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

“More than 400 candidates are running to make the voices of those in regions historically affected by poverty and conflict heard. All of them are recognized as victims of the conflict, half of them are women, and many of them are indigenous and Afro-Colombians. This is a historic opportunity, envisioned in the Agreement, that must be protected in order to widen Colombia’s democracy. While political parties and organizations move forward with their campaigns, authorities are taking steps to ensure peaceful and participatory elections. In late December 2021, the Government informed of its strategies to ensure the security of the more than 2,800 candidates running overall in these elections, as well as the general conditions for Colombians to take part in the election.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“(spoke in English) As highlighted in the report of the Secretary- General (S/2021/1090), the fifth anniversary of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace provided an opportunity to celebrate its achievements, acknowledge the persistent challenges and recommit to its comprehensive implementation. The visit of the Secretary-General reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to the success of the peace process, for which the support of the Council has been clearly instrumental. It is important to carry that momentum forward into a key year that holds new opportunities for consolidating peace. In March, Colombians will cast their votes for a Congress that, for the first time, will include representatives from the 16 special transitional electoral districts for peace.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“Mr. Ruiz Massieu: I thank you, Madam President, for the opportunity to present the latest report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (S/2021/1090) and to update the Council on recent developments. (spoke in Spanish) I am honoured to once again be in the company of the Presidential Adviser for Stabilization and Consolidation of Colombia, Mr. Emilio José Archila, whom I thank for his continued support to the work of the United Nations Mission. I am also pleased to be joined by Ms. Luz Marina Giraldo, an outstanding leader in the reincorporation process, who sadly lost her husband — also an ex-combatant — to violence in 2019. She is a fine example of economic, social and political reintegration and her presence in the Council today is crucial.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source
“In conclusion, from the ceasefire and the laying down of arms to the current work on the design of the mechanism to verify the sanctions of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, I am proud of the work of every member of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia to support the parties in fulfilling their commitments. During these five years, we have been constantly inspired by the tenacity of Colombian society in its transition to peace. Now, as we embark upon a key stage in the consolidation of the process, I thank the Council for its ongoing trust, which will undoubtedly remain an essential pillar of support for Colombia.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“That decision recognizes the impact of the pandemic on the Commission’s work and the importance of its having the time and resources to continue to hear the voices of those who experienced the war most directly. I am confident that the broad support for this decision will help build consensus on the importance of the recommendations that the Commission will make in its report to ensure that the horrors of the past are never repeated. Now that the 2022 budget is being discussed, the Government and Congress have in their hands the possibility of reaffirming their commitment to peace by guaranteeing that the Commission and the other components of the agreement have the necessary resources to continue and enhance their work.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Likewise, thanks to the final agreement, we continue to witness gestures of profound practical and symbolic significance that reflect the commitment of those who took up arms in the past. A few days ago, as a result of the collective effort of the Government and ex-combatants and the support of the international community, Humanicemos DH — the humanitarian demining organization comprised of former FARC- EP members — delivered its first mine-free area, in Caquetá, an important department of Colombia, which will now be returned to an indigenous community. I am also pleased to report that the Constitutional Court extended the mandate of the Truth Commission.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Beyond the approaching elections, we should all remember that there remain many ways in which the peace process can continue to strengthen and deepen Colombian democracy, especially through the implementation of key pending provisions of the agreement’s section on political participation. (spoke in Spanish) Even amid great challenges, the Colombian peace process continues to demonstrate, with eloquent examples, the benefits of ending the conflict through a negotiated agreement and of continuing to focus on victims’ rights. Last week, the parties convened an ethnic round table in the National Reintegration Council, which I am sure will be key to advancing the reintegration of indigenous and Afro-Colombian ex-combatants, in line with their specific needs.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“That milestone is a testament to the undeniable relationship between strengthened democracy and lasting peace, and Colombians deserve to be able, once again, to massively and safely take part in the upcoming elections. This time, thanks to the peace agreement, an important new opportunity presents itself in the 16 conflict-affected regions where local populations will have the chance to elect their candidates for the special transitional electoral districts for peace. This will require not only State-provided guarantees for equal political participation, but a genuine commitment by all actors to fostering a responsible and respectful electoral campaign, free of stigmatization.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“This situation demands the urgent and simultaneous implementation of all provisions of the agreement pertaining to security guarantees. In the light of the formidable threats that these regions face, the Government and State entities should make better use of the mechanisms created by the agreement itself, including the National Commission on Security Guarantees, to devise effective measures to curb the violence. The progress made by the National Protection Unit in the approval of hundreds of pending protection requests by former combatants is clearly a welcome development. The swift provision of the approved security measures is now crucial. The end of the conflict with the FARC-EP led, in 2018, to the least violent and most participatory elections in Colombia in decades.