YouSaid · the spoken record

Ruiz Massieu

lines on the record: 218
first: 2019-01-23
most recent: 2023-10-11
sittings or episodes: 16
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

“With the will of the parties and the support of Colombian society and the international community, it will be possible to bring an end to a conflict that has lasted for decades and whose resolution is essential to expanding the reach of peace in the country. We are confident that Colombia can once again demonstrate to the world that the best way to end conflicts is through dialogue. The support of the Security Council has been decisive in securing important achievements and overcoming countless obstacles. In view of the new scenario of renewed opportunities for peace, the Council’s firm and unanimous commitment to Colombia will continue to be of vital importance.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“I therefore welcome the Government’s willingness to adopt a new approach to human security aimed specifically at strengthening the comprehensive deployment of State services, citizens’ trust in civilian institutions and the security forces, and gradually eliminating the causes of violence. I am confident that thanks to the measures taken by the Government in that regard — among them an emergency plan for the protection of social leaders, human rights defenders and ex-combatants — the communities in the regions most affected by the conflict will see improvements in terms of security and quality of life. The decision announced last week by the Government of Colombia and the ELN to resume peace talks is encouraging.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“The Special Jurisdiction has also opened new cases aimed at addressing crimes committed by all parties, as well as their impact on ethnic peoples and territories, and has announced an upcoming case on crimes related to gender-based and sexual violence, as called for by civil society and women’s organizations. (spoke in Spanish) In my recent visits to a number of regions of the country, community representatives expressed their concerns about the constant threat posed by the presence of illegal armed actors and their frustration at unmet expectations regarding the State’s slow delivery of basic services and development opportunities.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“The report of the Truth Commission, whose recommendations the new Administration has committed to implementing, was inspired by the voices of thousands of victims. The Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed Missing has responded to the calls of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities and has reached important agreements with them to strengthen search efforts in their territories. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace continues to make progress on issuing its first restorative sentences. Important steps in that direction include the holding of public hearings for the acknowledgement of truth and responsibility, as well as discussions involving both perpetrators and victims regarding proposals for tasks, work and activities with reparative and restorative content.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“It will also be important for the Government to appoint a new Director of the Agency for Reintegration and Normalization as well as representatives to the National Reintegration Council, so that important forum can fully resume its work in supporting more than 13,000 ex-combatants on matters ranging from gender and ethnic affairs to land and housing. That would definitely help to provide former combatants with some certainty and continuity in their dialogue with the Government with a view to consolidating the process, starting with the pending discussions on how to guarantee the sustainability of reintegration. Recent developments within the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition illustrate the centrality of victims to peace and reconciliation.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“(spoke in English) Bringing the promises of the agreement to fruition requires continuous and constructive dialogue between the parties and with civil society, including women’s and ethnic organizations, within the framework of the institutions created by the Final Agreement. Importantly, the Commission for the Follow-up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement and the National Commission on Security Guarantees met recently for the first time under the new Administration, with both being chaired by President Petro Urrego. I truly believe that the full use of those mechanisms will be key to helping to resolve the many urgent challenges facing the work of implementing the peace.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“In addition, Congress is moving forward in the discussion of the national budget for 2023, in which the Government has proposed greater resources for comprehensive rural reform and the illicit crop substitution programme. Those are essential elements for the implementation of the Final Agreement. I am confident that Congress will approve the necessary resources for the entities responsible for implementing the Agreement. I would also like to highlight the importance of the recent agreement between the Government and the Cattle Ranchers Association for the purchase of land to be distributed among peasants through the mechanisms established by the peace agreement. Its implementation will be an unprecedented boost to agrarian reform, addressing one of the structural causes of the conflict.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“That would increase the chances of ending the violence through dialogue and would open up an opportunity for those communities to build a life in peace and dignity. In addition to the dialogue efforts, the consolidation of peace requires materializing pending commitments in the implementation of the Final Agreement. In that connection, it is positive that in these first weeks Congress has debated key reforms with enormous potential, such as the bill to create the agrarian jurisdiction and the proposal for a political reform. Likewise, this week Congress advanced the process on the law that provides a legal framework for the “total peace” policy and ratified the Escazú Agreement, a fundamental step, among others, for the protection of environmental defenders.