Civil society warns of high risks from proposed herbicide spraying of coca crops in Colombia — Dialogue with the UN SR on toxics and human rights at HRC63

Item 3: Diálogo interactivo con la Relatora Especial sobre sustancias tóxicas y residuos peligrosos

Septiembre 11, 2026

Speaking on behalf of Dejusticia, Elementa and IDPC, we would like to congratulate you on your appointment to the position of Special Rapporteur and wish you every success.

We would like to draw attention to a situation of imminent risk in Colombia: the announcement by the new government to resume the agrotoxins programme for eradicating unlawful crops. This programme is subject to strict constitutional controls.

For 15 years, the Colombian government sprayed around 2 million hectares with glyphosate, a substance that the WHO has declared to be possibly carcinogenic. No protection measures were taken for the peasant population that is dependent on this economy. The programme had, as a consequence, seriously harmful effects on human rights, and it led to health problems and environmental problems. It ruined livelihoods and contaminated water, and it did not solve the problem of coca leaves and cocaine.

Constitutional protections, which are based on the principle of precaution, are being threatened by the new government with an even more toxic substance, glufosinate ammonium.

We would like to issue an urgent call for the Special Rapporteur to continue her monitoring and warning work through applicable mechanisms in order to prevent and mitigate any possible harm stemming from this harmful practice. We stand ready to help.