Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the renewed efforts for the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement

• He trusts that the rapid response plan to accelerate the implementation of the Agreement will translate into tangible results for communities.

• He calls upon the Government and the ELN to overcome their differences and return to dialogue.

Bogota, 9 October 2024 - In the most recent report of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to the Security Council, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, highlighted the perseverance of the country in the search for a comprehensive peace through the implementation of the Peace Agreement and dialogue initiatives. However, he pointed out that challenges remain to materialize the goals set forth in the Peace Agreement, related to the absence of an integrated presence of the State, the security situation facing communities, and the allocation and execution of resources to advance implementation.

“While I recognize the significant work done and the magnitude of some of these challenges, I call upon all involved to redouble their efforts and keep their focus on the overarching objective: achieving peace for the sake of the millions of Colombians, especially Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, still affected by the scourge of violence in their day-to-day lives,” emphasized the Secretary-General.

Regarding the security guarantees situation, Antonio Guterres acknowledged the progress made in activating key instruments of the Peace Agreement. In this regard, he highlighted the prioritization of eleven geographic areas for the implementation of the public policy to dismantle illegal armed groups and criminal organizations.

During the reporting period, there were 9 killings of former combatants and 8 attempted homicides. Since the signing of the Agreement until 26 September this year, there were 432 killings of former combatants, including 11 women, 56 Indigenous, and 57 Afro-Colombians. Even though the number of killings of former combatants has declined in recent semesters, the Secretary-General recalled that “sustained efforts are imperative to protect former combatants and social leaders, and to fight impunity regarding the multiple threats and attacks against them.” In this regard, the report underscores the importance of the prompt issuance of the decree establishing the comprehensive protection programme for former combatants.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), between 1 January and 31 August this year, more than 137,200 people were forcibly displaced and 94,700 people were confined in 62 municipalities in 13 departments. The most affected regions were the Pacific, the northwest and part of the border with Venezuela, Putumayo, Caquetá, South of Bolívar and La Guajira.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, there was a reduction in the number of killings of social leaders. UN Human Rights recorded 33 allegations of homicides against human rights defenders (9 verified, 15 under verification and 9 inconclusive); 22 less than the previous quarter.

With regard to the reintegration process, Antonio Guterres welcomed the formal adoption of the National Reintegration System and the Comprehensive Reintegration Programme, as well as developments enabling the establishment of special collective reintegration areas. “These complementary measures should galvanize and contribute to the sustainability of the social, economic and political reintegration of the former combatants, in particular those taking part in collective processes,” the Secretary-General stressed. The report, however, highlights challenges regarding access to housing and land.

The Secretary-General noted renewed efforts to accelerate the implementation of comprehensive rural reform. The report highlighted a positive trend in the formalization of land, 38 per cent of whose processes occurred during this administration. Similarly, in terms of land adjudication, from 2017 to August 2024, 129,656 hectares have been adjudicated, 86 per cent during this Administration. Despite this positive trend, he called for acceleration in both processes and to overcome the gender gap in terms of beneficiaries.

Regarding the gender provisions of the Agreement, there is a significant lag in the fulfilment of the gender indicators of the Framework Plan for Implementation. The process of review of these indicators, which is currently underway, is an opportunity to better reflect the nature of these provisions.

With regard to the implementation of the Ethnic Chapter, progress was limited. The Secretary-General stressed the need to improve coordination among Government entities with responsibilities relating to the Ethnic Chapter in order to achieve swifter and more concrete progress.

Antonio Guterres stressed that the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) continued to advance its fundamental work as the judicial component of the transitional justice system established in the Agreement. “The importance of a smooth and effective implementation of the transitional justice system to the peace process cannot be underestimated. Four of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace cases have reached the trial stage, and the issuance of restorative sentences should follow,” he said. With regards to the latter, he urged the Government to ensure the conditions for the implementation of those rulings, as well as the adequate funding of restorative projects and the necessary security arrangements.

The Secretary-General welcomed the easing of tensions between SJP and Comunes representatives as encouraging and welcomed the willingness of the parties to continue a constructive dialogue within a framework of respect for the Jurisdiction’s autonomy and independence.

Antonio Guterres stressed that a comprehensive approach to achieving peace in Colombia is of the essence. “Historically, partial approaches have not been able to prevent or stem violence in the absence of a consolidated State presence. Despite the considerable challenges this implies, a holistic strategy to implement the Final Agreement and address the persisting violence remains an absolute necessity,” he concluded.

Precisely in the face of the difficulties affecting several of the ongoing dialogue initiatives spearheaded by the Government, the Secretary-General stressed that, although setbacks are to be expected in these processes, it is essential to find swift resolution. Regarding the process of dialogue with the ELN, he recalled the significant achievements reached and urged the parties “to continue to demonstrate their commitment to peace through concrete actions, and to show the necessary flexibility and vision to overcome their differences for the sake of the future of their country.”

While ceasefires alone cannot bring an end to conflict, they can contribute to reduce the suffering it causes and build trust among the parties. During the bilateral ceasefire, the national channel of communication of the verification mechanism helped to prevent armed contact between the parties on 61 occasions. Antonio Guterres added that “I hope that the Government and ELN will reestablish their bilateral ceasefire as soon as possible, with a sufficiently robust monitoring and verification mechanism, and ensuring that its scope is broad enough to have a positive impact on the security of conflict-affected communities.”

The Secretary-General noted the progress and challenges of the other ongoing negotiation processes and noted that in the face of this delicate juncture in the peacebuilding process, the capacities of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia constitute a key asset, which enable it to continue to monitor dynamics in the territories and maintain close contact with communities and local actors in conflict-affected regions.

The Secretary-General reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to continue supporting efforts to build and consolidate peace in Colombia.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, will present the report of the Secretary-General to the United Nations Security Council on 15 October 2024

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Download the Report of the Secretary-General on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. S/2024/694

Download the Infographic Report of the Secretary-General on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. S/2024/694