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“We continue to follow security issues in various regions with utmost concern. It is particularly challenging that the very areas prioritized for the agreement’s implementation —from Meta to Antioquia, from the Pacific coast to Catatumbo — are the ones facing the most dire situations. To date, 296 men and women who laid down their arms in good faith have lost their lives, primarily due to actions of illegal armed actors and criminal organizations. Conflict-affected communities, former combatants and social leaders still bear the brunt of the actions of illegal armed actors taking advantage of limited State presence, poverty and illicit economies. Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities are being disproportionately affected by all kinds of violence, from the killing of their leaders to displacements and confinements.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“As time passes, it is becoming increasingly evident that deeper transformations are required to consolidate the reintegration process and other elements that have been put in motion over these five years, including within the territorial development programmes and the programme for the substitution of illicit crops. However fruitful the early stages may have been, the long-term success of initial investments is contingent upon the agreement’s promise of reshaping rural Colombia by establishing sustainable development opportunities and State services and institutions for communities whose expectations remain unfulfilled. To that end, furthering the implementation of the comprehensive rural reform and progress in addressing the problem of illicit drugs will be instrumental.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Five years into implementation, there is broad consensus on the essential role that land plays in anchoring the reintegration process, especially with regards to housing and productive initiatives. During my visit, I witnessed the challenges posed to projects that are heavily dependent on land, the anxiety of former combatants and their reluctance to invest additional resources due to uncertainty, as well as their frustration with cost overruns, since they operate on rented land. It is worthwhile intensifying the significant efforts made by the Government to acquire land for former territorial areas for training and reintegration so that the endeavours of more former combatants across the country can literally take root.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Nevertheless, as one female leader of the former combatants in Meta put it: “So many efforts and so many investments may now be in jeopardy. To protect hard-fought gains, decisive actions are required on matters such as land, housing, sustainable income generation and security.” Otherwise, she fears, former combatants will continue to be forced to relocate in search for better opportunities and to preserve their lives. The leadership qualities displayed by women former combatants, as well as those of women social leaders like Ms. Peñaranda and Ms. Soto, remind us that their full involvement and the implementation of the agreement’s gender approach are a necessary condition for peacebuilding.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Their experiences illustrate what has gone right, what needs improvement and the challenges facing the reintegration process and the implementation of the agreement more broadly. I spoke there to former combatants who are growing coffee and had set up a bakery in one reintegration area. In another area, they had planted avocados. It became clear to me that collective efforts to boost reintegration in the early years of the process had been crucial to instilling hope among thousands of men and women who, until this day, continue to bet on peace. Their determination to advance their productive initiatives remains palpable, as is their desire to be active members of their communities and participate in local politics and decision-making, as envisioned clearly in the peace agreement.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“I would like to stress the word “cumulative” because it is precisely the steps that have been taken during these five years that allow us to continue, even amid enormous challenges, on the path of building peace. Preserving what has been achieved, making progress on the pending tasks and overcoming the challenges of the implementation will depend, to a large extent, on the parties’ abilities to implement all elements of the peace agreement. Their implementation in isolation would not be sufficient to eliminate the factors that led to decades of armed conflict and to ensure the agreement’s transformative potential. (spoke in English) A few weeks ago, I travelled to Meta, a department that the Council visited in 2017. Meta was an important FARC-EP stronghold, and today hosts more than one out of ten of its former members.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“I am speaking, for example, about the establishment of seats in Congress that will allow Colombians from the regions hardest hit by the conflict to participate actively in the democratic debate, as well as the unquestionable progress made by the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition, which continues to work to honour the rights of millions of victims and promote national reconciliation. What we see today is the result of the commitment and cumulative efforts of the parties, civil society, various State entities, the international community — including the Security Council — who have insisted that what was agreed must be implemented.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“We are approaching the fifth anniversary of the historic Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace and the Colombian State and the former Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP). As the Secretary-General has said, this is an opportunity to reflect on how much we have achieved in this first third of the period foreseen for its implementation, as well as how much we have yet to achieve. It is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to persevering, every day, towards building peace. Recent events have shown us the full potential of the implementation of an agreement that focuses on the victims.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“Mr. Ruiz Massieu: I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to present the latest report of the Secretary-General on Colombia (S/2021/824) and to update the Security Council on recent developments in the country since the issuance of the report. (spoke in Spanish) It is a pleasure to be in the Chamber presenting the report in the company of Ms. Marta Lucía Ramírez, Vice-President and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia. I am also very pleased to be with the indigenous leader Daniela Soto and the Afro-Colombian leader Bibiana Peñaranda — women whose voices tell the story of the challenges faced by ethnic groups in conflict-affected regions and their daily struggle to build peace.”
