and ethnic-sensitive legal mechanisms for the demobilization and reintegration of young people from criminal groups into communities; and support to initiatives by at-risk youth, including young women, focusing on reducing violence in their communities.
• Funding to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to support the rights of environment defenders and Indigenous communities whose physical and cultural survival is threatened by conflict.

In 2025, Canada took careful note of the concerns expressed by the international community and Colombian civil society of delays in implementing promised peace programs and key provisions of the 2016 peace agreement, as well as concerns regarding the increased killings of community and social leaders in rural Colombia. In bringing attention to these issues and seeking avenues of cooperation with the Government of Colombia and others, Canada continues to support constructive ways forward on the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement.

In 2025, Canada continued to recognize the role of Colombian civil society in advancing peacebuilding and inclusion, including through the 2025 Global Pluralism Award, which recognized the organization Colombia Diversa for its work promoting justice and inclusion for LGBTIQ+ people.

Canada and Colombia are collaborating to reach the most vulnerable women, girls and families in Colombia's conflict-affected regions. This includes programs to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights to break the cycle of poverty and gender-based violence and tackle some of the barriers that prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential. Canada also supports efforts to respond to emergency needs through the provision of gender-responsive humanitarian assistance, particularly along Colombia's Pacific coast and in border regions.

Through the implementation of Canada's National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, Canada is supporting stabilization and longer-term peacebuilding efforts, including transitional justice, human rights and security sector transformation. Canada has also assisted the Colombian government in the development its own National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. See Annex 3 for more detailed examples of Canada’s PSOPs programming in Colombia in 2025.

4.3 Canada’s promotion of inclusive trade in Colombia

Canada continues to advance its cooperation with Colombia on inclusive trade, with particular attention to ongoing work on trade and gender under the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement (GTAGA). Since joining GTAGA in 2022, Colombia has remained an engaged partner with Canada and other Participants (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, New Zealand, and Peru) in promoting gender-responsive trade policies and supporting broader efforts toward gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

5. Government of Canada’s approach to responsible business conduct and the evaluation of commercial transactions on human rights

5.1 Responsible Business Conduct (RBC)

Canada's RBC Approach in Colombia

In alignment with Responsible Business Conduct Abroad: Canada’s Strategy for the Future, the Government of Canada expects all Canadian companies active in Colombia to respect human rights in their operations and adopt RBC best practices and internationally respected guidelines.

In Colombia, this includes work by the Embassy of Canada and the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) to provide high level RBC-related services to the Canadian business community active in the country, building networks with key stakeholders, engaging communities, and reinforcing Canadian RBC leadership, excellence and best practices, especially in the extractive sector. This is achieved through regular meetings with Canadian companies, sharing of key documents and information produced by the Government of Canada and by third-party organizations, and through specific initiatives such as workshops and forums for open dialogue.

Canada participates in the Mining and Energy Committee, a non-profit organization that brings together private sector companies, academia, civil society, Colombian government entities, and accompanying embassies.

Canada's international collaboration with Colombia

Canada is engaged in a range of multi-stakeholder initiatives to promote international standards, guidelines, and best practices with the objective of improving governance in resource-rich developing countries. Canada's approach aims to ensure women, girls, and traditionally marginalized groups can engage in decision-making on natural resources governance and overcome discrimination in the administration and distribution of benefits from natural resource development. Canada and Colombia actively collaborate on RBC through the following forums and mechanisms:

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct

Canada and Colombia are adherents to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines are comprehensive recommendations on responsible business conduct addressed by 52 adherent governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from their territories. Both Canada and Colombia engage on issues related to implementation of the Guidelines as members of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct. Both countries also maintain National Contact Points (“NCPs”) to 1) promote awareness and uptake of the Guidelines; and 2) to help resolve disputes about observance of the Guidelines by multinational enterprises operating in or from their respective territories, see more information below.

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative (VPI)

VPI is a multi-stakeholder initiative that oversees the implementation of a set of principles designed to help governments, NGOs and companies in the businesses of extracting, harvesting, or developing natural resources or energy to anticipate and mitigate human rights risks related to the deployment of public and private security. Colombia and Canada have been members of the VPI since 2009. Colombia has established the Mining and Energy Committee on Security and Human Rights (CME) to help implement the Voluntary Principles. The CME serves as a multi-stakeholder forum for dialogue among companies, the Colombian government, foreign embassies, and civil society organizations regarding human rights concerns in both extractive and non-extractive industries. The aim of the initiative is to improve the operating environment for companies by influencing public policy, generating knowledge, improving tools and practices, and promoting human rights due diligence.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

The EITI is a multi-stakeholder initiative to support improved governance in resource-rich countries through the verification and full publication of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas, and mining. Canada strongly supports the EITI and its aim of strengthening governance by improving transparency and accountability in the extractive sector.  Colombia has been part of the EITI since 2014. EITI implementation in Colombia has demonstrated the Colombian government's commitment to support public debate on extractive industry governance issues, as well as the development of policies related to extractive industries and public finance management. This is reflected, for example, in the use of EITI data by stakeholders from government, industry and civil society; the organization of EITI awareness-raising and dissemination activities; and the systematic disclosure of data relating to the oil sector, including the financial relationships of the national oil company. Colombia has also drafted legislation requiring systematic disclosure of information on the legal framework and exploration activities, including information on the beneficial owners of all Colombian companies.

Canada’s dispute resolution mechanisms

Whether operating in Colombia or elsewhere abroad, Canadian companies are subject to Canadian laws and regulations related to RBC issues such as corruption, transparency and forced labour. Should complaints arise related to the conduct of Canadian companies in Colombia, Canada provides for two non-judicial dispute resolution mechanisms: the National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct and the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.

National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct

Canada maintains an NCP to facilitate the resolution of disputes concerning observance of the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (OECD Guidelines) by multinational enterprises operating in or from Canada. Canada’s NCP did not handle any cases related to Colombia in the period between January 1 and December 31, 2025. As highlighted above, it is important to note that the Republic of Colombia also adheres to the OECD Guidelines and therefore maintains its own NCP to address issues concerning observance of the Guidelines by multinational enterprises operating in or from its territory.

The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) is mandated to advise Canadian companies operating abroad in the garment, mining, or oil and gas sectors on their practices and policies regarding responsible business conduct, as well as promote the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles and the OECD Guidelines. The CORE also provides individuals, organizations, and communities with an opportunity to submit complaints about alleged human rights abuses arising from the operations of these companies. The CORE may review the complaints and make recommendations aimed at remedy and the prevention of future harm. The CORE also provides dispute resolution services, including mediation, to help parties to a complaint resolve the issue(s) in a mutually agreeable manner. Further information can be found on the CORE website.

