YouSaid · the spoken record

Lucía Ramírez

lines on the record: 103
first: 2021-07-13
most recent: 2022-07-14
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Despite the work of the Government and Colombian society as a whole, we cannot ignore the fact that drug trafficking poses a major challenge, and we hope that the former FARC will make far more progress in its commitments to fight that scourge. Above all, we hope that headway will also be made in terms of transitional justice by obtaining the truth about the effective identification of drug trafficking routes and allied cartels operating in other countries, including where they launder their money or keep their financial assets. Let us remember that the peace agreement was signed knowing that the FARC was not, at that time, the sole generator of violence, which was fuelled for decades by drug trafficking in our country.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“The Prosecutor’s Office reports that the majority of incidents — more than 70 per cent — occurred in drug trafficking corridors and in areas where there are disputes between groups of drug traffickers, including FARC dissidents. Many of them killed their former comrades-in-arms when the latter refused to return to coca cultivation. That is not true for all cases, but the figures from the Prosecutor’s Office show that 70 per cent are closely related to those areas linked to drug trafficking activity. Between January and August, we also saw a 29 per cent decrease in the number of murders of human rights leaders and defenders as compared to the same period in 2020. That is why the strategic security plan is so important.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Homicides against persons in the reintegration process went from 74 in 2019 to 68 in 2020, which is 8.1 per cent lower, but I insist that there is no justification for the death of an ex-combatant. Likewise, between 1 January and 24 September 2021, that rate was 18.7 per cent lower than during the same period in 2020, but our goal is to reach zero homicides. As several Council members have mentioned, including the representative of the United States, the investigation, indictment and conviction of those acts by the Prosecutor’s Office must continue to be fulfilled in a prompt and effective manner. As of 1 October, investigative progress had been made in 182 of the 340 cases reported against persons in the reintegration process.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“The commitment of President Duque Márquez and the Government to providing assistance, security and reparation for victims has been reflected in all aspects of our policy of peace with legality, in particular the results of the Victims and Land Restitution Units. With regard to the second of the three aspects of the mandate, on security guarantees, we have set in motion the implementation of policies for our strategic security plan, which was developed by Counsellor Archila Peñalosa. For our Government, even a single death is unacceptable, and we grieve for every life lost. Again, that is totally unacceptable. Under that premise, we are working to reduce acts of violence and all homicides against the ex-combatant population.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“That has set a good precedent for the vital measures we are already preparing to take in order to guarantee even better security for the members of the Comunes party throughout the next electoral process. In the same vein regarding political participation, and although it is not part Mission’s mandate, we must highlight President Duque Márquez’s announcement of the signing of the decree providing for 16 seats for victims’ representation in Congress from 2022- 2030. Victims are at the centre of that initiative, and therefore it is very important that the Mission be fully aware of the need to constantly support that effort for the benefit of the victims in those seats. I am very grateful to the representatives of Mexico, Viet Nam and India, among others, for their remarks in that regard.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“That is why the fact we have strengthened all our institutions for the implementation of the peace agreement is so important, as institutions constitute one of the assets of the main pillars of peacebuilding. That is precisely why we also welcome the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia for one more year. The guarantees we made to the candidates of the Comunes political party regarding their participation in the recent elections achieved their purpose of protection from the risk of homicide and kidnapping, which have, unfortunately, in the past, led to several ex-combatant candidates losing their lives or being forced to withdraw.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Today there are 12,910 persons in the reintegration process, over 10,400 of whom are outside the former territorial training and reincorporation spaces and 2,469 of whom remain within them. As several members of the Council have said, we are currently on the verge of an electoral process that will be fundamental for the continuation of peacebuilding and stabilization in Colombia. We are convinced that its proper implementation will contribute to achieving a lasting peace if our country takes advantage of the opportunity to build on the gains that have already been made. It is also essential to protect the lives of those participating in the electoral process and that the next Government, whichever it may be, continues to build on what has been achieved thus far.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“After having initially agreed on the first housing solutions in the former territorial training and reincorporation spaces, the former FARC component changed its mind about the construction system and rejected the national Government’s offer of housing. We understand that to be a process issue that must be swiftly resolved. The guarantees in the reintegration process are available to all demobilized ex-combatants who are party to the agreed road map, regardless of whether or not they belong to the FARC or Comunes political parties. No matter whether an ex-combatant is a party member or not, they will face no discrimination whatsoever, provided that they are already fulfilling their obligations.