2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8879 (2021) · source
“I am also certain that the drive displayed by young Colombian men and women as protagonists of recent mobilizations will translate into their active engagement in the democratic process in order to realize their hopes for a brighter future. In conclusion, I would once again like to thank the Security Council for its unyielding support to the peacebuilding efforts in Colombia and for the trust placed in the United Nations Verification Mission in the country.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“It is precisely with that goal that the peace process enabled widened democratic spaces and guarantees for participation. I am confident that the Colombian people will take advantage of a more robust democracy, and it will be incumbent upon institutions to protect those gains and for political leaders from across the spectrum to commit to an environment of respect and non-stigmatization in order to ensure that the upcoming elections will be peaceful as well as inclusive. The recent approval of the 16 seats intended to promote the participation in Congress of historically excluded populations in conflict-affected regions is an encouraging development.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“With a still-ongoing third wave of the coronavirus disease pandemic, this remains a time of deep and prolonged hardship for many Colombians, as reflected by recent protests throughout the country. We continue to reject violence from any quarter and urge peaceful dialogue. As I have stated previously, Colombian society and institutions should view the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement as an opportunity to help address many of the long-standing issues facing the country. Given the urgency to resolve these and other pending challenges, bold steps are needed to accelerate implementation in the coming months. With a new electoral cycle quickly approaching, I invite the parties and all relevant actors to remain committed to the Agreement and to continue prioritizing dialogue to resolve their differences.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Let me recall, once again, the possibilities that the comprehensive implementation of the Agreement offers to progressively tackling the root causes of conflict and invite the parties and State entities to persevere in the coordinated implementation of all provisions of the Agreement. Recent meetings between Government and former combatants’ representatives to jointly assess the status of implementation, as agreed by President Iván Duque and Comunes party president Rodrigo Londoño last March, are a step in the right direction. I trust that they will follow up on this endeavour, which will be particularly useful as we approach the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Peace Agreement.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Building on the progress made thus far, it is crucial for the parties to continue working together to provide greater certainty to former FARC-EP members and their families, especially through expanding access to housing and land. In so doing, the Government should ensure equal access to those living outside former territorial areas for training and reintegration. It is also fundamental that the Government and former combatants’ representatives at the National Reintegration Council continue approving productive projects and adequately support and guarantee their sustainability. I also encourage the parties to reach an agreement regarding the National Reintegration System to provide for a coordinated approach to accomplish these goals.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“This is the case, for example, of a group of former combatants in Uribe, Meta department, where, despite the killing of their leader last October, they continue to move forward with their reintegration process, working closely with local communities, to improve, inter alia, schools, community centres and internet connectivity in the area. Previous reintegration experiences across the globe have proven the importance of linking this process to broader and complementary transformations. Drawing from this knowledge, the Peace Agreement links reintegration provisions to other areas across its different sectors, including comprehensive rural reform, whose implementation is essential to the overall success of the process.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Their disappearance was reported in the latest report of the Secretary-General. I strongly condemn this vile act, which affects victims and public institutions, and trust that those responsible will be held accountable. The persistence of violence and insecurity highlight the urgent need for enhanced prevention and protection measures, as well as for additional and more solid steps to dismantle illegal organizations, bring perpetrators to justice, and extend State institutions, public services and development opportunities as quickly as possible to conflict-affected communities. Despite a challenging reintegration landscape, former combatants continue to demonstrate their commitment to building a new life and participating actively in peacebuilding and development efforts alongside their communities.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“Violence against former FARC-EP members, social leaders and communities at large persists in municipalities of this and other regions, including along the Pacific coast, and in parts of the south and the north-east of the country. This is mainly related to the actions of illegal armed groups and criminal organizations that thrive in areas characterized by a limited State presence, poverty and illegal economies. The persistent violence and stigmatization against former combatants and members of the Comunes party is particularly concerning, especially ahead of the 2022 elections, when they expect to engage actively in political work across the country. I also regret to inform the Council that authorities recently confirmed the killing of the four people reported missing by the Land Restitution Unit in May, in Meta department.