Further to the article ‘UK lawyer delegation suffers Colombia rights rebuff’, I would like to inform you that the government and embassy of Colombia provided the delegation with assistance in arranging and confirming governmental meetings during their visit to my country in August.

The delegation held a meeting with directors and members of various governmental institutions in Bogota, including the human rights offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Interior as well as the presidential programme for human rights. Representatives from the National Penitentiary Institution (INPEC) were also present at this meeting, which took place on 27 August.

Vice-president Angelino Garzon also met the delegation to discuss the issues and answer their questions. This meeting took place despite the vice-president’s recent health scare, highlighting the government’s sincere commitment to human rights and openness to international scrutiny.

Notwithstanding our various offers of support and emails before and during the visit, the embassy never received a request from the delegation for entry clearance to prisons in Colombia. We understand that the delegation requested this access via the political prisoners solidarity committee; however, the request was never processed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which assists in coordinating meetings and permissions for international delegations.

As further evidence of the Colombian state’s willingness to cooperate with all international organisations and delegations, upon a request made to the director of the INPEC on 27 August in Bogota, the delegation was granted access to the Buen Pastor Prison in Bogota on 1 September, where they met with several inmates.

Mauricio Rodriguez Munera, ambassador of Colombia, London SW1