Joint Press Release by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and the Office in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Bogotá, May 17, 2019 - Within the framework of their mandates, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, are monitoring the events of the last few hours regarding Mr. Seuxis Paucis Hernández Solarte, known as Jesús Santrich. The Mission and the Human Rights Office will verify the reactions in the Territorial Areas for Training and Reintegration, and the New Urban and Rural Reintegration Areas, where former FARC-EP members are advancing in their reintegration process.

The Mission and the Human Rights Office will continue to monitor legal certainty for persons in the reintegration process.

We are confident that Mr. Hernandez Solarte's due process will be respected and that his right to defense will be guaranteed. We also called on the competent authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure his medical recovery.

However, the constant challenges - such as the actual ones- faced by the peace process, today, more than ever, it is essential that the institutions and the Colombian people continue to work to preserve the progress achieved by the Peace Agreement. 

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