5.2 Canada’s export controls review process

Canada has one of the strongest export control systems in the world and respect for human rights is enshrined in the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA). In Canada, all permit applications for controlled items are reviewed on a case-by-case basis under a robust risk assessment framework, including against Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) criteria, which are enshrined in the EIPA.

Under the EIPA, Global Affairs Canada assesses export permit applications for controlled military, dual-use and strategic goods and technology against the ATT Article 7 assessment criteria to determine whether an export:

• would undermine peace and security, or
• could be used to commit or facilitate:
  • a serious violation of international humanitarian law;
  • a serious violation of international human rights law;
  • an act constituting an offence under international conventions or protocols relating to terrorism to which Canada is a party,
  • an act constituting an offence under international conventions or protocols relating to transnational organized crime to which Canada is a party, or
  • serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children.

Under section 7.4 of the EIPA, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shall not issue an export permit in respect of arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war if, after taking into account all relevant considerations, including available mitigating measures, he or she determines that there is a substantial risk that the export would result in any of the negative consequences referred to in the ATT assessment criteria. Therefore, no export permits for controlled military, dual-use and strategic items will be issued to Colombia if there is a substantial risk that the item could be used to commit or facilitate a serious human rights violation, serious acts of gender-based violence, or serious acts of violence against women and children.

The Andean Region Division at Global Affairs Canada contributes to the review of export control requests related to Colombia. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Embassy of Canada to Colombia and any other relevant divisions. In addition to the ATT assessment criteria, analysis includes several other considerations, such as the impacts on peace and security in Colombia.

For further information about Canada's export controls and data on Canadian exports of controlled military goods and technology to all destinations, including Colombia, please consult The Annual Report on Strategic Goods and Technologies Pursuant to Section 27 of the Export and Import Permits Act tabled annually in the Parliament of Canada, no later than May 31 of the subsequent calendar year.  The last published edition of this report covers 2023 and tabled in Parliament on May 31, 2024 is available here. The next edition covering 2025 is set to be published on May 29, 2026.

5.3 Human rights evaluation methodologies for key crown corporations: Export Development Canada, FinDev Canada and Canadian Commercial Corporation

Export Development Canada (EDC)

EDC is Canada's export credit agency, with a mandate to support and grow Canadian international trade. EDC fulfills its mandate via trade financing, insurance and investment products catered to Canadian exporters and international buyers of Canadian goods or services. To support Canadians doing business abroad, EDC has established a robust set of policies and review mechanisms to ensure transactions supported are reflective of Canadian values. The policies and mechanisms apply in all countries where EDC does business including Colombia. Specifically, EDC’s Human Rights Policy provides the Crown corporation with principles and commitments that guide its human rights approach and internal decision-making process regarding the transactions it supports. This policy commits EDC to building and using its leverage to prevent and manage human rights impacts that EDC might be connected to through customer relationships, and to enable remedy when impacts occur. EDC has further developed a set of Principles on Leverage and Remedy document that outlines these commitments into practice across EDC's business.

EDC has published all documents related to its Environmental, Social and Governance Policies on its website. Relevant documents include:

• Environmental and Social Risk Management Policy;
• Environmental and Social Risk Management Guidelines;
• Environmental and Social Review Directive;
• Human Rights Policy;
• Due Diligence Framework: Human Rights; and
• Principles on Leverage and Remedy.

FinDev Canada

FinDev Canada is Canada’s bilateral Development Finance Institution (DFI), supporting development through the private sector. It provides financing, investment, and blended finance solutions, as well as technical assistance and advisory, to promote sustainable and inclusive growth in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement commitments.

FinDev Canada’s Environmental & Social (E&S) Risk Policy sets out the corporation’s commitment to identify, assess, mitigate, monitor and manage the potential negative environmental or social impacts, including human rights, across its financing and investment activities. As part of this commitment, FinDev Canada requires its clients regardless of where in the world they are based to have appropriate management systems in place to address potential adverse environmental and social impacts, including on human rights. This requirement also applies to its work in Colombia. This E&S Risk Policy is an integral part of the overarching policy framework at FinDev Canada and is complemented by its Development Impact Policy, its Gender Equality Policy, and its Climate Change Policy.

FinDev Canada has published all documents related to its Environmental, Social and Governance Policies on its website. Relevant documents include:

• Environmental and Social (E&S) Risk Policy;
• Environmental and Social (E&S) Risk Policy Implementation Reports;
• Code of Conduct;
• Procurement policy;
• Transparency and Disclosure Policy; and
• S-211 Report.

Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC)

The CCC is a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to assist Canadian exporters sell goods and services abroad to foreign governments and to strengthen bilateral trade relationships between Canada and other nations. One way in which CCC fulfills this role is through government to government (“G2G”) contracting. Through G2G, CCC connects Canadian exporters with foreign government buyers and enters into commercial contracts in the name of the Government of Canada. This reduces the risks associated with international procurement for both the buyers and exporters as CCC takes on contractual matters, due diligence assessments, performance oversight and financial administration of the contract. Backing by the Government of Canada also provides added assurances and incentive for the foreign government buyer to procure from Canada and can create attractive conditions for an exporter’s project financing.

As a federal Crown corporation, CCC strives to operate in a manner consistent with the policies of the Government of Canada, including Canada’s international human rights principles. CCC is committed to respecting internationally recognized human rights and assessing human rights impacts in line with The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the ATT. CCC’s responsible business conduct policies and practices set out its commitment to ensuring the Corporation and the exporters it works with operate in an environmentally, socially, and ethically responsible manner in Canada and abroad. The policies and practices apply in all countries where CCC does business including Colombia. In line with CCC’s Human Rights Policy, CCC seeks to identify, prevent and mitigate human rights impacts in its transactions by incorporating human rights into transactional due diligence and risk assessments. CCC also strives to promote best practices regarding human rights due diligence both with its exporters and with foreign government buyers.

The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) has published its responsible business conduct and human rights policies and due diligence practices on its website including:

• CCC Human Rights Policy;
• CCC human rights due diligence instructions;
• CCC human rights due diligence guidelines – defence & security;
• CCC human rights due diligence exporter questions – defence & security;
• CCC human rights due diligence guidelines – infrastructure;
• CCC human rights due diligence exporter questions – infrastructure;
• CCC Code for Exporters; and
• CCC Responsible Business Conduct Framework.

