
On 13 January, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has raised several pints on the current state of implementation of the 2016 peace agreement and related areas, following publication of the UN Verification Mission’s latest quarterly report on the Colombian peace process. Read the UN’s summary and download the report below.
Secretary-General reiterates his support and hope that in 2025 colombians decisively advance on the path to peace
Bogotá, 13 January 2025. – In his most recent report on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that, in commemorating eight years since the signing of the Final Agreement, Colombia achieves a significant milestone on its path to peace. He welcomed the fact that the parties took the opportunity to renew their commitments to the Peace Agreement, as well as to express some of their concerns regarding the status of its implementation. “The ambitious nature of the Final Agreement is reflected in its holistic approach to achieving lasting peace by addressing the root causes of the conflict, a process which will require the continued commitment of all involved for years to come,” he added.
The report, which covers the period between 27 September and 26 December 2024, highlights as an indication of the overall success of implementation the fact that the vast majority of former combatants remain invested in their reintegration process and committed to peace, despite the many challenges encountered along the way. Approximately 99 per cent (27 per cent women) of the former combatants registered with the Agency for Reintegration and Normalization (ARN) have enrolled in the Comprehensive Reintegration Programme.
The Secretary-General acknowledged the momentum that the Comprehensive Rural Reform has had under the current administration through strengthening institutional coordination and prioritizing target regions. However, progress remains below the targets set out in the Agreement. Land adjudication stands at 5.7 per cent of the 3-million-hectare goal set out in the Agreement, while the formalization of land tenure has reached 43.8 per cent of the 7-million-hectare target. Adequate funding is needed to move forward on both fronts.
Regarding the acceleration of the implementation of the Agreement, António Guterres acknowledged the potential of the rapid response plan and highlighted that it can be strengthened through the inclusion of provisions on gender and the priorities of the Ethnic Chapter; the latter, one of the most lagging behind in terms of implementation. “I am particularly encouraged by the establishment, under the Plan, of territorial pacts on development priorities between communities and local and national authorities. This could be a major step in expanding State presence and bringing peace dividends, including access to livelihoods, education, health, and other dimensions of sustainable development, to historically marginalized regions, where persistent violence and insecurity remain the greatest obstacles to implementing the Final Agreement,” he said.
The Secretary-General welcomed the first update of the Framework Plan for Implementation released by the parties last November, adapting the system of indicators to the current reality and focusing on results and impact of the implementation of the Agreement. He added that it is essential that the objectives of the Peace Agreement be realized through adequate funding and efficiency of efforts. “I urge all involved to effectively structure, prioritize and streamline the multiple processes underway, along with their coordination and decision-making channels,” he said.
Regarding progress by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), António Guterres said that, with four cases in the trial stage, it is increasingly urgent that the Government take the necessary measures to establish conditions for the implementation of its restorative sentences. Likewise, he reiterated the importance that legal certainty for persons under the authority of the SJP be guaranteed, and that the latter ensures that the central objectives of delivering justice while contributing to the consolidation of peace are fulfilled expeditiously, for the benefit of the victims who await closure after decades of suffering. The Secretary-General called on the Government and the SJP to proceed swiftly and collaboratively within their respective mandates and responsibilities.
Regarding security guarantees for peace signatories and communities, during the period, there were 10 killings and six attempted homicides of former combatants. Since the signing of the Agreement, 441 former combatants have been killed (11 women, 59 indigenous, 57 Afro-Colombians), 158 have been victims of attempted homicides (17 women) and 45 have been deemed as missing (all men).
Regarding violence against social leaders, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights received reports of 37 alleged killings (21 verified, 6 under verification and 10 inconclusive). The attacks were mainly concentrated in Cauca, Arauca and Antioquia.
Despite ongoing peace efforts, fighting between armed groups and between armed groups and the public security forces continued in several regions, impacting communities. The Mission has received reports of an increase in the recruitment of children and the use of antipersonnel mines. During the period, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported the displacement of 176,609 persons (20 per cent decrease in mass displacements compared with the same period in the previous year) and the confinement of 138,795 (60 per cent increase), disproportionately affecting ethnic peoples and the Pacific region.
The strategy to accelerate the implementation of the public policy to dismantle illegal armed groups and criminal organizations advanced with the design of plans at the local level in two pilot regions: Magdalena Medio – southern Bolivar and northern Cauca. Stakeholders have stressed the importance of making this strategy compatible with ongoing peace efforts in these regions.
In addition, the Secretary-General welcomed the adoption of the first national action plan on Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. “I trust the national action plan will complement the gender provisions of the Final Agreement and ongoing peace dialogues, thus reinforcing women’s participation and the promotion of women’s rights,” said the Secretary-General.
On the recent extraordinary meetings between the Government and ELN, held in Caracas, the Secretary-General stated that they were a positive step in fostering further dialogue and called for the establishment of a new ceasefire. “I am encouraged by the intentions expressed by both parties to move forward as swiftly as possible in the months ahead. I urge them to consolidate progress made to date at the negotiating table and to keep their sights set on the overarching goal of peace. I call upon the parties to establish a new ceasefire as soon as possible, with a robust monitoring and verification mechanism and a sufficiently broad scope to improve the security of conflict-affected communities,” he added.
António Guterres welcomed the prioritization of dialogue as a means of stopping the violence and called on all participants in ongoing talks to move forward despite the setbacks inherent in these processes. In this context, he added that “recruitment and use of children and conflict-related sexual violence are unacceptable and must be brought to an end without delay. I urge all involved in the ongoing talks to demonstrate their vision and commitment to peace.”
The report shows that the different peace dialogue efforts accompanied by the Mission share common features: the aim to gradually implement agreements as they are reached, the goal of reducing violence and prioritizing territorial transformations. The Secretary-General notes that this approach requires effective coordination with existing security policies, as well as rapid and adequate mobilization of funding and other resources by the authorities, coordination between authorities at the national and local levels, and support from the international community.
Finally, the Secretary-General reiterated his support and hope that in 2025 Colombians will move decisively on the road to peace and reiterated that the United Nations remains committed to support the Government and all actors involved in this endeavour.
The report will be presented in New York on 22 January by Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.
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