The UN highlights progress in the implementation of the peace agreement in Colombia, regrets persistent violence

The Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, presented Wednesday before the Security Council the most recent report, which recognizes the progress in the implementation of the peace agreement reached in 2016 between the State and the extinct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the work of the current government of President Gustavo Petro in the consolidation of peace.

In the report of the UN Secretary General on Colombia, which covers the period from March 27 to June 26, 2023, he highlighted the Government’s provisions in the National Development Plan related to peace, the greater attention paid to rural reform and the allocation of much-needed funds for the implementation of the Peace Agreement.

Ruiz Massieu also highlighted the creation of the Ministry of Equality, led by Vice President Francia Márquez, as well as its progress in creating mechanisms to advance the implementation of the ethnic chapter of the agreement. “Very important steps to improve the situation of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, and other vulnerable groups,” he said.

According to the representative, “the progress registered in the last report of the Secretary General is an indicator that the implementation is gaining momentum in various points of the agreement, including those that had been left behind, despite having the greatest potential to deal with to the root causes of the conflict”.

However, he stressed the importance of appointing a government official to oversee the implementation of the agreement.

Violence is still a challenge

Ruiz Massieu regretted that the violence “continues to hinder the potential of the Agreement”, but is confident that “recent measures in relation to security guarantees, such as the adoption of a new Security and Defense Policy, will soon bear fruit and contribute to improving the situation in the regions affected by the conflict”.

He was also concerned about the persistent violence against peasant leaders, land claimants and ex-combatants, noting that five of them have been killed since the report was published, and said that “much more” needs to be done to protect social leaders. . Likewise, he condemned the recent armed attack against members of the Catholic Church in Caldono, Cauca.

According to the recent report of the Verification Mission, 12 ex-combatants were murdered in eight departments, doubling the cases of the last report, which covers cases from January to March 2023. Regarding homicides, the report reports 12, one more than in the same period last year 2022.

In addition, he called on the illegal armed actors to respect the local and regional elections in Colombia, which will be held in October, without threats, and on the authorities to take the necessary measures to guarantee the security of the elections, which also guarantee The political participation of women.

The work of the JEP

The representative also highlighted the work being carried out by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), a court created after the peace agreement signed in 2016 by the State and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla, before which thousands appear of ex-guerrillas, military and civilians who were involved in the conflict.

For Ruiz, the JEP continues to advance in cases that include new charges: “The voices of the victims demanding truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition have resounded in recent hearings” and those appearing from the public forces have acknowledged “shocking testimonies”, in which they have recognized their responsibility in “extrajudicial executions, crimes that illustrate the degradation of the conflict”.

He also acknowledged the presence of government officials in these proceedings, but expressed his solidarity with the threats denounced on Tuesday by the president of the JEP, magistrate Roberto Vidal, and stated that the victims and civil society organizations persist in the search for justice. and awaiting decisions from the JEP for crimes related to sexual violence in the context of the conflict.

reincorporation

Ruiz Massieu emphasized the importance of accompanying reintegration processes and echoed the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, in praising the government’s new approach related to “sustainability, community reintegration with an emphasis on reconciliation, access to land, gender issues and women’s empowerment”.

In the report, the secretary highlighted the sustainability strategy approved by the National Reincorporation Council (CNR) for collective productive projects and the government’s work on procedures and resources for access and purchase of land for ex-combatants, as well as progress legislation related to the integral rural reform and the approval of the Agrarian Jurisdiction.

The importance of dialogues

The UN Mission also highlighted the intention of the Government of President Gustavo Petro to put an end to the conflict, as well as the dialogues it is conducting with different armed groups.

“The government’s drive to implement key aspects of the peace agreement has gone hand in hand with the dialogue efforts of armed groups of different natures. These two aspects are complementary and mutually reinforcing”; said the UN representative.

He even described as “very encouraging” the results achieved in Cuba, in the third cycle of negotiations between the Government and the ELN, and highlighted the cessation of offensive actions between the partieswhich entered into force last week and the prompt installation of the National Participation Committee.

He also highlighted the government’s rapprochement with the FARC dissidents, with whom it was agreed to set up a peace table, last week. “I hope that the building of trust between the parties continues, and that we will soon have developments regarding the formal start of negotiations and a renewed national ceasefire,” said Ruiz Massieu.

For his part, the Colombian Foreign Minister, Álvaro Leyva, highlighted three fundamental issues before the Security Council: first, that “dialogue between the parties to the 2016 Peace Agreement is an essential element in its implementation and that this will continue to be the backbone of the national policy of total peace”.

Then, he called attention to the importance of the special justice for peace “fully accepting what was agreed by the high contracting parties that gave rise to its origin” and, finally, highlighted the relationship between the implementation of the 2016 Agreement and the dialogue initiatives carried out by the government within the framework of the policy of total peace.

Regarding the dialogues with the ELN, he stated that “they are progressing positively and have brought concrete results” and that they continue to “watch out for the negotiating groups” to present the protocols for the ceasefire agreed on June 9. On the other hand, he highlighted the importance of “the participation of the international community as guarantor and prosecutor of the agreement”, since, according to him, “it is of the greatest importance for the success of the processes.”

Finally, the Special Representative reiterated the importance of the UN’s contribution to the consolidation of peace in Colombia, through monitoring and verification of the ceasefires, which must be authorized by the Security Council. “Colombia is going through a critical moment in which the determined will of the parties, with the support of the international community, can consolidate incipient peace processes,” he insisted.

International delegations that participated in the Security Council, such as Japan, Brazil, Switzerland, Ecuador and the United Kingdom, among others, highlighted the positive aspects of implementation progress and expressed their support for the process.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtube and activate notifications, or follow us on social networks: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.