UN Security Council visits Colombia at a turning point for peace

Bogotá, 6 February 2024. The United Nations Security Council will visit Colombia between 7 and 11 February. This marks its third visit since the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in 2016.

"The visit of the Security Council occurs at a turning point for peacebuilding in the country, because despite the challenges, there is a renewed political will towards the comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement and several peace dialogues underway within the framework of the Total Peace policy. In addition, it begins shortly after the ELN and the Government of Colombia have announced the extension and strengthening of the Bilateral, National and Temporary Ceasefire,” stated the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu.

In Bogotá, the fifteen members of the Security Council will listen to the voices of a diverse range of stakeholders involved in peacebuilding in Colombia, including State institutions, peace signatories and various sectors of civil society.

To gain first-hand insight into the progress, challenges and opportunities of the reintegration of former combatants, the Security Council will visit a former TATR (Territorial Area for Training and Reintegration) in Caquetá on 9 February, in the south of the country.

Given the priority that the implementation of the Ethnic Chapter holds to advocate for the Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations, particularly affected by the armed conflict, the Security Council will have the opportunity to meet with ethnic authorities and leaders during its visit to the department of Valle del Cauca on 10 February to discuss their vital role in peacebuilding, as well as the challenges they encounter in their efforts. Additionally, they will engage with groups of victims and youth committed to peacebuilding.

“We are confident that 2024 will mark significant progress in the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement, and this visit serves as an endorsement from the international community, urging Colombia to reaffirm its commitments and show the world its determination in building peace,” added Ruiz Massieu.

The Security Council is the United Nations body responsible for upholding international peace and security. It consists of 15 members, including 5 permanent members (China, the United States, France, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom) and 10 elected on a rotating basis (currently Algeria, Ecuador, Slovenia, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Switzerland).  

***