Colombia marks 10 years of equal marriage, calls for rights protection

Colombia marked the tenth anniversary of the legalization of equal marriage with a symbolic ceremony at the National Museum in Bogotá.

During the event, organizations advocating for sexual diversity celebrated the achievements made while voicing concerns about potential setbacks under the new far-right government. Marcela Sánchez, director of Colombia Diversa, stressed the importance of upholding human rights and preventing the regression of established conquests. "The first challenge is to respect the principle of non-regression in human rights, meaning the achievements made cannot go backward," she told EFE.

Adriana González and Marcela Rojas, the first women to enter into an equal marriage in Colombia, presented the lawsuit document filed by Colombia Diversa in 2010 to the museum's director. This legal action was instrumental in the Constitutional Court's 2016 ruling that recognized the right of same-sex couples to civil marriage.

Sánchez recalled that Colombia Diversa pursued the legal strategy after numerous attempts to pass a law in Congress failed. She noted that the Constitutional Court's jurisprudence is among the most advanced in the region for LGBTIQ+ rights, but warned that obstacles remain in fully exercising these guarantees. "The mere mention of that possibility should alert us because it means that these legal advances still lack sufficient social and cultural legitimacy," she stated, referring to proposals for a referendum on same-sex adoption.

Since the court's decision, around 18,000 same-sex couples have married in Colombia. However, human rights groups report ongoing discrimination and administrative hurdles in some public offices. The anniversary commemoration was followed by the traditional Pride March in Bogotá, with participants advocating for equality and against discrimination.

“

El primer reto es respetar el principio de no regresividad en los derechos humanos, es decir, las conquistas alcanzadas no pueden volver atrás.