U.S., U.N. back new human rights training for Colombia police

Brian O'Brien, minister-counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, General Henry Sanabria, director of Colombian national police, Yackeline Navarro, subdirector of Colombian national police, Sara Ferrer, resident representative of the UN program for the development of Colombia and Todd Robinson, U.S. State Department's assistant secretary of state for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, pose for a picture during the launch of the technical assistance program for the transformation process of the National Police in human rights and standards in Bogota, Colombia August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

Colombia's national police force will launch a training program with the help of the United States and United Nations meant to prevent abuses and human rights violations by cops, the head of the force said on Monday.

The plan is part of efforts, especially by the new government of leftist President Gustavo Petro, to change police tactics after international criticism over excessive force during anti-government protests over the last several years, where dozens of civilians died.