6. The Canada-Colombia trade relationship

The Canada-Colombia trade relationship has strengthened under CCOFTA, which entered into force on August 15, 2011. From 2010, the year before the CCOFTA entered into force, to 2025, total bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Colombia had increased by $2.5 billion or 180.6 per cent.

Figure 1: Bilateral trade between Canada and Colombia between 2010 and 2025, in millions

Data: Statistics Canada

Source: Office of the Chief Economist, Global Affairs Canada.

In 2025, total bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries was valued at $3.8 billion, an increase of 54.8 per cent compared to $2.5 billion in 2024. Canada recorded a trade deficit of $1.6 billion in 2025, reflecting a sharp rise in imports relative to exports. Much of this deficit ($1.1 billion) is attributed to an increase in gold imports, which are duty free and unaffected by the bilateral agreement.

Canada’s imports from Colombia increased significantly in 2025 to $2.7 billion, more than double the $1.3 billion in imports in 2024. This is primarily due to the increase in non-monetary gold imports; Canada imported $1.1 billion in gold from Colombia in 2025, compared to no imports in 2024, and only minimal levels in previous years. Imports of coffee, Canada’s largest import from Colombia in 2024, also rose notably, increasing by $318.1 million (74.5%) to reach $745.0 million in 2025. Higher imports of other goods such as coal and agricultural products also contributed to the overall increase. 

Canada’s exports to Colombia declined slightly in 2025 to $1.1 billion, down $31.5 million from 2024. This decrease was driven largely by a decline in exports of wheat, which fell by $67.4 million between 2024 and 2025. This decline was partially offset by higher exports of other grains, including barley and rapeseed, which increased by $20.5 and $13.6 million respectively, as well as a $23.0 million increase in meat exports.

7. Canada’s actions under the CCOFTA Implementation Act in 2025

The CCOFTA is consistent with Canada's aims to enhance its economic interests in Colombia and to deepen its engagement with Latin American countries. It provides greater stability and predictability for Canadian businesses. The CCOFTA also reduces trade barriers to improve Canada and Colombia's bilateral economic relationship and overall competitiveness by allowing both countries to increase their export potential and access new markets.

7.1 Overview of actions taken under the CCOFTA Implementation Act

A summary of actions taken under the Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act between January 1 and December 31, 2025, are in Annex 8.

7.2 Tariff elimination schedule

On January 1, 2025, Canada eliminated the tariff on Colombian refined sugar, completing the implementation of its tariff-elimination commitments under the CCOFTA. To date, it has not been possible to draw a link between tariff reductions made by Canada under CCOFTA and human rights abuses in Colombia.

8. Canada’s actions under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and Environment Agreement

To support Colombia with its efforts to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights, Canada leverages various aspects of its bilateral engagement and programming tools, including those found within the provisions of the Labour Cooperation Agreement and the Environment Agreement, as well as through special programming directly related to its free trade relationship with Colombia.

8.1 The Agreement on Labour Cooperation

The Canada-Colombia Agreement on Labour Cooperation commits both countries to uphold and enforce fundamental labour rights (i.e. freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and, the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation), consistent with the International Labour Organization's 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and to cooperate in promoting acceptable protections for occupational health and safety, hours of work, wages and migrant workers.

The Agreement enhances bilateral cooperation through institutional mechanisms that support dialogue, and advance progress on shared labour commitments. Building on this engagement, in 2018, Canada and Colombia established an Action Plan under the Agreement, providing a structured and collaborative framework for addressing specific labour challenges in Colombia. While the Action Plan was originally designed as a three‑year initiative, the Parties agreed to continue its implementation beyond 2021, as many measures were still underway and the pandemic had disrupted activities and affected effective implementation.

With approximately $4 million in funding provided to date, Canada has continued to support Colombia in implementing specific measures under the Action Plan. This programming combines long term capacity building initiatives with specialized assistance to address specific labour policy and compliance challenges. In 2025, this support took the form of a technical assistance project implemented by the ILO, focused on strengthening labour institutions, enhancing enforcement capacity, and providing targeted technical expertise. This ongoing initiative is described in Annex 4.

Bilateral dialogue

Since the entry into force of the Agreement on Labour Cooperation, the Canadian and Colombian Ministries of Labour have maintained close relations and ongoing discussions, both at the working and ministerial levels, to advance the bilateral dialogue on implementation of the Labour Agreement and issues of common interest.

Public communications

The Agreement on Labour Cooperation also allows for complaints, known as Public Communications, to be raised by citizens, enterprises or organizations, when they believe certain obligations of the Agreement have not been met. The Guidelines for Public Communications are available online. There were no Public Communications received in 2025.

Moving forward

Labour Program officials will continue working actively with their Colombian counterparts on the implementation of the Action Plan to ensure progress is made by the Government of Colombia and guarantee the protection of fundamental labour rights.

8.2 The Environment Agreement

The Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia (Environment Agreement), signed in parallel to the CCOFTA, reinforces the concept that free trade should not take place at the expense of the environment. The CCOFTA itself also includes an environment chapter and environment provisions. The Environment Agreement commits both countries to encouraging high levels of domestic environmental protection, to fostering good environmental governance, to continuing to develop and improve their environmental laws and policies, and to promoting transparency and public participation. It requires each country to:

• effectively enforce its domestic environmental laws through appropriate government actions;
• neither weaken nor reduce levels of protection afforded in its domestic environmental laws to encourage trade or investment;
• ensure proceedings are available to sanction or remedy violations of its environmental laws;
• ensure interested persons residing in, or established in its territory may request investigations of alleged violations of its environmental laws, and to give such requests due consideration, in accordance with its law;
• promote public awareness and transparency by ensuring information regarding environmental laws and policies is available to the public;
• ensure environmental impact assessment processes are in place;
• encourage the use of voluntary best practices of responsible business conduct by enterprises;
• promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; and
• respect, preserve, and maintain traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous and local communities that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, subject to national legislation.

The Environment Agreement commits both countries to make every attempt, through consultations, exchange of information, and an emphasis on cooperation, to address any matter concerning the environment which may arise between them. If the countries fail to resolve the matter, either of them may seek consultations at the ministerial level.

Actions taken under the Environment Agreement

Bilateral dialogue

Since the entry into force of the Environment Agreement in 2011, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Colombia's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) have maintained close relations and ongoing discussions to advance the implementation of the agreement and shared interests, such as their positions on climate and environmental issues ahead of multilateral forums.

