Political Constitution of the Republic of Colombia 1991, as amended to 2023
Obligations of the State
  • English
    The essential goals of the State are to serve the community, promote the general prosperity, and guarantee the effectiveness of the principles, rights and duties consecrated in the Constitution;
    ...
    The authorities of the Republic are established in order to protect all persons residing in Colombia, in their life, honor, property, beliefs, and other rights and freedoms, and in order to assure the fulfillment of the social duties of the State and of individuals. (Art. 2)
  • Spanish
    Son fines esenciales del Estado: servir a la comunidad, promover la prosperidad general y garantizar la efectividad de los principios, derechos y deberes consagrados en la Constitución;
    …
    Las autoridades de la República están instituidas para proteger a todas las personas residentes en Colombia, en su vida, honra, bienes, creencias, y demás derechos y libertades, y para asegurar el cumplimiento de los deberes sociales del Estado y de los particulares. (Art. 2)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    The State recognizes, without any discrimination, the primacy of the inalienable rights of the person … (Art. 5)
  • Spanish
    El Estado reconoce, sin discriminación alguna, la primacía de los derechos inalienables de la persona … (Art. 5)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    When a right or an activity has been regulated in a general manner, the public authorities may not establish or demand permits, licenses, or additional requisites for their exercise. (Art. 84)
  • Spanish
    Cuando un derecho o una actividad hayan sido reglamentados de manera general, las autoridades públicas no podrán establecer ni exigir permisos, licencias o requisitos adicionales para su ejercicio. (Art. 84)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    The rights consecrated in Articles 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 37 and 40 are of immediate application. (Art. 85)3
  • Spanish
    Son de aplicación inmediata los derechos consagrados en los artículos 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 37 y 40. (Art. 85)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    International treaties and agreements ratified by the Congress that recognize human rights and that prohibit their limitation in the states of emergency, have prevalence in the internal order. The rights and duties consecrated in this Charter will be interpreted in conformity with international treaties on human rights ratified by Colombia.
    … (Art. 93)
  • Spanish
    Los tratados y convenios internacionales ratificados por el Congreso, que reconocen los derechos humanos y que prohíben su limitación en los estados de excepción, prevalecen en el orden interno.
    Los derechos y deberes consagrados en esta Carta, se interpretarán de conformidad con los tratados internacionales sobre derechos humanos ratificados por Colombia.
    … (Art. 93)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    The enunciation of the rights and guarantees contained in the Constitution and in the international agreements in effect must not be understood as a negation of others which, being inherent to the human person, are not expressly mentioned in them. (Art. 94)
  • Spanish
    La enunciación de los derechos y garantías contenidos en la Constitución y en los convenios internacionales vigentes, no debe entenderse como negación de otros que, siendo inherentes a la persona humana, no figuren expresamente en ellos. (Art. 94)
Obligations of the State
  • English
    By means of the statutory laws, the Congress of the Republic will regulate the following matters:
    a. Fundamental rights and duties of persons and the procedures and recourses for their protection;
    … (Art. 152)
  • Spanish
    Mediante las leyes estatutarias, el Congreso de la República regulará las siguientes materias:
    a) Derechos y deberes fundamentales de las personas y los procedimientos y recursos para su protección;
    … (Art. 152)
1

Political Constitution of the Republic of Colombia 1991, as amended to 2023 (English), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024). According to Art. 10: “Castilian is the official language of Colombia. …”

2

Political Constitution of the Republic of Colombia 1991, as amended to 2023 (Spanish).

Links to all sites last visited 8 April 2024
3
Articles are located in Title II on Rights, Guarantees, and Duties and Chapter I on Fundamental Rights.