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“These courageous women recounted their communities’ peacebuilding efforts and spoke of their hope of the delivery of the Agreement’s promise of non-repetition. I was particularly moved by their testimony of how illegal armed groups try to silence their voices — the voices of the communities — by using not just physical violence but also resorting to emotional violence, threats and personal attacks, which prevent these social leaders and their families from fully exercising their rights and living a normal, peaceful life. This underscores the importance of joint initiatives between civil society and State entities to protect social leaders and human rights defenders, such as the pilot of the Comprehensive Programme for Safeguards for Women Leaders and Human Rights Defenders, currently being implemented in Montes de María.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“It will take time to disarm the discourse, structures and identities inherited from the conflict, and thereby contribute to enabling the Colombian people, especially those who experienced the worst of the war first hand, to close the chapter of the conflict once and for all and move forward on their path towards reconciliation. Accordingly, the task entrusted to the Mission by the Security Council to verify compliance with and implementation of the sanctions imposed by the SJP, will decisively contribute to these reconciliation efforts. (spoke in English) I recently had the chance to visit Montes de María, a region historically affected by recurrent waves of violence. There, I met with several victims and women social leaders.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“I would particularly like to highlight the recent dialogue sponsored by the Truth Commission between kidnapping victims and former FARC- EP combatants. Voices from different regions, with different positions and experiences during the conflict, and even divergent perspectives on the peace process, agreed on the impossibility of justifying the pain caused by the war and on the imperative need to insist and persevere so that it never happens again. These first fruits of the institutions created to guarantee justice, truth, reparation and non-repetition now demand that the tenacity and generosity of the victims of the conflict be matched and that victims’ rights be fulfilled. In essence, this is a necessary condition for the success of the Peace Agreement, and it is a task that requires constant effort, humility and empathy.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“In parallel, the work of the Special Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed as Missing has led to the discovery of hundreds of bodies of disappeared persons, including through information provided by former guerrillas, former paramilitary fighters and State agents. This work contributes to bringing peace to the families of the victims after years of painful uncertainty. At the same time, the Truth Commission continues to provide spaces for recognition where victims of different actors in the conflict have been able to come face to face and engage in dialogue with those who years previously caused them irreparable harm. All these aspects — unthinkable in Colombia until recently — are now possible thanks to the Peace Agreement.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“In April, seven former commanders of the highest leadership of the former Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) officially accepted their responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes with respect to Case 01 of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, on hostage-taking and other serious deprivations of liberty. Similarly, last week, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace charged 11 persons, including some army officers and a third-party civilian, with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Case 03 on killings and disappearances presented as combat casualties caused by State agents.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“It is a privilege to share this forum with her and to be able to listen to her important views, together with Security Council members. Almost five years after the signing of the peace agreement, the peace process in Colombia is entering a critical stage. It is increasingly evident that the determination and work of all the actors involved in this complex and noble task have been worthwhile, despite the multiple and persistent challenges. Proof of this is the simultaneous progress made by the entities of the transitional justice system created by the agreement, to which the participation of all persons, including the victims of the conflict, has been crucial. The Secretary-General underscores in his report what is undoubtedly a milestone in the Colombian peace process and a benchmark for transitional justice in the world.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to present the latest report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (S/2021/603) and to inform the Security Council of important recent developments. (spoke in Spanish) It is an honour to be at this meeting with Vice-President and Minister for Foreign Affairs Marta Lucía Ramírez. I want to take this opportunity to thank her for her support and that of the national Government for the work of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and to recognize her leadership in advancing gender issues, which are central to the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. I also welcome the participation of Melissa Herrera, a young and dynamic leader from the department of Nariño.”