The Environment Agreement provides a framework within which to address key environmental issues of joint interest via the creation of a Committee on the Environment. The committee, composed of senior officials from ECCC and MinAmbiente, meets on an as-needed basis.

Projects

With the goal of promoting high levels of environmental protection, the Environment Agreement provides a framework within which to undertake environmental cooperation activities aimed at supporting its objectives and obligations, typically through technical exchanges and information sharing. Under the Environment Agreement, both countries have implemented projects of joint interest in the areas of climate change, energy transition, electrification of transportation, biodiversity and migratory bird conservation, plastic pollution, and Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, among others.  See Annex 5 for the list of cooperative activities carried out in 2025. 

Projects funded through climate and biodiversity finance

In 2025, Canada continued to implement its $5.3 billion climate financing commitment to help developing countries transition to sustainable, low-carbon, climate-resilient, nature-positive and inclusive development, focusing on mitigation and adaptation support to the poorest and most vulnerable populations impacted by climate change. Canada’s climate finance commitment also supports developing countries in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. This commitment builds on the success of Canada's previous $2.65 billion climate finance support, which was delivered through several multilateral and bilateral initiatives.

Canada’s climate finance support to Colombia has targeted key areas, such as climate mitigation and adaptation, carbon pricing, renewable energy, and Indigenous Peoples’ resilience, among others. For instance, through the second phase of the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in the Americas (C2F II) with the Inter-American Development Bank, Canada provided a US$20 million to the Davivienda project, to grow Davivienda bank’s green lending to SMEs, including women-led SMEs, and incentivize the bank to align with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Further, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is delivering a $4.5 million program (2022 to 2026) to strengthen and harmonize climate measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system capacity in the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru) and Ecuador, for climate finance, mitigation action, and carbon pricing.

Canada is providing climate finance support to Colombia through several multilateral organizations, including $241.8 million to the eighth replenishment (2022-2026) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-8), which funds 25 national projects, totalling $212.4 million and 37 regional projects, totalling $453.6 million in Colombia (Colombia | GEF). Canada is also providing $450 million contribution to the second replenishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF-2). For example, the GCF is providing targeted support to Colombia through 15 bilateral, regional, and multilateral projects addressing climate mitigation and adaptation, e-mobility, water security, and sustainable agriculture and forestry. Find additional information on the GCF projects.    

Colombia also benefits from the climate finance provided by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). Canada provided $200 million in support to the CIF’s Clean Technology Fund, which provided funding destined for energy efficiency, sustainable energy (including geothermal) development, and clean transportation. The country also benefitted from funding from the Pilot Program for CIF Climate Resilience’s (PPCR) technical assistance facility, supporting adaptation to climate change. Canada provided $100 million to the PPCR. Find additional information on the CIF in Colombia.

Canada’s biodiversity financing to Colombia has supported a range of priorities, including bird conservation, protected areas management, marine biodiversity conservation, and the resilience of Indigenous Peoples, among others.

See Annex 6 for detailed examples of Canada’s climate and biodiversity programming in Colombia in 2025.

9. Consultations

In accordance with the tenets of open and accountable government, the Government of Canada has continued to consult broadly in the preparation of this report.

9.1 Public consultations

On March 3, 2026, the Government of Canada launched public consultations seeking written submissions in English, French or Spanish on the impact of actions taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act for the Government of Canada’s 15th annual report. The public call for submissions was posted online on the Global Affairs Canada website and the Consulting with Canadians website for a period of 4 weeks. The public consultation was also promoted using social media on the official Canada Trade channels (X, Facebook)^{Footnote 35}, as well as the official channels of the Embassy of Canada to Colombia (X, Facebook)^{Footnote 36}. Key stakeholders including civil society and private sector partners were also notified directly of the public call for submissions through e-mail. The Government of Canada received one submission. The submission raised general concerns over the rights of workers, fair wages and working conditions, as well as environmental protection and animal welfare. The submission identified well-documented issues and numerous identified programs and activities identified in the annexes respond to these concerns.

9.2 Consultations with provinces and territories

The Government of Canada consulted with provincial and territorial governments on whether any of their respective human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any comments, questions or expressions of concern regarding any effects on human rights in Canada related to Canada's tariff reductions under the CCOFTA during the period January 1 to December 31, 2025. The Government of Canada received feedback from seven provinces (British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, Saskatchewan), indicating that none of their human rights commissions (or equivalent bodies) had raised or received any comments or expressions of concern. Since the entry into force of CCOFTA on August 15, 2011, no concerns have been registered via these mechanisms.

10. Conclusion

Canada’s 15^th annual report pursuant to the Agreement Concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia reviewed the actions taken by the Government of Canada between January 1 and December 31, 2025, under the CCOFTA, the Agreement on Labour Cooperation and the Environment Agreement. It considered the impact of those actions on human rights in Canada and the Republic of Colombia. As has been the case in previous years, the 15^th annual report  did not identify any actions taken by the Government of Canada in 2025 through the implementation of the CCOFTA (i.e. tariff reductions related to the CCOFTA and actions taken under the Agreement on Labour Cooperation or the Environment Agreement) that had a negative impact on human rights in Canada or Colombia. 

Beyond statutory requirements, this report provides details of the work Canada is doing across many avenues to support human rights in Colombia. It also reviewed the different mechanisms that Canada uses to uphold its commitments under internationally recognized human rights guidelines and international treaties, including The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, to which Canada acceded through Bill C-47: An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act and the Criminal Code (2018).

The promotion and protection of human rights is a key pillar of Canadian foreign policy. Canada's international engagement is based on the principle that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and that all individuals shall have the equal protection of the law. This report joins a range of actions—including advocacy, bilateral and development cooperation—through which Canada supports Colombia's ongoing efforts towards greater peace, security, prosperity and respect for human rights.

Annexes

Annex 1: Canada fund for local initiatives in Colombia

In 2025, Canada supported 7 small-scale, high-impact projects in Colombia which align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement, namely “Growth that works for everyone, including women's economic rights, decent jobs and entrepreneurship”, “Environment and climate action focusing on adaptation and mitigation”, and “Peace and security, including efforts to increase inclusive participation in peace efforts and safeguarding of human rights”.

Rural women for peace: Productive and Associative Strengthening of ASODALE

Support provided: $32,000

This initiative strengthened the economic autonomy and social participation of 47 women of ASODALE, who began their transition to licit economies within the framework of the National Comprehensive Program for the Substitution of Illicit Crops of the National Government. Its objectives include improving their dairy product processing, packaging, and presentation processes; adapting sales infrastructure; and promoting women's participation and leadership through awareness-raising, educational, and experience-sharing opportunities. 