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“As we will soon commemorate another anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, it is necessary to remember that the peace process in Colombia has been a benchmark in the matter. The search for “total peace” is therefore an opportunity to continue building on those foundations while ensuring the broad and effective participation of women. From Chocó to Catatumbo, from Putumayo to the south of Bolívar, it is women and their communities who confront and resist the violence caused by different armed actors who dispute territorial control. I therefore echo the Secretary-General’s message urging those actors to demonstrate their will for peace and respond positively to the call for a ceasefire proposed by President Petro Urrego.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“In addition, it seeks to deepen peace through the resumption of dialogues with the Ejército de Liberación (ELN) and through rapprochements with other armed actors to put an end to the multiple manifestations of violence that continue to hit communities in various regions of the country. As the Secretary-General states in his report, we are encouraged that the new Government’s approach prioritizes dialogue as the main resource to resolve the social and armed conflict, that it focuses security strategies on the protection of vulnerable communities and that it recognizes the interdependence between lasting solutions to violence and overcoming historical inequalities, especially in rural and impoverished areas, as well as its emphasis on the active participation of broad and diverse sectors of Colombian society.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“Likewise, I welcome the participation of Elizabeth Moreno Barco, an Afro-Colombian leader from the department of Chocó who knows first-hand the harshness of the conflict and embodies the will of the communities to end the violence through dialogue. Colombia is experiencing a moment of renewed expectations, product of the audacious approach of “total peace” advanced by President Gustavo Petro Urrego. That policy is anchored in the comprehensive implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace with the former Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP).”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to present the most recent report of the Secretary-General on Colombia (S/2022/715) and to update the Security Council on major developments since the date of its publication. It is an honour to be at this meeting for the first time with Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva Durán, who has dedicated a good part of his life and his career to the search for peace in Colombia. I greet the new Permanent Representative of Colombia, Ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres. I thank the Government of Colombia for the constructive work with the United Nations during the first two months of the new Administration.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9151 (2022) · source
“I also had the opportunity to meet with Vice-President-elect Francia Elena Márquez Mina, the first Afro-Colombian woman to hold that position, who also reiterated that peace, with a territorial and ethnic approach, would feature prominently in the Government’s agenda. Indeed, the incoming Administration has a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement. There are very good reasons for optimism, and I believe that the United Nations and the international community at large should do all they can to lend their support.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“The Mission will continue to follow up duly on this issue and other efforts by all parties towards the shared goal of guaranteeing victims’ rights to truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition. (spoke in English) As the incoming Administration prepares to take office, President-elect Petro has called for national unity and has expressed his intention to deepen the comprehensive implementation of the peace agreement, as well as to seek both political and judicial negotiated solutions with the remaining illegal armed actors in what he has called the quest for total peace. When I met with him two weeks ago, he strongly reaffirmed that peace would be a cornerstone of his Government and that he was counting on the support of the United Nations.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“In line with its goal of ensuring reparations, the hearings also opened up a space for the victims and the world for the leaders of the former Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo, former members of the security forces, including high-ranking officers and civilian third parties to help acknowledge the truth and reinforce their commitment to ensuring that the past will not be repeated. Accordingly, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace is also moving towards the imposition of its first sanctions. For its part, the Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed Missing has continued its important work. Only a few days ago it located a father who was reunited with his two daughters and brought together two brothers who had been separated for decades.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“The report’s painful findings have shed light on the causes and effects of the conflict, including the heartbreaking statistics reflecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Colombians cut short over decades and the dynamics that explain the persistence of violence. The report also leaves us with a wealth of recommendations for advancing peacebuilding and reconciliation as a national project, including a call on State entities to ensure full compliance with the Final Agreement. The historic first hearings of truth and acknowledgement of responsibility held by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace have also given voice to the representatives of hundreds of victims and their calls for justice and reparations.