In a decision that puts the protection policies of the National Government in check, the Superior Court of Medellín issued a second instance ruling in which it orders the National Protection Unit (UNP) to immediately return the security scheme to Carlos Alberto Arcila, current Secretary of Peace and Human Rights of the capital of Antioquia.
The measure comes after a protection action filed by the official, who reported being in a situation of extreme vulnerability after, last June, the bodyguards and official vehicles that accompanied him were removed.
The ruling, dated January 15, 2026, is forceful in pointing out that the UNP put the life and integrity of Arcila at risk by dismantling its protection without an updated risk analysis.
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The court not only demands the restitution of his security, but also demands a new technical evaluation that considers his long career as a human rights defender and social leader, a role that he has played firmly even before reaching the municipal cabinet.
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The court warned that ignoring the threats against those who defend life in the current context of the country is a serious omission.
The situation in Antioquia is no wonder. The judicial document reveals figures that have set off alarms: in 2025 alone, 27 social leaders were murdered in the department, adding to a macabre list of 187 victims nationwide.
Faced with this scenario, Secretary Arcila held nothing back and held President Gustavo Petro and the director of the UNP, Augusto Rodríguez, directly responsible for any attack he might suffer, demanding that guarantees be strengthened for those who defend human rights in territories hit by extortion and illegal mining.
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