Improving the climate resilience of the Sarabando River basin and its rural communities

Support provided: $38,000

This project improved the climate resilience of the Sarabando River basin and its rural communities by incorporating climate variability and change adaptation measures into land use planning and management, and by implementing mitigation measures on properties within the basin. The project trained the local population on environment, climate change and mitigation measures, including children, as well as planted trees to directly combat deforestation

Participatory aquaponics in fishing communities of Urabá, Colombia: a path towards gender equality and environmental and socioeconomic sustainability

Support provided: $39,600

This project provides training, psychological support, and the creation of an aquaponic system to allow communities to continue advancing in their economic growth and self-sufficiency, using native species of the region and to install a small system in a communal space.

Artelina and Ludín working together to build a safe world for children

Support provided: $44,900

This projected promoted and helped prevent the violation of the rights of children in Commune 2 of Medellín (80 children, 30 parents and 30 teachers). It placed particular emphasis on preventing recruitment, exploitation, sexual violence, and use by illegal groups of children and youth. Strategies to achieve this goal included rights-based training for children and young people; strengthening family co-responsibility for risk prevention for children and adolescents; and training of teachers in developing teaching methods that promote school retention.

Promote food security and water management in vulnerable communities in La Guajira through community-based climate change adaptation strategies

Support provided: $40,200

This projected strengthened the climate change adaptation capacity of 240 people in Barrancas and Urumita through the implementation of sustainable agri-food systems, nature-based solutions, and risk management.

The Future is Now, and It's Fungí

Support provided: $39,300

This projected strengthened the sustainable cultivation of Orellanas and Lion's Mane mushrooms for the empowerment of rural women, mitigating the environmental impact of obtaining high-value proteins through training in mushroom production and the implementation of cold chains for product preservation to make those 100% natural and organic products.

Transforming territories at risk of urban conflict through the implementation of a beauty salon and barbershop with gender and ethnic-cultural approaches for social empowerment, leadership, and financial autonomy for women and youth in Quibdó

Support provided: $36,000

This projected contributed to the positive transformation of territories at risk of urban conflict in communes 1 and 2 of Quibdó, through the creation of a comprehensive beauty and barber shop with a gender and ethnic-cultural approach, which promotes the social and economic empowerment of women, youth and members of the LGBTIQ+ population. Training was provided in various fields of beauty and offered an economic alternative to joining armed groups to 67 participants.

Annex 2: Canada's bilateral development initiatives in Colombia

Improving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Education for Youth (2018-2025)

Support provided: $10,000,000

The "Valiente" project, implemented by Profamilia, reached over 14,000 boys and girls aged 10 to 14 in 8 municipalities. These students demonstrated significant change in knowledge, attitudes and practices related to sexual and reproductive health rights.  Schools were effectively supported in adapting or creating their education projects addressing Sexuality and Citizenship Building, reporting an average of 80.64% improvement (8 out of 10 schools) overall. This means the curricula was adapted to integrate a rights-based approach that strengthens response mechanisms on SGBV, bullying and harassment among other issues. As a result, the Ministry of Education was able to implement national policies on CSE. At the end of the project, a final evaluation found that the project was effective in reducing early pregnancies in all 32 schools where the project was implemented, with qualitative information reporting that in most schools, early pregnancies were reduced significantly or down to zero in the last years of the project. It was also reported that the dropout rate due to pregnancy decreased from 32.3% in 2022 to 12.9% in 2024. 

Renewed Women's Voice and Leadership – Colombia (2025-2030)

Support provided: $8,300,000

This project is part of Canada's Women's Voice and Leadership Program, which supports local and regional women's organizations and networks that are working to promote women's rights, and advances women's empowerment and gender equality in developing countries. This is done by supporting their activities, building their institutional capacity, and promoting network and alliance-building as women's rights and feminist organizations are critical agents of change. The program also responds to the globally recognized, significant gap in funding and support to women's rights organizations and movements around the world. The renewed WVL project is implemented by Oxfam-Québec in rural conflict-affected regions of Colombia.

Canada’s support to feminist movements in Colombia to date has translated into the empowerment of 15 WROs and national networks to lead advocacy campaigns reaching 52,340 individuals and to support 63 grassroots organizations and women’s collectives (or 22,920 people). Of these 22,920 beneficiaries, 30 per cent identified as young women, 56 per cent as Afro-Colombian, 32 per cent as rural mestizo, and 12 per cent as Indigenous women. The work of these WROs and national networks also included programming to promote and protect women’s and girls’ rights; the right to live free of violence; participation in decision-making structures, support for victims and survivors of sexual- and gender-based violence; the cultural and environmental rights of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian women; and food sovereignty.

The WROs and national networks supported by WVL-Colombia have also reported improved capacity to collaborate and engage in collective action to influence over 66 laws and public policies. This has included participation in COP16, agrarian reform, “Total Peace” processes, local development plans, and updates to the law that supports the quality of life for rural women (Ley 731 de 2002). Finally, and in recognition of the significant threats they face, WVL-Colombia has placed special emphasis on WROs’ capacity to engage in risk analysis and protection strategies, including through partnerships with Protection International.

Caring Societies: sharing care responsibilities to advance gender equality (2023-2028)

Support provided: $7,450,000

The initiative contributes to the building of local Comprehensive Care Systems in Colombia. It is focusing on (1) recognizing the value and unequal distribution of paid and unpaid care workload to ignite interventions that address the existing injustice; (2) redistribution of care workloads that depend on the central role of public institutions and the involvement of the private sector and families (especially men and boys) to change unequal gender norms; and (3) to reduce the care workload for women and young women, especially those that belong to  groups that are left behind.

ELLA: Empowerment, Local Leadership & Accountability for Venezuelan & Host Community Adolescent Girls and Young Women (2022-2025)

Support provided: $13 million ($3,454,245 for Colombia)

This project supported the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescent girls and young women, particularly Venezuelan migrants and refugees, in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru by preventing sexual and gender-based violence, strengthening inclusive health and protection services, engaging communities, and building the capacity of frontline providers and local organizations. It directly benefited more than 543,000 people, including over 18,300 adolescents and youth (63% female and 50% migrants) who participated in training, community initiatives and protection networks; 488,000 adolescents and youth who accessed strengthened health and protection services; and more than 50 civil society organizations supported to influence intersectoral coordination spaces.