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“We have seen outstanding results in those projects thanks to the dialogue to which several Council members referred, which is an ongoing process, on the President’s instructions, being carried out by the Presidential Counsellor for Stabilization and Consolidation, Mr. Emilio Archila Peñalosa, who is here with me today. The analyses and discussions in the Commission for the Follow-up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement and in the National Reintegration Council, as well as the multiple constructive meetings with ex- combatants convened by Mr. Archila Peñalosa and Director Stapper, have provided clarity within each of the steps that are being taken in that process jointly with the ex-combatants.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“However, given that some of the productive projects require land, the Government has begun acquiring plots so that former combatants’ projects can be viable, profitable and lasting and overtime enable them to make an adequate income. More than $2.5 million has already been disbursed for the purchase of more than 570 hectares and, as I mentioned previously, 3,550 individual and collective productive projects have benefited from leased land, thanks to which 57 per cent of ex- combatants — representing 7,100 ex-combatants and their families — enjoy a stable income. Despite the fact that ex-combatant status was not foreseen as a criterion for receiving land, many of those ex-combatants received land for their productive projects.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“The territorial areas for training and reintegration were initially planned as temporary sites that should have been dissolved by now. However, our Government decided to transform them into a permanent fixture and include them in local territorial planning. We have maintained 24 areas and are preserving their current administration and providing resources totalling more than $18 million dedicated to covering the costs of their maintenance, rent and administration to ensure that they can function properly. We have also provided food support, and the national Government has provided such support with an investment of more than $7 million dollars. As members are well aware, the agreement did not provide land to former FARC combatants.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“In line with the policy of peace with legality, we have established the National Reintegration Council, which has enabled us to develop robust planning that includes specific actions with time frames and indicating those responsible, according to the needs of former combatants. There has been very significant coordination in the reintegration process in which the former combatants have participated. As many said earlier, it is a historic processes, and, in the area of reintegration, the Government is going even further than what the agreement sets out. In terms of economic guarantees, we have dispersed $118 million to the benefit of 13,216 former combatants of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). As I mentioned previously, 13,996 former combatants have laid down their weapons.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“We have invited her to actively participate in the transformation that the Government of President Duque is carrying out. That includes the major pact for youth initiative, which concluded a few days ago after holding 500 workshops made up of more than 15,000 young people representing every race, social background and region of the country. That was a very significant step that our country will have to follow up with a perspective on the mid- and long-term. As all members know, the support for reintegration was conceived of in 2019, and it should therefore be coming to a conclusion now. However, our Government has decided to extend the time frame for as long as it takes — for those who have been reintegrated — as enshrined in our national development plan. Of course, the necessary resources have been allocated every year in the budget.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“But how can it not be a challenge to implement a process in which 13,996 former combatants were demobilized, including their families? How can it not be a challenge when the development programmes with a territorial focus cover nearly 7 million inhabitants, which is comparable to the populations of Lebanon, Libya, El Salvador, Laos, Bulgaria or Hong Kong? I wonder what country in the world would be able, in three or five years, to resolve all of the problems of any of those countries. Of course, we have great commitment in line with what the civil society briefers said, but also with what Melissa Herrera said, who spoke at the previous meeting on behalf of Latin American Foundation Viva la Vida (see S/PV.8818). I have written to her and told her what we are doing.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“With that approach, the gender round table has demonstrated how all the indicators are reflective of the very obvious progress. Was there also a need for an ethnic approach? Well, therein the importance of a round table with an ethnic focus, which should also be included. Personally, it was my initial belief that the approach must include all ethnic groups, because we women have a range of ideas, needs and demands. But if such a round table contributes to better implementation, we welcome it. Counsellor Archila Peñalosa is working on that. We have faced major challenges. We have addressed them because that is our commitment to Colombia as the Government of President Duque. Continuing to build peace every day entails enormous efforts by the Government, political will and budgetary resources, as the representative of France just mentioned.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Every three months, we have shown how we have been able, first, to provide political and legal guarantees to the process; secondly, provide support for the victims; thirdly, reintegrate former combatants; fourthly, roll out crop substitution programmes; fifthly, develop the territorial areas for training and reintegration; sixthly, provide comprehensive rural development, which is increasingly comprehensive in terms of infrastructure, economic development, social investment and the environment and includes working with communities and providing education for children; and, lastly, the gender approach. I agree with what our civil society representatives — Bibiana and Daniela — said earlier in their briefings, as the gender approach has been vital to the agreement.