In his latest report on the UN verification mission in Colombia, covering the period June 28 to September 26, 2022, released this Monday, Guterres hailed President Gustavo Petro’s clear will to seek “total peace.”
He said he was encouraged by the new government’s focus on peace and security, which prioritized dialogue to resolve conflicts and focused on security strategies
Protecting vulnerable communities and human rights and combining lasting solutions to violence with overcoming historical inequalities.
In his opinion, this new approach represents an opportunity to promote
comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement.
“If the instruments of the Convention are used to their full potential, they can be instrumental in bringing an end to the ongoing outbreaks of violence in the country, while contributing to the broader goal of creating conditions and opportunities for all in Colombia to live in peace and dignity,” he noted.
In this context, the Secretary General welcomed the willingness of the government and former FARC-EP fighters to cooperate in implementation.
Likewise, he expressed confidence that the new executive will increase support for the more than 13,000 ex-combatants, men and women working for peace, saying that “it is crucial that reintegration leaves no one behind.” .
According to the report’s data, to date, 72 percent of accredited ex-combatants participate in productive projects, both collective and individual, and nearly 80 percent of women participate, albeit with limited involvement in decision-making.
Despite acknowledging these advances, the report warned of the continuing challenges that threaten reintegration, particularly insecurity, while emphasizing that its long-term success depends on security guarantees for ex-combatants and continued efforts to ensure sustainability.
In the period analyzed, 15 ex-combatants were killed (all men), 11 of them in July alone, making it the deadliest month for ex-combatants since 2019.
According to the statistics presented in the document, since the signing of the agreement
342 ex-combatants were killed (11 women, 48 Afro-Colombians and 28 indigenous people).
This report by the UN chief will be presented to the United Nations Security Council on October 12 by the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu.
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