Responsibility of the Colombian State in the violation of Human Rights in the case of Bedoya Lima vs. Colombia

Abstract

This article analyzes the responsibility of the Colombian State for the human rights violations recognized by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case of Bedoya Lima v. Colombia. Using a qualitative, documentary approach and a hermeneutic paradigm, it examines the State’s obligation to guarantee fundamental rights, especially about the protection of women in the context of the armed conflict. It also addresses the relationship between the violation of women’s human rights as gender-based violence and the resulting international responsibility of the State, understanding that violence against women not only violates individual rights but also constitutes a direct violation of international human rights commitments, affecting the fundamental principles of equality, dignity, and freedom. The analysis highlights the application of conventionality control and the scope of international norms as a framework for protection against violence against women in the context of the armed conflict with Colombia. Finally, the legal and social implications of the ruling and the challenges facing the Colombian State in terms of prevention, punishment, comprehensive reparation, and non-repetition are reflected upon.