2021-07-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8818 (2021) · source
“We have already seen how even the temporary cessation of violence can bring relief to suffering communities on the ground. Indeed, all efforts right now should focus on addressing the facts of the pandemic, protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring that peacebuilding efforts continue charging forward in the midst of this difficult storm. I encourage Colombians to remain united as they navigate this crisis and to keep their sights and actions set on their common objectives of security, development and genuine and lasting peace.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“Such measures include the prompt implementation of the action plan of the Comprehensive Programme of Safeguards for Women Leaders and Human Rights Defenders, which has been delayed due to the pandemic. Efforts to address cases of domestic and gender-based violence within the former territorial areas for training and reintegration are also of the essence. The Security Council’s voice and its active engagement have provided essential support to the cause of peace in Colombia. I sincerely hope that its resolution 2532 (2020), following on from the Secretary- General’s call for a global ceasefire, can inspire efforts by all concerned to halt violence and facilitate the pandemic response. There is no justification for continuing to inflict violence upon vulnerable Colombians who are already under tremendous hardship.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“In recent weeks, Colombians have been appalled by incidents of sexual violence committed by members of the public security forces. These cases, which have been strongly condemned by the President and the Minister of Defence and are under investigation, are a painful reminder of the horrific acts of sexual and gender-based violence committed by all parties to the conflict. I am also concerned about the increased reports of gender-based violence in the context of the pandemic. I encourage all parties to redouble measures to improve protections and security for women, including women former combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“The Truth Commission has resumed its dialogue for non-continuity and non-repetition of the armed conflict with several actors in Colombian society in order to foster reconciliation and discuss the causes of the continued violence in various regions, and the Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed Missing is helping to provide healing for the families of persons forcibly disappeared during the conflict. Support to the System by all actors remains paramount, including by respecting their independence and autonomy and ensuring adequate financial resources for its operation. I also urge all parties to the conflict to fully contribute to the work of the three components. This will be important in order to fulfil the expectations of Colombian society as a whole for truth, justice and reparations.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“I also encourage the National Reintegration Council to reactivate its working groups on children and youth, and to consider the proposal of the High- level Forum of Ethnic Peoples to create a working group to address the situation of former combatants of indigenous and Afro-Colombian origin. Colombia’s model of transitional justice is one of the key innovations of this process. The three components of the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition have continued their work during the pandemic to ensure that the rights of victims are upheld. In April, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace issued guidelines on the sanctions that it will impose upon individuals under its jurisdiction and on the tasks, works or activities with reparatory and restorative content.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“The efforts of all actors, including the National Reintegration Council, to consider the needs of these former combatants, including those conducting their reintegration process collectively, are vital to ensure that they can continue to carry on with their reintegration process amid increased security challenges. I also urge both the Government and FARC to foster the leadership of women former combatants in social, economic and political reintegration, and I trust that the National Reintegration Council will prioritize the recommendations of the Technical Working Group on Gender.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“Regarding the reintegration process, I welcome the fact that additional collective and individual productive projects have been approved despite the pandemic. At the same time, many former combatants’ productive initiatives have been affected by the pandemic, making it even more urgent to ensure support for their sustainability, including through technical assistance, the allocation of land and access to markets. It is also important for both the Government and FARC to ensure that the benefits of the reintegration process, including access to productive projects, continue to reach all former combatants in the reintegration process. The pandemic has demonstrated once again the vulnerable situation of roughly two-thirds of accredited former combatants who currently reside outside the former territorial areas for training and reintegration.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“It was with this belief in mind that the peace agreement devised mechanisms such as the development programmes with a territorial focus and the comprehensive security and protection programme for communities and organizations in the territories. Progress in the implementation of these mechanisms should proceed in an inclusive, participatory and expedited manner. The peace agreement also created the National Comprehensive Programme for the Substitution of Illicit Crops, which is aimed at freeing communities from the violent grip of illegal armed groups and criminal organizations by providing farmers and communities with a voluntary path to legal livelihoods. Its implementation should now focus on ensuring that participating families receive timely assistance to develop productive projects.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“Authorities should also take all necessary measures to ensure that surrounding communities and former combatants who stay behind in Ituango will not be forgotten as a result of this transfer. Since the creation of the former territorial areas for training and reintegration, local authorities have always highlighted the fact that they represented an enhanced presence of the State in these long-neglected areas across the country. Indeed, in these territories, the presence of the State should not be weakened but, rather, strengthened. As the Secretary-General has noted repeatedly, the consolidated and integrated presence of State institutions is the long-term solution to the violence plaguing Colombia’s rural regions.