Madam President,
It is my pleasure to brief the Security Council once again on Colombia.
The Council’s role has been critical in supporting Colombia’s path to peace, and I deeply appreciate its constant support for the Verification Mission.
Madam President, members of the Council,
I am particularly pleased that Foreign Minister Omar Bula, His Excellency, is participating for the first time in this quarterly session of the Council on Colombia. I greatly appreciate the constructive dialogue we have had with the Foreign Minister, as well as with other Government representatives, during these first two months of his term. I reiterate the commitment of the United Nations Verification Mission to continue working in close cooperation with the Colombian Government and State authorities, the High Contracting Party to the Agreement, communities —including women leaders— and all those committed to building a peaceful, secure and prosperous future.
Madam President, Distinguished Members of the Council,
As this Council is aware, the new Government of President Abelardo de la Espriella began its term in particularly difficult circumstances, challenged to respond on its third day in office to a devastating earthquake. The UN country team supported the national humanitarian response, with backing from the Verification Mission. I reiterate my condolences for the loss of life, injuries and damage incurred. I commend the Colombian people for their resilience in the face of adversity.
The new administration also took office facing serious challenges that the Secretary-General described in his latest report: mounting insecurity due to the expansion of armed groups and illegal economies in areas still affected by conflict, and the deficits in development and state presence in those very same regions. These are key factors that have fuelled violence for decades in Colombia.
The Government has identified security, the reduction of violence and the development of the territories as key objectives in this context. In our engagement with the Government we have discussed how the Verification Mission, working within its mandate fostering the continued implementation of the Peace Agreement can contribute to the realization of these objectives, especially the protection of communities and increased state presence throughout the country.
At nearly ten years since its signing, the Agreement has made undeniable contributions to advancing peace in the country – ending the longest standing insurgency of the conflict, establishing policies and programs to advance development and state presence in rural areas, and the building of creative pathways -- that deserve our continued strong support -- to ensuring transitional justice and reparations to victims.
Implementation over the years has also had many shortcomings, and much remains to be done to advance the Agreement in parallel with security policies that can be mutually reinforcing. The Agreement should be implemented comprehensively. And as the Secretary-General states in his report, “the years ahead will be pivotal to consolidate progress achieved to date and leverage the opportunities afforded.”
The Government has stated its intention to comply with the Constitutional and legal obligations arising from the Agreement, however as the Secretary-General has also noted in his report, it has yet to fully outline its approach to implementation. We look forward to the further definition of its policies and we stand ready to support the Government in this regard, making available the Mission’s experience accumulated over almost a decade in accompanying implementation.
Specific plans ensuring adequate financing of critical programs and peace institutions, the assignment of leadership and coordination responsibilities within the Government, and the activation of established commissions that are part of the architecture of the Agreement would provide important assurances and address the concerns raised by various stakeholders of the Agreement about the continuity of implementation.
The United Nations Verification Mission has accompanied Colombia in its efforts to advance peace and security across successive administrations and stages of the peace process, always working with full respect for Colombia’s sovereignty and the principle of national ownership.
Through the Mission’s regional, subregional and local offices, it has developed relationships of trust with local authorities, communities, former combatants, and civil society organizations, while accumulating valuable insight into some of Colombia's most remote and conflict-affected territories. We carry out verification with a proactive spirit of assisting the parties to overcome bottlenecks to moving forward in implementation. The Mission is also investing in digital innovation aimed at optimizing its analysis and verification in the field.
Since my arrival to Colombia a year ago, I have visited almost all of the Mission's 29 territorial offices, witnessing firsthand the value of this presence on the ground. It undoubtedly constitutes one of the Mission’s key added values at this moment in time, positioning it, among others, to accompany efforts to extend the reach of state institutions bringing benefits to the population.
We have observed how rapidly local dynamics can shift and how security, governance, economic opportunities, and social cohesion remain deeply interconnected. One lesson has remained constant throughout this time: sustainable peace requires security, and security requires an effective and lasting presence of State institutions.
Madam President,
The situation in conflict-affected regions is complex. Communities continue to suffer the impact of the presence of multiple armed actors, illegal economies, geographic isolation, weak infrastructure, and limited access to public services. The increase in child recruitment, especially high among ethnic communities, also remains of outmost concern, as are the continued threats and violence facing women.
In recent testimony to Congress, the new administration estimated that the ranks of the illegal armed groups expanded from roughly 15,000 to 28,000 members since 2022, with the largest of them being the Gulf Clan growing from about 4,000 to more than 10,000.
Recent tragic events demonstrate the gravity of the situation. I deplore the killings on 1 September of social leaders María Ovidia Palechor and James Flor in Cauca. Their deaths are a sobering reminder of the continued risks faced by those who dedicate themselves to serving their communities, defending the rights of victims and promoting peaceful coexistence.
In my conversations with community representatives and local officials, they consistently emphasize the importance of sustained efforts to improve living conditions, expand sustainable economic opportunities, strengthen public services, and enhance presence of and confidence in -- local institutions. These are the main objectives of the rural reform provisions of the Peace Agreement.
For example, the Development Programmes with Territorial Focus (PDET), which are monitored by the Verification Mission, foster the transformation of regions and expansion of state presence. Instruments such as the Agrarian Jurisdiction and the Multipurpose Cadaster contribute to achieving legal certainty over property that is critical for development and private-led investment and growth. Greater security and prosperity in these regions benefit not only local communities but the country as a whole.
Madam President, Distinguished Members of the Council,
The reintegration process remains one of the most significant achievements of the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement. More than eleven thousand former combatants continue to pursue their transition to civilian life. Their sustained commitment over nearly a decade reflects a steadfast determination to build peaceful and productive futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
With government and international support through every administration since 2016, the reintegration process has also spurred individual entrepreneurship and attracted investments from the private sector. To date, approximately 6,000 productive projects and 300 cooperatives have been established by former combatants.
They are involved in initiatives ranging from small community-based enterprises to projects operating across 16 departments. They encompass a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, fish farming, retail trade, textiles, and tourism.
For example, some 400 former combatants and victims – members of different associations or cooperatives – joined forces this year to launch a tourism initiative spanning six departments, aimed at stimulating economic activity in areas previously affected by conflict through a focus on nature, historical memory and reconciliation.
Another example involves the production of coffee, where a commercial initiative established in 2018 with private sector support brings together some 1,300 former combatants across nine departments. These experiences demonstrate that when former combatants are connected to sustainable economic opportunities and markets, reintegration becomes a strategic investment in local development, social cohesion, and lasting peace.
Unfortunately, sustainability remains a major challenge for such initiatives of former combatants. And security concerns persist in the areas where former combatants live and work.
I deplore the most recent killing of a former combatant in the Department of Cesar on 22 September, which brings to 501 the total number of killings since 2016. Strengthening both protection and opportunities for those who laid down their arms must be a priority. Avoiding any return to violence remains imperative, especially as former combatants face growing pressure and heightened risks of recruitment by armed groups.
Madam President,
Colombia has begun a new political chapter with wide ranging challenges ahead and the need for sustained international engagement in order to overcome remaining obstacles, deepen the gains achieved to date and build a more peaceful and secure future for all Colombians.
The opportunity is there to make use of the instruments of the Agreement and the presence of the Mission across Colombia’s conflict-affected regions to contribute substantially toward these ends. With the support of the Council and the necessary resources to ensure that the Mission stays fit for purpose, including its territorial presences, we stand ready to continue accompanying Colombia on that path.
Thank you, Madam President.
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