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“Transparency in the use of precious funding for peace is vital and demands that the authorities thoroughly investigate any possible acts of corruption, and I trust that that will be the case. (spoke in Spanish) Despite the many challenges to the process, the developments in this reporting period also include inspiring progress. A few weeks ago, in a milestone of the utmost importance for peace in Colombia and the world, the Truth Commission published its final report, which is a comprehensive compilation of multiple voices and sectors throughout Colombian society in every part of the country.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities are among those most seriously affected by the violence and insecurity. And while the full application of the ethnic provisions of the Final Agreement could help address the most urgent concerns, their implementation remains comparatively weak. The High-level Forum of Ethnic Peoples created by the agreement has called for a dedicated follow-up on ethnic matters by international actors, and I fully endorse those recommendations. Worrying information has recently come to light related to the alleged misuse of considerable resources from royalties from hydrocarbon exploitation allocated for the implementation of projects within the development programmes with a territorial focus.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“After the laying down of arms, he became a leader of the reintegration process and an advocate for the implementation of the agreement more broadly, including as an active member until 2021 of the Commission for the Follow- Up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement. Including those most recent deaths, the Mission has recorded the killings of 331 former combatants since the signing of the agreement. The security of living former combatants must be guaranteed. A priority for any peace agreement must be to safeguard the lives of those who have laid down their arms in good faith with assurances that they would be protected. Illegal armed actors continue to target local leaders in conflict-affected areas marked by poverty, illicit economies and a limited State presence.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“Despite the reasons for optimism, we are also constantly reminded of the serious obstacles that remain on the path to consolidating peace. Chief among them is the persisting violence against communities, leaders and former combatants in several departments. It saddens me to have to inform the Council that another four former combatants have been killed since the publication of the Secretary-General´s report two weeks ago. Among the victims was Ronald Rojas, also known as Ramiro Durán, a prominent leader of former combatants in the Huila department. Ramiro stood out for his commitment to peace since the onset of the process.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“There are now more guarantees for the exercise of political opposition, and the voices of 16 representatives of victims from conflict-affected regions will be heard in Congress. Another factor that will make this Congress an unprecedented one is that it will include the largest- ever share of women lawmakers, close to 30 per cent of all of its members. Together with representatives from UN-Women, I recently had an opportunity to meet with several of the newly elected women lawmakers, who expressed their clear determination to advance many issues in Congress, including the gender provisions of the peace agreement. We hope that the new Congress will make considerable progress in adopting the more than 30 pending peace-related norms, including on key matters such as comprehensive rural reform and guarantees for political participation.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“(spoke in English) Over the past few months, Colombians took part in a hard-fought political campaign that resulted in the election of President Gustavo Petro and Vice-President Francia Márquez, who will be sworn in on 7 August, and of a new Congress, which will be installed on 20 July. I would like to echo the Secretary-General’s encouragement with regard to the mostly peaceful elections and take this opportunity to once again highlight the significant contribution that the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace has made to widening and deepening Colombian democracy. The electoral outcomes are increasingly reflecting the diversity of the country’s vibrant society.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“As the Council is well aware, indigenous women play a leading role in peacebuilding in the territories. I am also very pleased to present this quarterly report in the presence of Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Truth Commission. I would like to take this opportunity to commend him and the other commissioners on their outstanding work over the past three years and the recent publication of their final report. And I want to echo the main message conveyed to the country through the presentation of this report, which is that only through truth can we build a better future for all Colombia.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“Mr. Ruiz Massieu: I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to present the latest report of the Secretary- General on Colombia (S/2022/513) and to update the Security Council on the important recent developments since its publication. (spoke in Spanish) It is a pleasure to be in the Security Council with Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez. I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation once again to the Government of Colombia for supporting and cooperating with the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and the United Nations in general. I welcome the participation in this meeting of Ms. Jineth Casso Piamba, a leader of the Nasa people of the Cauca department and representative of the Women’s Network of the municipality of Caldono.”
