Remarks of Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to the Security Council 

 

Remarks of Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to the Security Council 

 

Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Council,

Thank you for this opportunity to update you on the latest developments regarding the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement and the ongoing efforts to consolidate peace in Colombia. [spoken in French].

It is also an honour to be here with Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia. I would like to reiterate, through her, my gratitude to the Government of Colombia for its continued support and collaboration with the Verification Mission.

I also welcome the participation on-line of Hilda Molano, representative of the Coalición contra la Vinculación de Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes al Conflicto Armado en Colombia (COALICO). Child recruitment is certainly an issue of grave concern in Colombia.

 

Mr. President,

The Council last met on Colombia days after the start of the crisis in Catatumbo. This was a major upsurge in violence that drew attention to the serious deficits in peace implementation and launched a wide discussion in the country about peacebuilding strategies.

In places like Catatumbo, Cauca or Chocó, continued violence, insecurity, poverty and illicit economies underscore how important it is to continue advancing in the implementation of the Peace Agreement and the transformations it provides for. It is in this context that the latest report of the Secretary-General provides a broad look at the state of implementation of the Agreement and some considerations for the future direction of peace policies in the country.

As stated in the report, Colombia — despite the many challenges still present — is a changed country today compared to the years preceding the signing of the Peace Agreement. The Agreement brought to an end the largest insurgency in the country which spanned decades. Conflict indicators, while steadily rising in recent years due to the expansion of other armed groups, remain far lower than during the height of the war. A more inclusive political system has emerged, and instruments were created to enable the country to tackle structural issues, such as unequal land distribution and limited presence of the State throughout former conflict-affected areas.

The laying down of arms by the former FARC-EP combatants was a historic step in their transition into civilian life. Eight years later, with the support of three consecutive Governments, reintegration remains a priority and the vast majority of those who laid down arms — more than 12,000 individuals — remains actively involved in the reintegration process.  Looking forward, the priority must be to address the persisting difficulties they face, such as access to land, housing, and assistance to ensure that their livelihoods projects are sustainable over time. Of special concern is insecurity. Four more former combatants were killed since the issuance of the report, bringing the number to 23 this year. I condemn these killings and call again for strengthened protection for them.

 

Mr. President,

While many provisions of the Agreement have a significant transformative potential, some are longer-term in nature are yet to be fully implemented. This is the case of the comprehensive rural reform, which seeks to address a long history of inequitable land distribution and rural poverty in conflict-affected regions. Despite the prioritization of the issue by the current Government and the progress made to date in land adjudication and formalization, the overall implementation of the reform continues to fall short of the goals outlined in the Agreement itself.

Illicit economies are intertwined with conflict in Colombia. Solving this problem is necessary for peace to be consolidated. The provisions of the Agreement on the problem of illicit drugs have the potential to contribute to these solutions. Yet, the success of instruments such as voluntary crop substitution has been limited, including due to lack of follow-through by the State with development assistance promised to peasants who voluntarily eradicated coca. It is noteworthy that a revived crop substitution programme is part now of the Government’s response to the crisis in Catatumbo, along with delivery of community projects established under the Peace Agreement as development programmes with a territorial focus, or PDETs.

 

Mr. President, Members of the Council,

The Peace Agreement created an innovative transitional justice system, prioritizing truth, restorative justice and reconciliation.

One of its main pillars, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, launched seven years ago, has a critical role to play in facilitating the transition from conflict to peace. It has made historic advances in its indictments of perpetrators of the most serious crimes during the conflict. Thousands of victims have participated in its public hearings where perpetrators have acknowledged responsibility.

Today, the expectations are mounting on the part of victims and Colombian society in general for the issuance of its first sentences. In this regard, I welcome the measures announced earlier this year by the Jurisdiction to optimize investigations and expedite the issuance of restorative sentences. I trust that the Government will step up its preparations to ensure that the conditions under which the sentences will be carried out are firmly in place.

As mandated by this Council, the Verification Mission stands ready to monitor the compliance with the restorative sentences.

 

Mr. President,

Following the laying down of arms by the former FARC-EP, those areas of the country previously under their influence enjoyed a period of hope during which their inhabitants were able to experience some of the dividends of peace, including an incipient improvement in the security situation, the arrival of investment in the territory and new economic activities such as tourism in areas previously completely inaccessible.

Unfortunately, in some of these areas, the situation has progressively deteriorated with the arrival of new and existing armed actors taking advantage of the limited State presence and seeking control of illicit economies. Communities in these territories suffer the impacts of the actions of these groups and the consequences of living in disputed areas. Displacement, confinement, the assassination of social leaders and former combatants, and the increased recruitment of children are serious and certainly unacceptable.

In order to deal with these situations, Colombia often enters into the false dichotomy of choosing between peace and security policies. In today’s circumstances, it is clear that bringing well-being to these territories requires complementarity between the two.

The security guarantees provisions of the Agreement are essential to ensure prevention and protection from violence. The public policy to dismantle illegal armed groups and criminal organizations is just beginning to be implemented after its late adoption in May last year.  The Mission will continue to support the development of the pilots of this policy implemented by the Government in the territories. 

I also call for the implementation in the territories of the national action plan on the Security Council resolution on women, peace and security, as well as the provisions of the ethnic chapter of the Agreement.

 

Mr. President,

Colombia has a long history of seeking to resolve armed conflicts through dialogue, with notable success stories — the 2016 Final Agreement being the most recent one. 

Peacebuilding is a complex, long-term and non-linear process. I  appreciate the decision to seek peace through dialogue, although the results of ongoing initiatives have been limited to date. 

Looking to the future, it is essential to prioritize those dialogue processes with actors that demonstrate a real will for peace and those dialogues that can have tangible results to benefit communities.

Respect for International Humanitarian Law is a mandatory obligation for all. Recruiting minors and assassinating leaders does not demonstrate real will for peace. Extorting communities does not demonstrate real will for peace. Depriving people of their liberty does not demonstrate real will for peace.

 

Mr. President,

We trust that, in the time remaining in its term, the Government will continue to work in a spirit of cooperation with the other signatory party of the Agreement and that it will succeed in achieving the goals of accelerating the implementation of the Agreement that it presented to this Council.

I am convinced that if the agreement had been implemented more thoroughly over the last eight years, we would not have situations today like those in Catatumbo or Cauca.

There is still time to use the Agreement as a valid and necessary instrument to overcome these cases and prevent the repetition of conflict cycles in Colombia. 

 

Distinguished Members of the Council,

Despite progress and setbacks, I must acknowledge the resilience and persistence of Colombia in its quest for peace through negotiated solutions. The international community has always reciprocated with permanent support.

Indeed, as the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, it is only fair to remember that peace in Colombia was always in his prayers.

 

Mr. President,

Colombia is undoubtedly an example of what can be achieved when the will of the parties and their society is combined with broad international support. And at a key moment for the consolidation of peace in Colombia and in the face of the current challenges, I am confident that this Council will continue to reciprocate the will for peace of Colombian men and women with the same unanimous support it has extended over the years.

 

Thank you, Mr. President. [spoken in French].

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