The Security Council highlighted the progress and challenges of the Total Peace policy in Colombia. UN in Colombia (via Twitter)
In his quarterly report presented on Thursday, July 6th, the UN Secretary-General stated: Anthony Guterresgave new support to the peace policy implemented by the national government and the implementation of the peace treaty final agreement signed with the extinct farc. This message was ratified in the Security Council of the multilateral organization.
In the session on Wednesday, July 12, the head of the UN mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieustressed the progress made in complying with the first point of the Havana agreed (comprehensive rural reform) as well as the legislation recognizing the peasantry as a subject of rights and the creation of the agrarian jurisdiction.
He also supported the continuation of Peace talks with the ELN and the announcement of the ceasefire, the implementation phase of which will begin on Thursday, August 3 for a period of six months with an option to extend if agreement is reached between negotiating parties around the table.
On the other hand, Ruiz Massieu explained the progress of the Special Justice for Peace (YUP) on court decisions and redress measures.
He noted that the court “continues to make progress in its various macro cases, including through new allegations.” Victims’ voices calling for truth, justice, reparation and non-repeat have been heard in recent hearings in the judiciary with representatives of the various parties to the conflict and highlighted hearings such as the one in Dazuba (Antioquia) within the framework of the judiciary Macro case 03 (‘False alarm’).
On the other hand, the members of the Security Council welcomed the development of dialogue processes with various illegal armed actors (such as the Central General Staff of the FARC and local criminal structures) and in this sense the request of the government to extend the mandate of the UN verification mission to monitor these processes and the ceasefire mechanisms.
However, the delegation of malt expressed concern at the escalation of violence by various armed actors “who continue to undermine peace efforts in Colombia” and condemned the threats against JEP judges and human rights defenders.
The session also discussed the October elections and called on the Petro government to provide the necessary security guarantees so that they can be conducted peacefully.
At the end of May, the remnant group, using the pseudonym Iván Mordisco, released a statement threatening candidates and political parties “fomenting war” in the territories. They also urged local and community candidates to “respectfully (…)” That they reject the support of parties or congressmen of traditional parties or warmongers and candidates promoted or supported by paramilitary doctrine”.
For this reason, the Security Council’s message was unanimous in the sense that this and other armed actors were consulted Respect for the development of free elections throughout the country, particularly in its spheres of influence.
“(…) I call on the illegal armed actors to respect that right to citizenship and of candidates to participate in an election campaign without threats,” stressed Ruiz Massieu.
The Chancellor Alvaro Leiva acknowledged the challenges of the current peace policy, mentioned the promotion of foreign policy with a gender approach, stressed its opposition to intimidation against the JEP magistrate and reminded member states of concerns about the lack of peace full security guarantees for ex-combatants in the process of reintegration.