Colombia: Global education movement condemns abuses of basic human rights Education International and its affiliates around the globe are deeply concerned about the brutal repression of protests in Colombia. The global trade union federation demands democratic governance of the country and urges public authorities to put a halt to human rights abuses. Protests started in Colombia on 28 April, mainly in opposition to a now-shelved tax reform. The proposed reform would have lowered the threshold at which salaries are taxed, affecting anyone with a monthly income of 2.6m pesos ($684) or more. It would also have eliminated many of the current exemptions enjoyed by individuals, as well as increasing taxes imposed on businesses. The proposal caused outrage among Colombians already battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing protests have been joined by many middle-class people who fear the changes could see them slip into poverty.