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“That means that our Administration has to carry out 26 per cent of the implementation. As the representative of Ireland noted, that constitutes one third of the time that has elapsed. Although much time remains, it is important not to backslide with regard to what has already been achieved in terms of the 26 per cent that our Government has to implement. As is clear, a great deal of progress has been made, which would have been impossible to imagine two years, or even one year, ago. We are very proud of that.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“The report also acknowledges the implementation of the agreement in its establishing space for communities to work with the Government in drafting development plans and alternatives to illicit economies, in which there has been an unprecedented gender approach, referred to for the fourth consecutive time in the report. The policy of peace with legality has embodied our vision to help Colombia overcome the challenges that it should have addressed decades ago and that led to the conflict lasting for so long. The Constitutional Court has stated that the commitments provided for in the agreement should be worked on continually over a 15-year period — that is the time frame, not 26 years — and therefore our country will have to achieve its implementation in 15 years.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“That progress is particularly important as we are on the eve of commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, the implementation of which has been achieved, for all intents and purposes, over the past three years. More specifically, during the past three years of our term in Government, we have implemented the policy of peace with legality, which is non-exclusive and is the essence of what was needed in Colombia following the many years of conflict we unfortunately experienced.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Soto a young woman with such authority on Cauca and the suffering there and how violence has taken root in Caldono, unfortunately, as a result of the growing presence of drug trafficking. I express my solidarity with both women. We stand ready to work with both of them with open arms, as we are perfectly aware that the voice and work of women and their ability to build bridges will enable us to move our country forward. I also thank Mr. Ruiz Massieu for his briefing, his presentation of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2021/824) and his continued work. The report outlines the progress that almost all Council members have acknowledged. For that, we thank everyone on behalf of President Iván Duque Márquez and our entire Government.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Ms. Lucía Ramírez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I thank all the members of the Security Council for their continued interest in the situation in Colombia. I especially thank Kenya for convening this meeting. I am very grateful for the briefings by two outstanding representatives of Colombia and Colombian women, Ms. Bibiana Peñaranda and Ms. Daniela Soto. I thank them for their remarks. Among other things, we are very grateful for the fact that Bibiana was part of a process that led to her re-election and the overall process that the Government of Colombia, especially the Counsellor for Stabilization, Mr. Emilio Archila Peñalosa, organized. We are also very pleased to see in Ms.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“In Colombia today we have 2 million Venezuelans, for whom we are working every day to vaccinate them and provide them with the best living condition, as well as ensuring that they have jobs and are truly able to integrate into our society. To that end, President Duque Márquez has launched a 10- year temporary protection programme, for which we hope to continue to have the support of Member States. I would very much like to thank all those countries that participated in the donor event organized by Canada on 17 June. I apologize to you, Mr. President, for having exceeded the time limit by a few minutes, but there were very many issues raised in the statements that I did want to overlook. The meeting rose at noon.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“It has made 97 commitments, each of which has its own planning, and many of which have already been fully achieved. Further, in our territorial development plans, we also have special mechanisms, with consultations both for ethnic and indigenous communities, as well as the gender roundtable I mentioned earlier. Let there be no doubt, therefore, that Council members’ recommendations are valid, but out of our own conviction, our own ethics and our own dedication to Colombia, we know that there can be no differentiation between races or ethnicities. I would also like to remind the Council that we have shown great commitment in our country with regard to the pain of migration.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“At the same time, there is a lot of pain in Colombian society because of so many years of humiliation and suffering, but today we know what we all have to build, and we are all looking forward to the future of our country. I would like to conclude with a very important point that Presidential Counsellor for Stabilization and Consolidation, Mr. Emilio Archila, asked me not to overlook: ethnic groups. For us, it is fundamental that peace in Colombia includes all the people of our country, all people — men and women of all ethnicities and races — and we cannot make any kind of differentiation among them. But we also have a specific body for gender issues, which is in the national budget, and which has received resources in the amount of $500,000 from the multi-donor roundtable.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“I am extending the invitation on behalf of President Iván Duque — yesterday he extended a similar invitation to the Secretary-General — so that they can also see for themselves what our country is like, how the work of the Security Council has so greatly contributed to Colombia’s progress and how Colombia is a country where the commitment to dialogue, to the construction of democracy, to the construction of a truly prosperous, developed and inclusive country, is a daily commitment — of the President, of his Cabinet, of the members of the Administration in general — but it is also a commitment present throughout Colombian society.