International News Outlets Spotlight AUWCL Report Challenging Colombia’s Stability Narrative
American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) is at the forefront of international legal and human rights scholarship, demonstrated by a critical new analysis co-authored by Professor Diego Rodríguez Pinzón, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
The comprehensive report, titled “Análisis Comparativo de las Muertes por Homicidios Durante el Trienio Petro con Respecto al Trienio Duque,” is a statistical review of homicide trends in Colombia. Its core finding that violence has stabilized at high levels while shifting dramatically across the country, provides essential data for human rights advocates, policymakers, and international bodies.
The report is getting wide-spread attention in Colombia, with several news agencies covering its impact on the country. You can read the in-country reports here:
Rodríguez Pinzón and his co-authors analyzed official data from the DIJIN–Policía Nacional and the Fiscalía General de la Nación for their report. They concluded that the national homicide rate has settled into a "prolonged plateau," with one murder every 39 minutes. Rodríguez Pinzón and his co-authors say the persistence of violence significantly exceeds internationally recognized epidemic thresholds and underscores the urgency of the situation that Rodríguez Pinzón’s work brings to light.
The analysis shows that violence is not uniformly distributed. Regions like Antioquia, Nariño, and Córdoba saw reductions in homicides, as did major urban centers like Medellín and Cali. Violence surged in the Caribbean Region and the Nororiental Region. Rodríguez Pinzón and his co-authors say cities like Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cúcuta, and Santa Marta have emerged as new epicenters of rising murder rates, highlighting the need for highly localized interventions.
Through this impactful scholarship, Rodríguez Pinzón and AUWCL continue to fulfill their mission of advancing human rights and justice, providing essential, data-driven insights that directly influence international policy and advocacy efforts.