2022-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9094 (2022) · source
“At the same time, I am aware that leadership will soon pass to a new Administration, the third since the agreement was signed, which will take on the responsibility of the executive in its implementation. In order to continue to make progress in that direction, it is vital that the parties, civil society and political stakeholders acknowledge the progress made, commit to making progress on outstanding tasks and decisively respond to challenges. In that context, the Security Council’s continuing support will be crucial, as always.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“I welcome the recent announcement by President Duque of the establishment of a road map for the care and support of members of the public security forces who voluntarily appear before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. Peace in Colombia is invaluable. We must continue building it and protecting it in order to ensure its success, not only for the good of Colombia but also because of the example that it sets for the world. The Secretary-General, during his visit to Colombia last November, said: “In a world of geopolitical divisions, interminable wars and multiplying conflicts, Colombia sends a clear message: it is time to invest in peace”. We welcome all the efforts that the Government, led by President Duque, will continue as making in the months to come.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“I wish also to stress the historic nature of the first public hearings on acknowledgement of responsibility to be undertaken by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in the coming weeks. In those hearings, former commanders of the FARC-EP, members of the public security forces and third parties will have a forum to demonstrate their commitment to truth and the rights of victims, which is the reason for being of that comprehensive system for truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition. That is a decisive step towards defining the sanctions that the jurisdiction will decide on. Its potential for ensuring reparation will be key to satisfying the expectations of victims.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“The legacy of the Commission will represent more than a single narrative of the past and will consist of translating that plurality of experiences into recommendations and specific initiatives that will contribute to overcoming the dynamics that led to and prolonged the conflict. At this point, I wish to recall the Secretary- General’s recommendation that wise use be made of the Commission’s report. I trust that it will be precisely in that spirit that both victims and perpetrators, as well as Colombian society and its institutions, will receive this legacy and make it their own. The United Nations will stand ready to support the Commission in its crucial work of raising awareness of the report following its publication.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“A clear example is the ongoing pilot to enhance former combatants’ capacities to locate minefields, which is possible only thanks to the collaboration of the Government and former FARC-EP members and the support of the United Nations. The contributions of that work to clearing contaminated areas will directly alleviate the suffering in communities, preventing mines from claiming new victims and fostering development. (spoke in Spanish) After years of continuing work, in June the Truth Commission will release its final report, which is based on the testimony of thousands of victims, all the actors in the conflict and sectors from the length and breadth of Colombian society.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“Similarly, progress in bringing long-needed rural reform and in combating illegal drugs, in particular through voluntary crop-substitution programmes, will reinforce reintegration and security. Given the differentiated effects of the conflict, gender and ethnic provisions are meant to be mainstreamed throughout. The effective use of the institutions devised by the Government and the former FARC-EP to set those changes in motion is essential. Likewise, strengthened joint work within the ad hoc mechanisms developed throughout the years could also help the parties fulfil their obligations and meet the expectations raised by the agreement.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“The continuation of such suffering in the very communities that were most victimized during decades of conflict calls urgently for the full implementation of the peace agreement. It is important to recall in that regard that the agreement was conceived as an interconnected set of mechanisms whose comprehensive implementation would not only end the conflict with the FARC-EP but address deep-rooted factors that continue today to underpin the dynamics of violence in many areas of the country. For instance, if implemented in a coordinated manner, the security guarantees provisions set out in the agreement have the potential to boost key areas such as reintegration, political participation and transitional justice.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“We also called on armed groups once again to immediately cease the violence and respect international humanitarian law. Arauca is illustrative of the situation of violence in various neglected regions facing illegal armed groups, illicit economies and a limited presence of the State. The department of Putumayo has been similarly affected by violence in recent weeks. I stress the importance of a thorough investigation by the relevant authorities into the reported deaths of 11 persons, including indigenous and community leaders, in the context of a military operation against members of an illegal armed group in Puerto Leguízamo. Violence is also exacting a particularly high toll on indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities in the form of killings, displacement and the increasing recruitment of minors.