Over the years, the continued commitment of both parties, combined with the work of key Government and State institutions, have contributed to achieving substantial progress in implementing important aspects of the Agreement.

I would like to start by recalling the courage demonstrated by the thousands of men and women former combatants who willingly laid down their weapons and set about reintegrating into society and the country’s political life. It is equally important to mention the work that has been carried out since that time by Government officials and agencies to support former FARC-EP members and their families. The challenge remains, however, to ensure the sustainability of the reintegration process in the long-term, providing adequate housing, access to land, security, as well as to combat stigmatization against them.

With inequitable land distribution being one of the root causes of the conflict, the Agreement includes within its first Chapter on Rural Reform the provision and formalization of land for the benefit of peasants, rural women and victims. This is one of the potentially most transformational aspects of the Agreement. However, progress had remained stagnant until recently.

I congratulate the Government led by President Petro for prioritizing the comprehensive rural reform, as seen in expanded budgets and the acquisition of land, even if more momentum is needed in order to reach the goal of three million hectares established in the Peace Agreement.

I am also encouraged that the Government has recently announced a renewed focus on bringing peace dividends to the regions most affected by conflict by investing in the Development Programmes with a Territorial Focus (PDET). These programmes were launched in the early years of the process following consultations with the participation of over 220,000 citizens. However, while nearly 4,000 of these initiatives have been completed to date, the credibility of the process lies in the successful implementation of all 33,000 proposed by communities to meet the expectations generated among the population.

I also call on the authorities to remain focused on the implementation of the Ethnic Chapter. The Ethnic Chapter was a major achievement of the Colombian Peace Agreement, product of consultation with ethnic groups in recognition of the disproportionate impact of the conflict on their communities. However, implementation continues to lag behind, requiring concerted efforts across State entities as well as the continued support of the international community.

The legislative branch, which has been key to advance in peace implementation since the signing of the Agreement, still has an important role to play, including in rural reform. For example Congress recently approved a bill which incorporates the Agrarian Jurisdiction into the Colombian judicial framework and defines its structure. However, another important bill to operationalize the Jurisdiction is still awaiting action in Congress. This is an example of the importance of all State entities doing their part to advance implementation.

Mr. President,

The absence of violence in the territories was brief following the signing of the Agreement. In view of the lack of a determined effort by the State to fill the gaps left after the former FARC laid down its arms, a gradual expansion of other armed groups began. This expansion continues to this day. As a result, today there are complex conflict dynamics in several areas that affect the daily lives of communities, especially of Indigenous and Afro-Colombians.

The Agreement foresees different tools to address the security situation in various regions of the country, including a policy to dismantle illegal armed groups and criminal organizations, whose decree was just issued by the President. Precisely, the slow implementation of the set of security guarantees provided for in the Agreement has contributed to the persistence of phenomena that generate violence.

Recently, following the assassination of a well-known social leader, I accompanied the parties to the talks with the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) in their visit to southern Bolívar department, an area where the expansion of armed groups and their struggle for territorial control endanger the civilian population. There, we listened to representatives of local organizations and leaders. I would like to recognise in this moment the importance of their work and resilience in building peace. They made a clear demand for greater security guarantees and social investment, and called for the continuity of the peace talks.

This is not surprising in Colombia, given that Colombian men and women are still committed to peace. According to the most recent survey conducted by the United Nations in conflict-affected zones, over 80 per cent of citizens in these zones prefer dialogue as the main way to resolve conflicts. Moreover, I am particularly concerned about the situation in the Cauca department, where there has been an upsurge in the negative effects on civilians caused by the armed actors. I particularly deplore the bomb attacks that have led to the loss of lives. Even in places where ceasefires are not in force, actors in conflict have a responsibility to respect international humanitarian law. As the Secretary-General has repeatedly said, even conflicts have rules.

I regret, at the same time, that, in Miravalle, Caquetá department, a department that this Council visited last February, and a place where former combatants inspired the World with their rafting ecotourism project, threats from armed groups have led them to leave their homes and life projects. Insecurity is, clearly, the main obstacle to reintegration and to the success of the peace process. Since the signing of the Agreement, 421 signatories to the Agreement have been killed.

In this situation, I can only reiterate the Secretary-General’s call upon all armed actors to respect the life, well-being and freedoms of communities and of those who have already committed themselves to the path of peace.

Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Council,

The complexity of the violence dynamics affecting Colombia requires a multifaceted response.

The implementation of the Agreement must go hand in hand with complementary strategies to deactivate persistent violence. Communities require the implementation of security guarantees foreseen in the Agreement in a context of increased State presence, complemented by violence reduction measures agreed in the framework of the various ongoing dialogue initiatives between the national Government and other groups. The simultaneity of these efforts is necessary and strategic to advance towards peace.

In this sense, the role of the United Nations is intended to support the development of these simultaneous efforts. Beyond the verification of the implementation of the 2016 Agreement, the UN has responded to the call from the parties, from the Government and from the other counterparts, to accompany the ongoing dialogue initiatives.

In the case of the dialogues between the Government and the ELN, we have been accompanying the important work of the negotiation table, which has shown on several occasions its capacity to agree on significant decisions, despite the challenges inherent to any negotiation process. In view of the current crisis situation, I encourage the parties to meet the expectations of Colombian society and to overcome the paralysis at the table. To that end, it is essential that both sides take decisive steps to re-establish the leading role of the national negotiation table and rebuild mutual trust.

As a result of the Government’s talks with fronts of the group known as the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), territorial development measures are being designed in some regions. At the same time, these talks also face important challenges following the fragmentation of the group and an upsurge of the violence in other regions. It is essential for the parties to finalise a negotiating agenda with a view to a transition to peace.