Catatumbo and the Violation of the Right to Life

Abstract

This article reflects on the violation of the right to life in the Catatumbo region, Norte de Santander, based on the historical context of internal armed conflict, drug trafficking, territorial disputes, and the presence of illegal armed groups. The text addresses the constitutional and international protection of the right to life and explains how violence has directly affected the civilian population, including homicides, forced displacement, extrajudicial executions, and the killing of social leaders. Based on documentary sources, institutional reports, and jurisprudential references, it highlights the Colombian State’s difficulty in effectively guaranteeing this fundamental right in highly conflictive areas. Finally, it emphasizes national and international protection mechanisms, as well as the importance of peace agreements and international oversight as guarantees for advancing the defense of life, human dignity, and the reconstruction of the social fabric in the territory.