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“Nevertheless, the sustainability of the process remains contingent on additional efforts, including those aimed at halting the violence that still jeopardizes former combatants’ plans to build a new life. While I recognize that various measures are in place, more can and must still be done to improve their security. Two weeks ago, alongside representatives of the Catholic Church and the United Nations country team, I visited Arauca, a region facing a critical situation where more than 100 people have been killed and thousands forcibly displaced this year alone. We met with authorities, civil-society organizations and members of the communities, and what we heard was a desperate plea for help. We conveyed our support to those affected as well as the urgency of authorities taking action to improve the situation.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“Throughout the countryside and in many cities, those who laid down their arms are building productive new lives through a myriad of projects that also benefit communities and foster reconciliation. The vast majority of the more than 13,000 accredited former combatants remain engaged with the peace process, and almost two thirds of all former members of the FARC- EP are now taking part in collective and individual income-generating initiatives. Those examples are certainly noteworthy, as is the commitment of authorities and partners, whose work has made this possible over the years. Progress is being made regarding key elements for the long-term success of reintegration, including, most recently, on the provision of land and housing.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“The United Nations stands ready to support their effective participation, and I trust that the new Congress that will take office in July will work to advance on the pending legislative agenda of the peace agreement. Peacebuilding is an ever-evolving process with breakthroughs and setbacks, and the reintegration of former combatants is no exception. Despite the challenges, including in the area of security, former members of the extinct FARC-EP and members of the Comunes party were able to campaign and to vote in congressional elections for the second time since the signing of the agreement. Obstacles to their votes were jointly addressed by the authorities, former combatants’ representatives and the Verification Mission.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“There is no question that the successful laying down of thousands of arms of the former FARC-EP, which was verified by the United Nations, significantly reduced nation-wide levels of conflict-related violence. Recent elections also saw an increase in the number of women candidates and women elected to Congress, even in the face of major challenges including gender- based political violence. As the Council is also aware, the recent congressional elections offered Colombians, for the first time, the opportunity to elect representatives of 16 new electoral districts established under the peace agreement in conflict-affected regions. Despite a range of difficulties that constrained campaigning, Colombia’s democracy will no doubt be enriched by the stronger voice of victims in Congress.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“For Colombia and the world, it is essential to recognize what has been achieved through this process, especially in order to protect it and project it into the future. Naturally, recognizing what has already been achieved does not mean minimizing the challenges and risks that still threaten peacebuilding in the country. On the contrary, overcoming the obstacles — starting with the growing violence in some regions — and persisting in the complete implementation of the Agreement must be the objectives that guide our work in the remaining years for the full materialization of what has been agreed. (spoke in English) The current electoral cycle helps illustrate some of the dividends of peace. For the second time since the signing of the Agreement, elections were mostly free of violence.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“As the Secretary-General has said, with the Final Peace Agreement and its implementation, Colombia reminds the world that even an armed conflict of more than five decades, with a painful toll of millions of victims, can be resolved through dialogue, laying the foundations for reconciliation and non-repetition. Today, the United Nations is an exceptional witness to a peacebuilding process that is advancing, albeit to different degrees, along the path laid out by the Final Peace Agreement. The advances are certainly the product, above all, of the perseverance of the Colombian State and the former FARC-EP, and the determined support of civil society, victims and communities in all regions.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to present the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the Verification Mission to Colombia (S/2022/267). It is an honour for me to be at the Security Council today in the presence of the President of the Republic of Colombia, Mr. Iván Duque Márquez. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my appreciation and thanks for his support for the United Nations in general, and for the Verification Mission in particular. His confidence in the Mission’s role has allowed us to assist the Government, the former combatants of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia- Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) and civil society in their efforts towards peacebuilding in Colombia.”
