Herbin Hoyos

Herbin Hoyos is a Colombian journalist and broadcaster who is in exile in Spain after receiving death threats from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). He has a radio program called Las voces del secuestro (The voices of the kidnapped) which began in 1994. He was inspired by his own experience of being kidnapped by the Farc for 17 days. In 2008 he received the Premier Ondas (Wave Prize). Exiled in October 2009 he has continued his program using the studios of Cadena SER.[1]

Journalist and war reporter in sixteen international conflicts: in Iraq, Lebanon, Bosnia, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Kosovo, Rwanda, Angola, Sierra Leone, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Palestine - Gaza Strip, Syria and Libya. He studied at the Complutense University of Madrid and Television Production in Madrid IORTVE and he was awarded a scholarship by the Spanish Cooperation Agency.

Specializations: 1. International Humanitarian Law. - 2. Sociology. - 3. Conflict Resolution and Negotiation with the United Nations UN - 4. Specialization in "counter-terrorism strategies" in Israel.

Other studies: 1. -He studied "Production of News and Documentary Television" with the Official Institute of Radio Spanish Television (IORTVE), he studied through a scholarship granted by the Institute for a 2. - Arab Israeli Conflict Studies and training for journalists on "Coverage of information in areas of conflict" issued in September 2002 in Israel. 3. - Course "Retraining for war reporters and Blue Helmets" of the UN issued in Campo de Mayo, Buenos Aires Argentina October 2003.

He is trained in air, wáter, car and confined space rescue, first aid, survival tests, crisis and management rescue. He is a Private Pilot licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority from Colombia. He is an active founder member of Air Search and Rescue Organization: BAYR (Buqueda Aérea y rescate). Herbin Hoyos is a lecturer on Defense of Human Rights in Conflict Areas and exponent of his experiences in war, studies and research at universities in Latin America, Europe and Colombia. He has denounced the violation of HR 1991 in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and in 1998 in the action known as Desert Fox.

Herbin Hoyos has been dedicated to humanitarian missions and presenting complaints to foreign media and international organizations about violation of HR in Bosnia Herzegovina; Kosovo, Pristine; Sierra Leone; Belgrade; Sarajevo, Iraq and Chechnya where he was tortured by the paramilitaries of Grozny. In September 2002 he made the coverage of the Intifada between Israel and Palestine where he made "exclusive" interview with President Yasser Arafat amid the bombardment by Israel.

In March 2003 he was the only Colombian journalist who accompanied US invasion on Iraq from where he broadcast live to Caracol Radio of Colombia and sixteen Radio and TV networks in Latin America.

Creator and producer of "Voices of Kidnapping" program in Caracol Radio, this program was created after he was kidnapped by the FARC guerrillas. He was rescued by the Army 17 days after on March 29, 1994 after a battle and pursuit of thirteen consecutive days. Since then, he created the program "Voices of Kidnapping" and he has been dedicated to accompany the hostages through the radio, keeping them alive, making their families and loved ones speak to them through the radio program, which is a unique format in the world. Also, from the very beginning of the program to date, Herbin Hoyos has been dedicated to denounce the violation of the HR of over 24 thousand victims kidnapped by the Farc, 6500 ELN, more than 4,000 missing people by para-militars and other armed groups in Colombia. The survivors from kidnapping, after returning to freedom, the first place they go to the radio station facilities where the program "Voices of Kidnapping" is broadcasting to express their immense gratitude for having them kept alive the hope and for not letting them die in captivity.