A LEGAL rights worker is leaving the safety of home to brave the peril of guerilla terrorists in South American country.

Colin McNaughton, 51, of Roseville Road, Hounslow. leaves for Colombia later this month to spend the next year promoting human rights.

The seasoned campaigner is travelling as a Peace Brigades International (PBI) volunteer. PBI is a non-profit organisation which provides unarmed accompaniment for human rights workers under the threat of kidnapping and even murder.

However, despite the obvious dangers he will face in the civil war-torn country, he insists that he's not fearful for his safety.

He said: "There is a chance that something could happen, but the real danger is faced by the Colombians, lawyers, trade unionists and other human rights workers I will be accompanying.

"They are threatened daily with death or kidnapping but by accompanying them and providing a presence we are able to help them continue their work because the threats aren't carried out due to the international implications that would result if they did."

He added: "I have done a lot of work for the UN Commission for Human Rights and although the UN moves in the right direction, it moves very slowly.

"But now I am very optimistic that I will be able to make real progress with the PBI."