2022-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9015 (2022) · source
“As the Secretary-General pointed out during his visit, five years into its implementation, the peace agreement is setting down ever deeper roots. The period ahead will be crucial for the parties and Colombian society to redouble their efforts and continue following this road map for healing the wounds of conflict and overcoming its causes.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“In turn, the work of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace is advancing, with a view to ensuring that victims’ rights are upheld through the contributions of those who took part in the conflict. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace is expected to issue its first sentences later this year. As that moment approaches, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia continues to prepare its verification of restorative sentences, in line with the mandate entrusted by the Security Council. I thank the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Government for their constructive cooperation in preparing for the successful implementation of this key part of the process. The backing of the Security Council for the transitional justice system remains as important as ever.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“It must be stated very clearly that the spirit of the final peace agreement is precisely that there can be no justification for violence in today’s Colombia, or any alternative to dialogue in resolving conflicts. (spoke in English) Indeed, 2022 will also be a critical year for the transitional justice system created by the peace agreement. The Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed as Missing continues the overwhelming task of finding thousands of persons disappeared during the conflict, thanks mainly to information provided by actors who took part in the conflict. The Truth Commission is preparing to deliver its final report, which Colombian society can use to collectively reflect on its past and spare future generations from violence.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“Between yesterday and today, two additional acts of violence were reported — a car bomb in Arauca and an attack on a military patrol in Antioquia. I again condemn the actions of illegal armed actors against communities, civilian institutions and security forces and reiterate my call for them to respect humanitarian principles. Acts such as the recent murder of Breiner Cucuñame, a minor who was an indigenous environmentalist and member of the Cauca Indigenous Guard, should compel collective action to stop the senseless violence. That call has particular relevance in a year in which the country faces the challenge of holding peaceful and participatory elections.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“(spoke in Spanish) The effects of the actions of illegal armed groups and criminal organizations continue to be felt in various areas, in particular in those prioritized for the implementation of the peace agreement. Recently, actions by the Ejército de Liberación Nacional and dissident groups of the FARC-EP led to a considerable deterioration of the security situation in the Arauca department, affecting local communities and former combatants residing in the area. Similar to the example of La Macarena, this is another example of the urgent need to strengthen comprehensive State presence. Similarly, the approval and implementation of the long- awaited policy to dismantle illegal groups are essential.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“I trust that such collaboration will also lead to progress in the relocation of other reintegration areas facing similar risks, and that authorities will guarantee security for the communities that are left behind. I also call for greater support for the surviving families of the hundreds of former combatants killed. During his visit to Colombia, the Secretary-General expressed his condolences to Luz Marina Giraldo, who, through her foundation Sin Olvido, works for the rights of the partners, sons and daughters of former members of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia- Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) who were slain during their reintegration process.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“Initiatives undertaken by former combatants and host communities are being targeted by illegal armed actors, who view the Agreement’s implementation as a threat to their illicit interests. The goal must be to prevent the need for anyone to relocate due to violence. Nevertheless, the joint efforts of the Government, former combatants, local authorities, State entities and the international community were instrumental in allowing former combatants from La Macarena to finally move without more severe consequences. Such efforts will remain indispensable for guaranteeing that they can continue pursuing their reintegration with dignity in the new area.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“We must remain vigilant and focused on the threats still facing ex-combatants. While I acknowledge a reduction in the number of killings compared to the previous year, every single death is a blow to peace and every effort needs to be taken to protect each former combatant. That means enhancing their individual security as well as securing, in a broader sense, conflict-affected areas where illegal armed actors continue to take advantage of the limited presence of the State in parts of the country. The recent transfer of the former territorial area for training and reintegration of La Macarena, as a consequence of the deplorable actions of illegal armed actors, illustrates that point.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“I call on the authorities to ensure their political rights and their protection, especially in the light of persistent insecurity and stigmatization. During the past five years, the socioeconomic reintegration of more than 13,000 accredited former combatants has also advanced through a myriad of initiatives. With support from the private sector and the international community, Government entities have played a major role through the provision of financial and technical assistance for productive initiatives. For former combatants settled in both the original and the new reintegration areas, access to land and housing needs to be accelerated so that their efforts can prosper, including their joint work with host communities that is so important for long-term reconciliation.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“I am glad to report that the National Council for Peace, comprised of Government and State institutions, as well as civil society representatives, has recently launched the much-needed policy on reconciliation, coexistence and non-stigmatization, provided for in the Agreement. I trust that that policy, which can contribute to non-repetition and reconstruction of the social fabric, will be adopted and implemented swiftly. Political reintegration is at the core of the peace process. As voters, party members, local office holders or members of Congress, men and women who laid down their arms are now active participants of Colombian democracy. The upcoming Congressional elections will be yet another opportunity.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“An enhanced implementation of the security guarantees provisions of the Agreement is critical for these elections, especially in regions prioritized for implementation which, regrettably, continue to be hit by violence. For example, the Comprehensive Security System for the Exercise of Politics should be put into action in order to protect parties and movements across the spectrum. Ensuring security and protection for all candidates is essential, in particular for those running for the special electoral districts that I mentioned earlier. We trust that all political actors will conduct their campaigns in an environment of respect. I take this opportunity to invite them once more to engage in initiatives promoting non-violence and non-stigmatization in the electoral process.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source