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“There are many statements to acknowledge, but there are also many others that were made because we might not have provided enough information. We wish to keep the Council updated on a quarterly basis, and our reports should show progress. I am sure that Council members will see greater progress with each passing quarter. In any case, I would like to remind the Council that in November 2021 we will be commemorating the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Agreement. We hope that all members of the Council will be able to visit Colombia.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“An attack on a president is an attack on democracy and on the stability of a nation, and it is very clear to us that, unfortunately, the perpetrators of this attack have had a great deal of support, although we cannot share the elements of that certainty with the Council at this time. I think it is really necessary to underline what the representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines said; for us it is also extremely worrying what is happening, but I do believe that the different cases involving former combatants and others are statistics worth specifying. There have been so many points made by members of the Council today that perhaps I should send them a note, if that is customary, so that these assertions can be cleared up.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Herrera said, namely, that the commitment has to be for the long term, so that when we address these points with Carlos Ruiz in Bogotá, they will give rise to a much more formal commitment. I am particularly grateful for the kind remarks made here by several speakers — the representative of Viet Nam, the representative of Mexico, the representative of the United States, the representative of the United Kingdom, the representative of Norway, the representative of India — and for their expressions of solidarity, especially that of representative of France for our president on the totally unacceptable attack he suffered in a helicopter.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Colombian First Lady María Juliana Ruiz, is also working hard to ensure that young people have access to all opportunities, including to the political leadership about which Ms. Herrera spoke. We must also ensure that justice makes progress in all investigations of crimes against young people that have taken place in any context, be it the protests or any other context. I mentioned that the statistics cited in today’s are not precise. Our work with the Attorney General’s Office and with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights itself has involved different figures, but, I repeat, all deaths must be investigated, and those responsible must be identified and punished. I also believe in what Ms.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“In fact, significant progress has already been made with regard to many of her requests. We are maintaining a dialogue with young people throughout the country, specifically to draw up a pact for youth that will last for the long term, committing the Colombian State beyond the term of the current Administration and strengthening, for the long term, education, conditions for youth access to employment, but above all the participation of young people. That is why the president has insisted so much on the election of youth councils, which was to be held last year. The Bureau of Elections had everything ready, but the pandemic came, so members of these youth councils will have to be elected by young people, including Ms. Herrera, this year.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“I am going to speak directly to the various ambassadors in Bogotá to make it clear that much of this information really does not correspond to reality. We have functional institutions — a Public Prosecutor’s Office, an Attorney General’s Office — that are carrying out their activities with complete independence and which are specifically responsible for identifying any person responsible for any violation of human rights or for any abuse of authority and with the ability to impose the most drastic sanctions, because we are totally convinced that this is what is in keeping with our commitment to democracy in Colombia. I would like to say to Ms. Herrera that it seems to me that all the requests she has addressed to the Colombian State are totally viable.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“We believe in a true peace that is built on institutions, on democracy, on the division of powers, on economic investment to create jobs. But sadly, there are people who want to come to power by destroying the current system that we have in Colombia, which is why the Security Council’s understanding is so important. The topic that brings us to this Chamber today is the issue of the implementation of the Agreement and its two mandates. We fully agree with the five priorities mentioned by the Secretary-General in his report. But I would really like to have the opportunity to clarify or set straight many statements that were made today in the light of the fact that much of Council members’ information has come to them through the media.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“That represents that 11 per cent or slightly less required the intervention of the security forces. Why? Because security forces are obliged, on the one hand, to protect peaceful — peaceful — demonstrations, as has been mentioned today, and, on the other hand, to protect the public, the safety of citizens, public order and public property. What we saw there was a process of systematic, organized, planned and financed destruction intended to deteriorate the social, political and economic conditions of our country. This is what we experienced with horror in Colombia. And unfortunately, as some Council members have said, we also see that there is a strange or, once again, unfortunate coincidence between the protests and the upcoming electoral process.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“This subsidy, equivalent to 25 percent of wages, will allow employers to hire many more young people and thereby contribute to the social stability of our country. Of course, during the protests there were deaths, deaths that cause us pain; no matter the number, the important thing is that there should not have been a single death during the protests. But these deaths occurred because, against a backdrop of valid, legitimate protests, which our Government supports and protects, small groups, armed and committed acts of vandalism and destruction, unfortunately infiltrated the protests, killing many citizens who were there. I want the Council to know that we have had 15,000 protests since 28 April, and only for 1,400- odd did security forces intervene.