PRO-RIGHTS: Promoting the Rights of Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean (2022-2025)

Support provided: $ 4,982,215 ($2,188,215 for Colombia)

The PRO-RIGHTS project takes an intersectional approach to address the needs of the Venezuelan migrant and refugee populations. In Colombia, it strengthens the capacity of governments and civil society organizations to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation, particularly of children in virtual settings and in trafficking contexts. At the regional level, it seeks to improve access to protection and support by Victims of Human Trafficking in countries hosting Venezuelan refugees and migrants and conducts prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse capacity assessments and mentorship to civil society organizations to prevent, mitigate the risks, and respond.

Rural Entrepreneurship for Women in Agricultural Rural Development (2023-2027)

Support provided: $3,1 million

The project aims to improve the sustainable livelihoods and economic well-being especially for women entrepreneurs, their families and their communities in conflict-affected and poverty-stricken rural areas of Colombia. The project employs a in a two-pronged approach that combines Acumen’s expertise in investing in rural, post-conflict areas and in leadership development to increase the viability of rural businesses, enhance the effectiveness of financial investment instruments for rural businesses, and increase the decision-making capacity and influence of women entrepreneurs and social leaders in rural businesses and community-led organizations.

Catalyzing Impact Investment for Development in Rural Colombia (PAIIC) (2022-2026)

Support provided: $4,1 million

The project seeks to establish an Investment Readiness Platform within Colombia that will provide capital and capacity support for enterprises, cooperatives, organizations and funds seeking to start or scale their impact, with a particular focus on rural regions in Colombia and enterprises serving women. The proposed initiative would consolidate Colombia’s social impact investing ecosystem and act as a catalyzer for Colombia’s impact investing sector to advance toward maturity, while unlocking private capital for development goals.

The social impact investment firm Social Venture Exchange (SVX) is helping to ensure the long-term economic sustainability of rural enterprises by catalyzing the impact investment for the development of rural Colombia. Since 2022, the partnership has leveraged $20M in investments, grants and loans to support local impact investment funds, enterprises and acceleration programs. As a result, more than 600 enterprises increased their productivity and 20 women-owned or led firms increased their investment.

DID – Credit to Rural Women and Youth (2019 to 2025)

Support provided: $5 million

This project aimed to improve economic opportunities and living conditions of over 90% of the targeted population and their communities in rural Colombia by increasing their access to credit and spurring a systemic shift in rural financing. The intermediate outcomes are (1) more efficient and improved management of financial mechanisms focused on rural women and youth; (2) more effective delivery of financial services to women and youth; and (3) improved business and wealth management by women and youth in rural areas. This project effectively built the capacity of nine local financial institutions, which mobilized $105M CAD in loans, of which 81% were provided to rural women.

Colombian Cacao Agropreneurs (2018 to 2025)

Support provided: $19,5 million

The project aimed to create sustainable livelihoods by increasing the incomes of 5,000 smallholder cacao farming families by strengthening the management practices of these businesses and their associations/cooperatives and facilitating the emergence and consolidation of associative businesses that are innovative, clean, sustainable and inclusive. Co-financed with the private sector, it is the first in the Government of Canada to use the Outcome Achievement Payment funding model included in the 2017 Treasury Board Generic Terms and Conditions in support of innovation, according to which the implementer is only paid on results (rather than activities).

The Technical Assistance Partnership – Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) (2021-2026)

Support provided: $17,536,160 ($930,000 for Colombia)

Managed by Alinea International, the TAP-EDM responds to requests for Canadian technical assistance related to poverty reduction from national-level government entities in ODA-eligible countries. TAP-EDM deploys Canadian experts from Canadian civil society, academia, and the private sector. The program enables Canada to advance its international assistance and foreign policy priorities while promoting Canadian expertise, values and leadership abroad. TAP-EDM supported four initiatives in Colombia (2022–2025) in gender equality, inclusive governance, environmental protection and climate action

One of these initiatives (2024-2025) provided technical assistance to Colombia's National Planning Department (DNP) & Colombian Observatory for Venezuelan Migration (OMV) on data management and analysis, helping them to prioritize the socio-economic integration of Venezuelan migrants and refugees. This technical assistance enabled the DNP to enhance its capacity to design and implement a transparent, accountable, and gender-responsive digital information system.

Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM-TD) (2018-2026)

Support provided: $16,500,000 ($1,139,397 for Colombia)

The project deploys Canadian and international technical experts to assist Colombia and other developing countries and regions to negotiate, implement, adapt to and benefit from bilateral or regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (FIPAs) with Canada. The EDM-TD project in Colombia has delivered training workshops and organizational support aimed at promoting trade benefits to women entrepreneurs, Indigenous People, Afro Colombians, and other marginalized groups. This includes raising awareness of gender equality and social inclusion considerations in government procurement; undertaking a needs assessment survey of programs and services offered by the National Association of Exporters of Colombia (ANALDEX) affiliates to identify opportunities for advancing gender equality and social inclusion; a training and business guide for agricultural producer associations on export development, including improving access and knowledge for groups of women, Indigenous People, and vulnerable communities; and e-commerce training and a business guide to expand access to export-oriented economic opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly those led by women, Indigenous People or other marginalized groups.

Annex 3: Canada’s peace and stabilization operations initiatives in Colombia

Support to the Organization of American States’ Mission to Support the Peace Process (OAS-MAPP)  (2024-2027)

Support provided: $5,000 000

The objective of this project is to support the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Mission to Support the Peace Process (MAPP) in Colombia, through a contribution to its basket fund, to observe, report on, and support peacebuilding in Colombia, including support and monitoring of the Government of Colombia’s development of tools and institutional frameworks for reintegration, transitional justice, reparation for victims, reconciliation and land restitution, ensuring the credibility, impartiality and effectiveness of these processes.

United Nations (UN) Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Sustainable Peace in Colombia (MPTF) (2023-2026)

Support provided: $3,650,000

The UN MPTF for Colombia is a fund that supports the implementation of the Peace Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, for its acronym in Spanish) and most recently, during its third phase, the Government of Colombia’s Total Peace Policy. The Fund supports thematic and territorial priorities defined together by Government´s entities under the leadership of the High Council for Stabilization.

Strengthening Peace through Pluralism (SPTP) in Colombia (2025-2027)

Support provided: 1,000,000

This project supports the Colombian Ethnic Commission (EC), an entity created during the 2016 Colombian Peace Agreement negotiations, to implement the agreement’s ethnic chapter commitments, with a particular focus on the Women, Family and Generation (WFG) provision. This provision positions the spirituality and lived experiences of ethnic women, as well as intergenerational processes, at the centre of policy and decision-making. In addition, the project will work to build Afro-Colombian and Indigenous women’s capacities to access and meaningfully engage in ongoing and emerging peace processes.

