The full implementation of the Peace Agreement is essential to building a more peaceful and secure nation

The United Nations Secretary-General highlights the importance of the first restorative sentences of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, underscores the urgency of implementing security guarantees ahead of the elections, and stresses the importance of rural reform.

Bogotá, 2 October 2025. In his latest report on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need to ensure that the country does not slip backward on the progress achieved on its path toward becoming a more peaceful and secure nation. Regarding the acts of violence during the reporting period, he stressed the importance of advancing the full implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and maintaining the support of the international community.

The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of expanding and reinforcing the presence of the State —particularly in conflict-affected areas—, implementing the provisions of the Agreement on security guarantees –such as the public policy aimed at dismantling illegal armed groups and criminal organizations–, as well as accelerating the implementation of the rural reform. All these measures are critical to enhancing security and development opportunities for communities. “The measures outlined throughout the Final Agreement are intended to benefit broad sections of the population as they contribute to lasting peace,” he added.

The report also stressed the urgency of implementing security guarantees, including those contained in the Final Agreement, in view of the forthcoming electoral period, as underscored by the assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay. “Ensuring adequate security for the safe conduct of the upcoming elections throughout the country is critical for democracy in Colombia, including for consolidating the progress achieved in the framework of the Final Agreement to expand voting in historically conflict-affected areas and to strengthen the legal guarantees for political opposition,” the Secretary-General affirmed.

Furthermore, António Guterres acknowledged the adoption of the first restorative sentences by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) as a pivotal moment in the implementation of the Agreement. “Through this innovative mechanism, the parties committed to ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes committed during the decades-long conflict and reparations for victims,” he mentioned.

For the Secretary-General, all sentenced individuals of all parties involved in the conflict must continue to demonstrate their commitment to peace by fully complying with their sentences. He called on the Colombian State authorities to spare no effort in ensuring that the necessary conditions are provided, including the much-needed funds and security guarantees. “It is critical now to maintain forward momentum and prevent undue delays in translating sentences into restorative actions for the benefit of the victims,” he added.

At this critical juncture in the transitional justice process, the Secretary-General expressed his solidarity with the victims of past and present conflicts in Colombia, and his deep admiration for the courage and magnanimity that they have shown. “The consolidation of this historic legacy will require vision from society as a whole in Colombian, to ensure that the country avoids repeating past cycles of violence,” he stressed.

During the reporting period, ten killings and two attempted homicides of former combatants were recorded, as well as one reported disappearance. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, the Mission has verified the killing of a total of 481 former combatants —including 11 women, 63 Indigenous persons and 58 Afro-Colombians— alongside 164 attempted homicides (17 women) and 57 disappearances (1 woman).

During the reporting period, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights registered 48 allegations of killings of human rights defenders, including 7 women, 39 men and 2 transgender women, 8 Indigenous persons, 4 Afro-Colombians and 19 peasants.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, between 27 June and 2 September, 8,700 people were affected by forced displacement and 41,800 by confinements in 30 municipalities in 10 departments, especially in the Pacific region and southern Bolívar. Departments with significant impacts include Chocó, Cauca, Bolívar, Guaviare, and Valle del Cauca.

Regarding reintegration, the report stresses that, now that significant progress has been made in consolidating a comprehensive policy and institutional framework for the reintegration of former combatants —covering over 11,000 people who remain active in their reintegration process—, efforts need to focus on implementation and delivery on the ground. “By providing pathways to dignified livelihoods, reintegration efforts led by the State play a key role in breaking the vicious cycle of armed conflict in the country. They are both a security imperative and a social and political investment in long-term stability,” the Secretary-General added.

António Guterres also welcomed the progress made in rural reform, which has benefited peasants, rural women, and ethnic communities, while contributing to greater legal certainty on the issue of land. Progress in the adjudication of land reached around 9 per cent of the 3-million-hectare goal set out in the Final Agreement, whereas progress in land formalization reached half of the 7-million-hectare target.

The expansion of access to land and livelihood opportunities offers viable alternatives to illegal economies and associated violence. The rural reform provisions of the Peace Agreement can significantly strengthen the productivity of the agricultural sector and help reduce rural poverty, thereby contributing to national development. “I call upon the Government to accelerate the implementation of projects for the development programmes with a territorial focus, designed in consultation with rural communities, and of the national plans for rural reform. Strengthening these complementary initiatives is crucial to ensure that access to land translates into meaningful opportunities for development and peace,” he added.

Regarding the Peace Agreement’s gender provisions, the report notes the inclusion of gender subcommittees within over 20 agrarian reform committees in four departments. However, challenges remain in measuring the precise impact of the Agreement’s gender provisions.

The report also noted greater momentum in the implementation of the Ethnic Chapter during the reporting period. Following a Congressional hearing, specific follow-up actions were reached to move forward in three key areas: access to land, development programmes with a territorial focus, and the reintegration of former combatants of ethnic origin.

The Secretary-General deplored the ongoing violence that continues to undermine efforts to build lasting peace. “I call upon illegal armed actors to unequivocally demonstrate, through concrete actions, respect for the lives and dignity of the civilian population. Demonstrating willingness to move towards peace demands a clear break from intimidation, threats, and harm,” he added.

“The road to peace in Colombia has been shaped not only by the determination of its people but also by the steadfast support of the international community,” recalled the Secretary-General, adding that the world will benefit directly from Colombia’s peacebuilding experiences. Finally, he stressed that “the Verification Mission will continue its important work to ensure that the aspirations for peace are translated into lasting realities on the ground.”

The report will be presented on 3 October 2025, in New York, by Mr. Miroslav Jenča, Special Representative-designate of the Secretary-General & Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.

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Download here the Report of the Secretary-General on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia S/2025/595 [2]

Download here the Infographic Report of the Secretary-General on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia S/2025/595 [3]