Gerson Acosta was an indigenous leader of the Kite Kiwe community in the Cauca region of Colombia. Gerson belonged to a town council that participates in the processes of ‘Liberation of Mother Earth’. He was shot and killed on 19 April 2017 by an assassin as he left a community meeting.
Gerson Acosta
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Region:Americas
Country:Colombia
Department/Province/State:Cauca
Sex1:Male
Age:35
Date of Killing:19/04/2017
Previous Threats:Yes
Type of Work:Community leader
Sector or Type of Rights the HRD Worked On:ESC Rights
Sector Detail:Indigenous Peoples' Rights
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).
URLs (links) of Interest
- Amnesty International
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/04/colombia-ola-de-asesinatos-de-indigenas-resalta-fallas-de-implementacion-del-proceso-de-paz/
- El Espectador
- http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/asesinan-gerson-acosta-salazar-lider-indigena-del-cauca-articulo-690047
- Oxfam International
- https://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases/2017-04-27/oxfam-rejects-persistent-murders-and-threats-against-social