In 2002 Colombia received a downward trending arrow because of  growth in paramilitary activity. In this year the freedom rating was a 4. In the next years to follow there was still no change in the trending arrow and the freedom rating still remained a 4. In 2006 there was a change in the civil liberties it had went from a 4 down to a 3. A reason that the ratings changed was because of the improvements in the security. Also with the decrease in violence and crime this continued to help the rating improve. From 2006 until 2008 the rating was a 3 until 2009 the rating went to a 3.5. The rate had started to rise because of the violent acts that were done to protesters and protest organizers. The rating continued to stay a 3.5 and still is a 3.5 currently until 2012.

3.5 -Freedom Rating