Colombia has one of the most progressive legal frameworks for LGBTIQ+ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and other sexual orientations and gender identities) in Latin America. The Constitution and a number of laws recognise and protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, including the rights to marriage, adoption, gender reassignment and protection against discrimination. President Gustavo Petro's government has also spoken out in favour of protecting LGBTIQ+ rights, through initiatives such as establishing a Ministry of Equality and appointing a Deputy Minister for Diversity. The policy document CONPES 4147 (2025) is an important step towards structural protection of LGBTIQ+ rights.
However, the implementation of the legislative framework remains difficult. Only a fraction of crimes against LGBTIQ+ people lead to prosecution. In 2024, 86% of murder cases were still in the preliminary investigation phase and only 6% led to an effective trial, according to figures from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Caribe Afirmativo. The situation faced by LGBTIQ+ people in Colombia is complex, with legal progress not automatically leading to social acceptance or effective protection. Police violence and discrimination are still prevalent, and there is a high level of mistrust towards the security forces.
Violence against LGBTIQ+ persons remains high. In 2024, 164 murders were recorded, a slight increase compared to the previous year. Transgender people and gay men continue to make up the largest group of victims, accounting for more than half of all fatalities. Caribe Afirmativo recorded a slight decrease in the number of murders of trans women in 2024, but an increase in lethal violence against trans men. At the end of November 2024, the Ombudsman expressed concern about the situation of transgender people. In the first ten months of 2024, the organisation dealt with 30% more cases of violence against transgender people than in the same period in 2023. At the beginning of 2025, the department of Antioquia, with Medellín as its main city, had a particularly high rate of violence against trans women. The brutal murder of trans woman Sara Millerey sent shock waves through the community.
Colombia has a long history of armed conflict, during which LGBTIQ+ people were targeted by both guerrilla groups and paramilitary organisations. The overall security situation in the country remained precarious under President Petro, especially in conflict-affected areas where armed groups are active. These groups adhere to conservative norms and often pose a threat to sexual and gender minorities. LGBTIQ+ people living in rural areas where armed groups are active face specific risks of violence and have limited access to institutions and organisations that can defend their rights. The armed groups seek to impose their own rules of conduct on local communities through territorial and social control. Between May 2020 and July 2024, the Ombudsman issued at least 30 warnings for LGBTIQ+ persons in rural areas.
LGBTIQ+ activists in these rural areas face a double risk due to their sexual identity and their role as human rights defenders. Afro-Colombian and indigenous LGBTIQ+ persons also face a double risk because of their sexual and/or gender identity. In addition to the risk of violence from armed groups active in their region, they also risk violence or rejection by members of their own communities. Many of them therefore try to migrate to larger cities.
Although the visibility of LGBTIQ+ people in the media and politics is increasing, public opinion remains divided. Discrimination in education, employment and healthcare still occurs. Transgender people are particularly vulnerable, with high unemployment rates, overrepresentation in informal sex work and limited access to gender-affirming care.
Policy
The policy implemented by the Commissioner General is based on a thorough analysis of accurate and up-to-date information on the general situation in the country of origin. This information is collated in a professional manner from various, objective sources, including the EUAA, the UNHCR, relevant international human rights organisations, non-governmental organisations, professional literature and coverage in the media. When determining policy, the Commissioner General does not only examine the COI Focuses written by Cedoca and published on this website, as these deal with just one aspect of the general situation in the country of origin. The fact that a COI Focus could be out-of-date does not mean that the policy that is being implemented by the Commissioner General is no longer up-to-date.
When assessing an application for asylum, the Commissioner General not only considers the actual situation in the country of origin at the moment of decision-making, he also takes into account the individual situation and personal circumstances of the applicant for international protection. Every asylum application is examined individually. An applicant must comprehensively demonstrate that he has a well-founded fear of persecution or that there is a clear personal risk of serious harm. He cannot, therefore, simply refer back to the general conditions in his country, but must also present concrete, credible and personal facts.
There is no policy paper for this country available on the website.