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“However, as I have already said, those protests are not related to a lack of compliance on the part of the Government with regard to the agreement, but rather are linked to the suffering that many countries have experienced as a result of the pain being felt by all humankind owing to the pandemic, which has killed millions of people and impoverished millions more around the world. That is the main reason for the significant unrest in Colombia. Of course poverty and extreme poverty have worsened, which is why we have given priority to addressing the request by young people: a programme has been set up to guarantee free education to all young people in grades 1, 2 and 3. Further, President Duque recently established a subsidy for employers to generate new jobs for young people.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“However, I do think that it is important for other women former combatants to be heard — the women of the Rosa Blanca organization — who have continuously condemned all the atrocities and violations committed against those who suffered at the hands of their own commanders as former combatants against the Colombian State. In June, the policy document Conpes 4031 was adopted, focusing attention on reparation for victims. It includes a gender approach and establishes additional actions to be taken. I want to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for his work in response to the request for support for the various aspects of the dialogues among the Government, the National Strike Committee and other participants in the social protests that Colombia has witnessed over the past two months.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“According to our analysis, about 57 per cent of the gender indicators of the framework plan have been completed or have a high degree of compliance, and 51 gender indicators that have registered significant progress. The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies has highlighted the monitoring methodology and the support of the 18 governmental entities. Rural women are protagonists in peacebuilding. That is why I would like to underscore the formal allocation of land and financial support for multiple women who are part of the peacebuilding process.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“It is important that all the investigations of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace prosper, and there must be greater contributions in terms of truth, non-repetition and compliance with the sentences that the jurisdiction will impose. The report includes a cross-cutting issue that is at the heart of the Government’s agenda — the gender approach. That is one of our priorities to promote equality, and I would like to thank Melissa Herrera for her statement. I want to address one of her appeals, because what she had to say was moving. That was indeed the objective of all our policies on gender equality. I think that Colombia can share with many countries represented at this table the progress it has achieved, from an institutional perspective, in achieving genuine gender equality.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“There can be no doubt about our respect for the independence of the transitional justice system, which is palpable in the constructive and respectful dialogue between President Duque and the President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Mr. Eduardo Cifuentes, as well as in our efforts to establish a budget to strengthen its jurisdiction and ensure its proper functioning. In that context, I want to thank the Security Council for its unanimous adoption of resolution 2574 (2021) in May, and especially the United Kingdom for its support as penholder. That resolution, which was submitted at our request and extended the Mission’s mandate, should inspire the transitional justice mechanisms, whose progress is recognized in the report, to strengthen their efforts to work more effectively and quickly.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“For Colombians and those who have supported the country since the signing of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, it is essential that all transitional justice mechanisms provide optimal results, which will undoubtedly contribute to solid progress in the reconciliation process. Although progress has been made along some lines, such as kidnapping, as has been affirmed by three speakers at today’s meeting, it is also true that while the Special Jurisdiction for Peace has defined kidnapping as a war crime and a crime against humanity, Colombian society expects to see greater efforts and speed on the part of the FARC in uncovering the truth and bringing perpetrators to justice in the many cases of sexual violence and child recruitment committed in the course of the conflict.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“We wish there had been none, but this year’s statistics show a drop of more than 20 per cent from those of last year. Additionally, great progress has been reported in judicial matters, both in the investigations and in the arrests of perpetrators and masterminds of murders of ex-combatants. Unfortunately, in most cases the perpetrators of those homicides are linked to drug trafficking and FARC dissidents. It is also important to note that the Office of the Attorney General reported that, in April 2021, it was investigating 254 homicides, 16 disappearances and 42 attempts, on which it has registered investigative progress in 52 per cent of cases, including the issuance of 282 arrest warrants and more than 40 convictions, in which the responsibility for deaths has been ascribed to drug trafficking groups and FARC dissidents.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Emilio Archila, who is with us today, led a new process to review security conditions for ex- combatants who maintain their commitment to legality, as well as for the leaders of crop substitution. Colombia today allocates more than 24 police squadrons, 54 army platoons and 316 individual protection units with armoured cars for former FARC combatants. Moreover, significant resources have been allocated to the National Protection Unit in order to hire 628 additional protection personnel for former FARC-EP combatants. We will not cease in our efforts to protect all those who laid down their arms and bet on peace. Our objective is to achieve zero attacks on ex- combatants, but it is well worth noting that in the first half of 2021, the number of murders of ex-combatants fell significantly.