You don’t need to tell Javier Correa that Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a trade unionist. He lives that reality every day.

Javier recently received a death threat signed by a paramilitary organization, called the Black Eagles. It said: "…communist guerrillas disguised as trade unionists – Javier Correa, stop your ideological discourse – you must leave the department or we will be obliged to carry out the military objective and … hand over the bodies of your families in a mass grave …”

Javier is a leader of SINALTRAINAL, a union that represents food workers. In recent years, SINALTRAINAL has been involved in a number of labour disputes, often with large multinational companies. The union has taken legal action in US courts, alleging that personnel of Colombian bottling plants under licence for Coca Cola were implicated in killings and other human rights violations against trade unionists by paramilitaries. Working with other human rights defenders, Javier and his union also continue to be at the forefront of public protests against the involvement of state security forces and army-backed paramilitaries in grave abuses.

There is a heavy price to pay for such actions. Javier Correa lives in constant fear of attack, in a country where more than 2,500 members of trade unions have been killed since 1986.

A second message, also signed by the Black Eagles, called Javier a terrorist and continued: “Because you did not obey our order to leave, you will have to bear the consequences, which will be cruel and start with your family members.”

In Colombia, threats like these cannot be taken lightly. Already this year, 41 trade unionists have been murdered, according to the Colombian Confederation of Trade Unions. Some victims bore marks of torture.

Click here to sign Amnesty's petition in support of Javier Correa and other trade union activists in Colombia.

Learn more about attacks on trade unionists in Colombia and Amnesty's concerns.