The Inter-American Court of Human Rights held the Colombian state responsible for the abduction, rape, and torture of journalist Jineth Bedoya in 2000. The court claimed that officials of the state were not only directly responsible for the torture Jineth suffered but institutions enabled the sexual assault by not taking the threats against Jineth seriously despite earlier complaints. The courts believed the negligence was a result of gender discrimination and ordered that those involved should be given adequate punishment.

State representatives walked out in “protest” from a virtual hearing in Jineth Bedoya’s case. The hearing aimed to determine the role of the Colombian state in the ordeal that Jineth went through in 2000. This is the latest in a series of attempts by the state to impede the investigation.