Strengthening Rights and Building Peace in Vulnerable Communities of Colombia (2025-2027)

Support provided: $1,500,000

This project aims to improve protection of environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) and Indigenous people at risk of cultural and physical extinction from the Colombian departments of Arauca, Caquetá, Cauca, Guaviare, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Sierra Nevada and Santa Marta.

Child Rights and Youth Participation in Peace Dialogues in Colombia (2024-2026)

Support provided: $875,556

The objective of this project is to promote the inclusion of children and youth in negotiations and peace dialogues with armed groups, ensure commitments to concrete actions to end all grave violations against children in Colombia, and support the design and establishment of the legal mechanism for the demobilization and reintegration of adolescents and young people from criminal groups into communities.

Prevention, Mitigation and Resolution of Armed Conflict III – Rapid Response Project “Strengthening Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Urban Peacemaking in Quibdo, Colombia” (2025-2026)

Support provided: $250,000

This project aims to complement the city-wide, urban dialogue process in Quibdo, Chocó by building the capacities and supporting community-led mediation networks and in strategic areas of the city and link them with the ongoing, formal peace processes.

Justice, gender and peacebuilding in Colombia (GENPAZ) (2025-2025)

Support provided: $2,000,000

The objective of this project is to increase citizen participation in Colombian transitional justice processes, with a particular focus on Indigenous women and girls, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) populations. The project also aims to build the capacities of Colombian justice sector actors, including lawyers and authorities from the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) to advance cases of grave human rights (HR) violations carried out in the context of the conflict between government forces and the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC, for its acronym in Spanish).

Annex 4: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Labour Cooperation Agreement

Institutional Strengthening to Promote the Enforcement of International Labour Standards in Colombia (2025-2027)

Support provided: $860,000

Implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and funded through the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada, this initiative supports implementation of the Canada–Colombia Action Plan and advances priorities related to reinforcing the legal framework and protecting fundamental labour rights. The project includes training for judges and labour inspectors to apply recommendations from ILO supervisory bodies and international labour obligations, including the Canada-Colombia Labour Cooperation Agreement, in their daily decisions. It strengthens inspection and judicial capacities, improves legal reasoning and evidence handling, and addresses issues such as illegal intermediation and misuse of subcontracting

Annex 5: Activities under the Canada-Colombia Agreement on the Environment

Canada-Colombia Virtual Dialogue on Energy Transition

On March 11, 2025, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) virtually hosted the Canada-Colombia Virtual Dialogue on Energy Transition. This event, which took place under the Canada-Colombia 2024-2026 Work Program, sought to share Colombia’s Country Platform, provide an overview of Canada’s support for energy transition in international climate finance, promote discussion and explore possible avenues for cooperation in this area.

Regional Workshop on Tackling Plastic Pollution: Cooperation, Best Practices and Sustainable Solutions

On March 12-13, 2025, ECCC and Chile’s Ministry of the Environment virtually co-hosted the Regional Workshop on Tackling Plastic Pollution: Cooperation, Best Practices and Sustainable Solutions, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Pacific Alliance Technical Group on Environment and Green Growth. This workshop sought to share best practices being advanced by Canada and Latin American and Caribbean countries, with a view to strengthen regional partnerships and promote a lifecycle approach and concrete solutions to prevent and reduce plastic waste and pollution, while advancing a circular plastics economy that is protective of the environment and human health. Representatives from Colombia’s MinAmbiente participated in this workshop and presented Colombia’s key policies and initiatives aimed at reducing plastic pollution.

Regional Dialogue on Bird Conservation

On June 25, 2025, ECCC and Chile’s Ministry of the Environment virtually co-hosted the first Regional Dialogue on Bird Conservation. This dialogue was aimed at fostering regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Canada, Chile, and other Latin American countries and stakeholders on challenges and strategies to safeguard migratory birds and their habitats. The event brought together over 60 experts and representatives of governments, non-governmental organizations, and conservation networks from across the Americas. Representatives from Colombia’s MinAmbiente participated in this workshop and presented the frameworks, tools and challenges of migratory bird conservation in Colombia.

Annex 6: Canada’s climate and biodiversity initiatives in Colombia

Enhancing Indigenous People's Resilience to Climate Change in Vulnerable Areas of Colombia's Amazon Rainforest (2024-2029)

Support provided: $9,500,000

Implemented by the World Food Programme, this project is part of Canada's $5.3 billion international climate finance commitment and was selected as part of the approved 2023-24 Climate Finance Investment Plan. It supports climate adaptation as a key objective and aligns with the Nature-Based Climate Solutions and Biodiversity thematic focus area, contributing to the achievement of biodiversity co-benefits. The project will increase the climate resilience and food security of Indigenous and rural communities, with a particular focus on women, girls and youth in the Colombian Amazonian region. The vulnerable communities living in the Colombian Amazon face significant food security and nutrition challenges exacerbated by a combination of factors and crises, including climate variability, environmental shocks, and deep-rooted structural conditions, such as poverty and inequality.

Indigenous Clean Energy Renewable Energy Microgrids (2024-2026)

Support provided: $320,000 ($240,000 for Colombia)

Implemented by the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise (ICE), this project aims to deliver specialized renewable energy capacity-building to Indigenous Communities in Colombia and Ecuador to empower them to address their needs, drive sustainable change, and participate in the clean energy transition. It helps create the enabling conditions for adopting clean energy and energy-efficient solutions for Indigenous Peoples to actualize climate change mitigation.

Strengthening Marine Enforcement in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape (2024-2026)

Support provided: $5,000,000 ($500,000 for Colombia)

Implemented by WildAid Inc., it aims to improve the protection and sustainable use of the marine natural resources to conserve the biodiversity of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean ecosystems by the Marine Law Enforcement (MLE) communities, the local communities, specifically women, Indigenous Peoples, and Afro-descendants by strengthening the surveillance and control capacity of national marine authorities and by improving the sustainable use of marine natural resources by the coastal communities, especially women.

Conserva Aves (2024-2028)

Support provided: $15,000,000 for eight countries in Latin America, including Colombia.

