“Sharper focus on human rights needed”, Swedwatch, The Church of Sweden, Diakonia and Solidarity Sweden-Latin America, 30 November 2015

…Swedwatch’s report ‘Derechos Ahogados, Responsabilidades Diluidas’ (Drowned Rights, Floating Responsibilities) is now available in Spanish. The report, originally written in 2014, reveals a number of serious human rights risks associated with the construction of the Hidroituango hydroelectric power plant in Colombia. Swedish companies Atlas Copco and Scania are involved in supplying equipment and staff to the project. The Spanish version of the Swedwatch report is being published with an update (Anexo 1 - Información actualizada) showing that the Swedish companies have taken significant steps to increase their awareness of the risks in Colombia and have developed new tools for evaluating customers. However, the Hidroituango project continues to present major challenges.—[Because] Hidroituango, is currently being constructed in a region that is badly affected by internal armed conflict…People from the affected communities interviewed by Swedwatch has reported assaults by both state and private security staff protecting the site, as well as by illegal armed groups in the area…