COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
Decree No. 580
The President of Colombia issued an executive decree mandating individual social distancing, authorizing municipalities with high ICU occupancy rates due to COVID-19 to restrict certain activities and areas, and closing land and river borders with Venezuela through September 1, 2021. The decree extends and modifies earlier decrees issued during the COVID-19 pandemic which contained varying border closure rules.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 31 May 2021 Extends and modifies Decree No. 206 (26 Feb 2021)
Issue(s): Movement
Type: order
Decree No. 1168
This Decree prevents public and private gatherings and announces border closures with Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Venezuela.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 25 Aug 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement
Type: order
Decree No. 491 Instructions Given Under the Health Emergency Generated by the Covid-19 Pandemic
Presidential decree No. 491 increases the permissible time for the government to respond to freedom of information requests, to 30 days. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 28 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Access to Information
Type: order
No. 457 Instructions Given Under the Health Emergency Generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic
The presidential decree establishes mandatory, preventive isolation measures for 21 days, unless extended. The decree strictly limits individuals' freedom of movement. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 22 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Movement
Type: order
Resolution No. 385 Declaring a Health Emergency
The resolution declares a "health emergency" throughout the country until May 30, on account of the coronavirus. Among other things, prohibits large public gatherings, and orders television and radio stations and all other mass media to disseminate information provided by the Health Ministry. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 12 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Press Freedom, Expression, Access to Information
Type: order
State of Health Emergency
The government decrees a "health emergency" to contain the spread of coronavirus. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 12 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
Failure to Comply with Access to Information Requests
The government failed to comply with a court order to disclose information on contracts it has made with pharmaceutical companies for COVID-19 vaccines. The court order was the result of litigation conducted by Colombian civil society organziations to obtain this information.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 26 May 2021
Issue(s): Access to Information
Type: practice