Jorge Luis Garcia Berrío

Jorge Luis Garcia Berrío was a community leader and the president of the Community Action Board, Sector June 3, in Cartagena, Colombia.

On October 5 2017, Garcia Berrío was at his home when two men approached him and began to speak to him. The two men shot him several times, killing him instantly and fled the scene on foot. His neighbours tried to help him, however, his wounds were too severe. An investigation was launched, however,no one has yet been charged or arrested  and the identity of the perpetrators remains unknown.

There has been demand for better protection for the community of Cartagena and Garcia Berrío’s family. Many community leaders and presidents of Action Boards do not feel that they get the suitable level of protection as their lives are under constant threat because of the work they do for their community.


If you would like to provide a personal recollection, please email us at: HRDMemorial@frontlinedefenders.org

Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Bolivar

Sex1:Male

Age:37

Date of Killing:05/10/2017

Previous Threats:No information

Type of Work:Community leader

Organisation:Junta de Accion Comunal del sector 3

Sector or Type of Rights the HRD Worked On:ESC Rights

Sector Detail:Freedom of Expression

More information:Front Line Defenders

1This database records an individual's chosen gender identity. If they do not self-identify as male or female they can use the option of recording other/neither or use the term NBGI (non binary gender identity).