The project aims to increase the sustainable conservation of priority areas for birds by local communities. The project will support communities, specifically women, Indigenous Peoples, and Afro-descendant Peoples, to conserve sustainably and restore key ecosystems on which they depend. Protected areas are a proven nature-based solution for safeguarding biodiversity, building resilience to climate change, improving food and water security, and driving local economic success for surrounding communities. Implemented by Birds Studies Canada in tandem with American Bird Conservancy, BirdLife International, the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC by its acronym in Spanish), and National Audubon Society.

Building Climate Resilience from Indigenous Perspectives (2024-2028)

Support provided: $12,500,000 for Colombia, Bolivia, Guatemala and Peru.

Implemented by Save the Children Canada and The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, this project aims to improve climate resilience of Indigenous Peoples in Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala and Peru, through the affirmation of Indigenous Rights and the exercise of self-determination and reaching an estimated 5,000 people. It will seek three intermediate outcomes: (1) Increased adoption of self-determined, gender responsive and inclusive Nature-based Solutions (NbS) by Indigenous communities and organizations, particularly women and youth, for climate change adaptation with biodiversity co-benefits; (2) Strengthened climate governance within diverse Indigenous communities, organizations, local and regional networks for Indigenous-Rights-affirming nature-positive climate adaptation; and (3) Increased joint-action and knowledge-sharing between North/South sub-grantees and their communities to promote gender responsive, Indigenous-rights affirming NbS.

Bilateral Support for Implementation and Achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru) (2022-2026)

Support provided: $4,000,000

Canada provides support for the implementation and achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Pacific Alliance through strengthening and harmonizing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems. Following the June 2017 Cali Declaration in which the Pacific Alliance reaffirmed its support for the Paris Agreement and commitment to intensify efforts to strengthen MRV systems of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and Short-Lives Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) in the region, Canada announced $1.6 million in 2017 to increase domestic capacity to harmonize and improve the effectiveness of their national climate MRV systems. Additional funding of $1.9 million was invested in 2019 to support South-South cooperation on MRV within and between the Pacific Alliance and West Africa. Supported by Canada, a Technical Sub-group on MRV and Climate Change (SGT-MRV) was created by the countries of the Pacific Alliance with the principal objective to enable the exchange of knowledge at the regional level in order to strengthen and advance the harmonization and alignment of Climate MRV systems for the reduction of GHG and SLCPs and to strengthen capacity at the national level in order to advance the creation and implementation of effective climate policies. Building on this past success, Canada is supporting a $4.5 million investment from 2022 to 2026, to strengthen MRV system capacity in the Pacific Alliance and Ecuador for carbon pricing, MRV of mitigation action, and MRV of climate finance. This project aims at accelerating climate mitigation strategies to implement NDCs, increase credibility by ensuring transparency, accuracy, and comparability of information, and mobilize investments necessary to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Pilot project to promote the use of carbon dioxide (CO2)-based technology to replace Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and improve the energy consumption of centralized refrigeration systems (2023-2025)

Support provided: USD $500,000

Canada is providing support to Colombia through a $500,000 contribution to support the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol’s Kigali Amendment. The objective of this project, implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente), is to demonstrate the use and build local capacity for the manufacture of CO2-based centralized refrigeration systems in small and medium-sized enterprises in the food retail sector in Colombia. The project supports Colombia’s strategy for implementing the Kigali Amendment, particularly its strategy for supermarkets, wherein CO2-based refrigeration is one of the key alternative technologies identified. In addition, the project builds on a previously implemented Canadian-UNDP project that provided a mobile CO2 refrigeration training unit to Colombia.

Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in the Americas, phase II (C2F II), with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group (2019-2044)

Support provided: CAD 250,000,000 (USD $20,000,000 to Colombia)

As part of Canada’s $2.65 billion climate finance commitment announced on the margins of the 2015 Paris Agreement, Canada provided $223.5 million in unconditionally repayable contributions (URCs, which are akin to concessional loans) to the IDB Group for a second phase of C2F. The objective of the C2F II is to catalyze private sector climate investments in Latin America and the Caribbean by providing concessional finance, alongside co-financing from the IDB Group, for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects that would not otherwise be viable. C2F II funds have been fully committed to 14 projects in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, as well as one regional project in the Caribbean, in sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate-smart agriculture. The IDB Group has developed a performance-based incentive program to incentivize private sector companies to integrate gender, diversity and inclusion considerations into their operations, such as providing employment opportunities for women and other vulnerable groups in STEM fields in the renewable energy sector.

Annex 7: Canada's merchandise trade with Colombia, 2001-2025, in millions

Source: Statistics Canada

Annex 8: Actions taken by Canada under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Implementation Act

Annex 9: Public consultations

Share your views: Call for submissions on Canada’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia

Current status: Closed

This consultation ran from March 3, 2026, to April 3, 2026. 

The Government of Canada is seeking the input of interested stakeholders regarding the Agreement concerning Annual Reports on Human Rights and Free Trade Between Canada and the Republic of Colombia.

This unique agreement requires that Canada and Colombia each draft an annual report for tabling in their respective legislatures on the impacts on human rights in Canada and Colombia of actions taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Purpose of consultation

Interested stakeholders are invited to provide written submissions on the impact of actions taken under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act for the Government of Canada’s 15th annual report. The 15th annual report will cover the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025.

Who is the focus of this consultation?

This consultation is open to the public and everyone is invited to share their ideas.

The Government of Canada invites any stakeholder with an interest in the impact on human rights in Canada and Colombia of actions taken by the Government of Canada under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement to provide input.

Global Affairs Canada would like to hear from:

• the general public;
• civil society organizations;
• academia;
• Indigenous groups;
• national and provincial industry associations;
• micro, small, medium and large enterprises;
• national, provincial, territorial and regional associations; and
• other interested stakeholders.

It is important to have a breadth and diversity of views represented through this consultation process.

For reasons of confidentiality and security, the submissions and names of contributors to this consultation process will not be released to the public by the Government of Canada.

Join in: How to participate

Submissions must be sent by Friday, April 10, 2026.

Send us an email

Submissions can be sent by e-mail to: NLA@international.gc.ca, with the subject “Public Call for Submissions - Annual Report on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia”,

Privacy notice

Please read the privacy notice statement carefully prior to sending a written submission.

Related information

The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) also includes the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, and the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, under its parameters. These agreements entered into force on August 15, 2011.

All of Canada’s previous annual reports on Human Rights and Free Trade are available online: Annual report on Human Rights and Free Trade between Canada and the Republic of Colombia.

Contact us

Andean Region Division
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa ON K1A 0G2
NLA@international.gc.ca