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“After months of uncertainty and mounting security risks from illegal armed groups, operations are under way to transfer the former territorial area for training and reintegration in Ituango, a municipality where 11 former FARC-EP members and 7 of their relatives have been killed, to a new location in Mutatá, both in Antioquia department. The hopes of dozens of former FARC-EP combatants and their families, who were forced to leave due to the escalating violence, are now placed in this new site. It is essential to ensure that these former combatants receive the protection and support necessary to successfully carry on with their reintegration into civilian life.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“All relevant actors must support the work of the Special Investigation Unit, especially by executing pending arrest warrants. Moreover, it should be a priority to give the National Protection Unit the necessary financial, technical and human resources so that no more former combatants are killed while awaiting evaluation of their protection requests. Since discussions are ongoing regarding the rules of procedure of the National Commission on Security Guarantees, I trust that it will be consistent with the commitments established under the final peace agreement and will soon approve and set in motion the long-awaited public policy to dismantle illegal armed groups and their support networks, which are behind most of the reported violence in the former conflict-affected areas.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“(spoke in English) In a positive development, authorities have captured several individuals believed to be responsible for some of these killings. This includes the arrest on 6 July of an individual accused of being the intellectual author behind the killing of Alexander Parra, a former FARC- EP combatant and leader of the former territorial area for training and reintegration in Mesetas, Meta. The arrest occurred as part of a joint effort by the Elite Corps of the National Police and the Special Investigation Unit of the Office of the Attorney General, two bodies created by the final peace agreement. These arrests are an example of the results that the mechanisms in the peace agreement can deliver, and a reminder of the need to provide them with all the support required to effectively carry out their tasks.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“(spoke in Spanish) The insecurity facing former FARC-EP combatants, communities, human rights defenders and men and women social leaders such as Ms. Carabalí, continues to be our greatest concern, and, unfortunately, that insecurity has continued during the pandemic. Despite the commitments and measures implemented by the Government and State authorities, the number of ex-combatants killed since the signing of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace is in excess of 200, reaching 210. Without a doubt, the violence committed against those who laid down their arms under the agreement and those who defend human rights and the rights of the communities devastated by the conflict remains the most serious threat to peacebuilding in Colombia.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“I commend the parties for their joint work within the National Reintegration Council and within the tripartite mechanism on the transition to legality, whose work has allowed 131 more former combatants to be accredited since the issuance of the Secretary- General’s report. The fact that the Commission for the Follow-up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement has resumed its sessions, with the participation of the guarantor countries, is also encouraging. I trust that the constructive dialogue between the Government and FARC will soon lead to agreements on issues related to the handover of assets of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP), including on the deadline to finalize this process.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“Mr. Ruiz Massieu: I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to present the latest report of the Secretary- General on Colombia (S/2020/603). It is a pleasure to do so in the company of Foreign Minister Claudia Blum. I am particularly pleased by the participation in today’s meeting by Ms. Clemencia Carabalí, whose brave leadership and defence of the rights of Afro-Colombian communities and victims of the armed conflict in Cauca department is an example of the inspiring work of women social leaders around Colombia. The Secretary-General’s report recognizes the perseverance of both the Government and the Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Común (FARC), as well as multiple other actors, in carrying on with peacebuilding efforts despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic.”
2020-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8749 (2020) · source
“For this reason, we remain convinced that the full implementation of the peace agreement, in all its interconnected aspects, provides the best possible hope for Colombia to lay the foundations for a more peaceful and prosperous future. The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and the United Nations system in that country will continue to support the parties in moving forward. The support of the international community and of the Council in particular will remain key.”
2020-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8702 (2020) · source
“(spoke in Spanish) Since 1 January, Colombia has had new local and departmental authorities, including male and female mayors, male and female governors, and members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies. These include eight former ex-combatants from the former FARC-EP who were elected to public posts. We are encouraged by the fact that a large number of the recently elected authorities from various parties have expressed their commitment to peace and their support for the implementation of the agreement. The role of local authorities has been and remains fundamental to all peacebuilding efforts. (spoke in English) In conclusion, as Council members are aware, the peace agreement contains far-sighted provisions to address the multitude of challenges that have afflicted Colombia for decades.”
2020-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8702 (2020) · source