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Secondly, with regard to security guarantees for ex- combatants, the Interinstitutional Coordination Bureau evaluates on an ongoing basis progress made in the implementation of a strategy focused on strengthening interinstitutional coordination to provide security for community leaders and, of course, all former combatants. It is worth recalling that the security measures ensured that not a single candidate of the FARC — now the Comunes party — was assassinated or kidnapped in the 2019 elections, and a similar arrangement is being developed to ensure the same protection for the next elections, to be held in 2022. I should point out that recently, on 1 July, the Presidential Counsellor for Stabilization and Consolidation, Mr.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Additionally, $4.2 million have been earmarked for the acquisition of properties for the development of productive and housing projects in the former territorial areas for training and reintegration, which has enabled us to purchase properties amounting to 565 hectares. In March, the legal status of some of those areas was established. The Government cooperates with people in the reintegration process, offering them socioeconomic benefits regardless of their location. Today, 95 per cent of ex-combatants have bank accounts, 99 per cent are affiliated with the health system and more than 13,000 have received financial guarantees.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Some 53.9 per cent of this population also participate in 3,063 individual or collective productive projects, including 283 that had been suspended during the pandemic. As of the date of the report, as Mr. Ruiz Massieu informed us, 509 additional productive projects had been initiated because the requirements for disbursement had been met. As part of the road map for reintegration that has been referred to today, we have included a housing guarantee and enacted regulatory measures for access to land, providing the corresponding agencies with greater legal and economic resources. To date, a total of 1,373 hectares have been made available for this purpose and properties have been given to ex-combatants for their use.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Regrettably, at times, such groups operate in neighbouring countries and subject the most vulnerable to conditions that are tantamount to slavery. I would like to mention the following points on the two issues that are part of the mandate. Progress made in the areas of political, economic and social reintegration is indisputable. By April this year, 13,998 people were registered as having left the FARC, 99 per cent of whom have a health plan and 87 per cent have a pension plan. Those statistics are higher than those for the average Colombian. Some 85 per cent of those reintegrated from the FARC-EP have received monthly financial support from our Government for their sustenance, and 90 per cent have received job training through the National Training Service.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Our country continues its responsible implementation of the Agreement, sparing no effort in the ongoing fight against organized armed groups and any group focused on profiting from criminal activities. Such profits jeopardize the country’s stability, the safety of our citizens and a precious good for our country — the continuity of our democracy. As mentioned in the report, comprehensive State presence, including the deployment of public security forces and civil institutions throughout the country, is our Government’s main priority. That has been complemented, inter alia, with the construction over the past three years of 13,848 kilometres of infrastructure in rural areas to provide farmers with development options to keep them away from coca production and illegal mining, which benefit transnational mafias.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“We would have preferred 100 per cent progress. However, only five years have passed since the signing of the agreement. Implementing the agreement over 15 years will incur costs, which, without a doubt, will exceed Colombia’s budget; it would exceed the budget of any of the countries represented here today. We will not fail to implement the 2016 Agreement because, inter alia, we know that the criminal groups that attack leaders in various regions of Colombia today had already existed. Then came the so-called FARC dissidents. It is not true that recent violence in Colombia is due to an alleged breach of the Agreement. There was no breach. On the contrary, several implementation indicators exceed what we should have been achieved in just under five years.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Our initial estimate of what it would cost to implement the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, signed with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia- Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP), was approximately the equivalent of two entire years of the Colombia’s gross domestic product — as if the country had no external debt, pension obligations or several other challenges to face. The implementation of the Agreement would cost us the equivalent of two entire years of Colombia’s gross domestic product. That is why I request members to bear in mind that the time frame for implementing the agreement is 15 years. I am surprised to state here at today’s meeting that no progress has been made. I heard no mention of that in Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu’s briefing. He acknowledged some progress.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Colombia reiterates the call for shared responsibility in the fight against drug trafficking and greater efficiency in pursuing drug processing. Regrettably, drugs leave our country every day and are processed in laboratories in various countries, including in developed economies. Shared responsibility is also important in condemning and clamping down on deforestation and human trafficking, which are linked to drug trafficking. We face monumental challenges but we will not fail to honour our commitment to an extremely complex process.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source