Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission to Colombia, reported on recent political developments, including last month’s election of President Gustavo Petro. and Vice President Francia Márquez, the first Afro-Colombian woman to hold the position.
Massieu met both officials, who will be sworn in on August 7.
Reason for optimism
The president-elect has strongly reaffirmed that peace will be the cornerstone of his government, he said, while Ms Márquez reiterated that peace, with its territorial and national approach, will be the highlight. on its agenda.
“Indeed, the incoming administration has a great opportunity and responsibility to accelerate the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” Mr. Massieu told the ambassadors.
“There are good, very good reasons for optimism and I believe the United Nations and the international community at large should do all they can to support them.”
Reflecting Colombia’s diversity
Massieu said the election results increasingly reflect the diversity of Colombian society.
Women will make up nearly 30% of the “unprecedented” new Parliament, to be held next week. It will also include 16 victim representatives from conflict-affected areas.
The head of the UN Delegation expressed hope that the new Congress would make “significant progress” towards the passage of more than 30 peace-related laws, including comprehensive rural reform and guarantees for participation. politics.
Obstacles to peace
Although encouraged by these developments, he also highlighted serious obstacles to the consolidation of peace, namely persistent violence against communities, leaders and veterans with the FARC-EP militia.
The UN mission has registered the killing of 331 veterans since the signing of the peace agreement. Four people have been killed in the past two weeks alone, including Ronald Rojas, also known as Ramiro Durán, a prominent leader of veterans who has advocated for reintegration and broader implementation of the agreement.
“Their security must be guaranteed,” Mr. Massieu said. “The priority for any Peace Agreement should be protect the lives of those who have landed their arms in good faith with the assurance that they will be protected. ”
In addition, “armed illegal elements” continue to target local leaders in conflict-affected areas marked by poverty, economic nefariousness, and presence. State restrictions. Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities are among those hardest hit by violence and insecurity.
UN photo / Ekinder Debebe
Francisco José de Roux Rengifo, Chairman of the Truth Commission, briefs the Security Council meeting on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.
Truth Commission ‘milestone’ report
Massieu also provided an update on the activities of the Colombian Truth Commission, which released its final report after three years of work, describing it as “a major milestone for peace in Colombia and the world. “
Among the recommendations is a call for State agencies to ensure the full implementation of the Final Agreement.
The President of the Commission, Father Francisco José de Roux Rengifo, also addressed the Council, outlining the magnitude of a war that has killed more than 450,000 people and affected more than 10 million others.
The commissioners heard testimony from more than 30,000 individuals and bodies “from across a divided country” and in 24 countries where Colombians were exiled.
They also read more than 1,000 reports from communities, traveled to places of massacre, and heard from more than 50,000 people who were kidnapped, along with thousands of boys and girls being raped.
“We walked alongside many of the more than eight million displaced people, and we walked alongside thousands of women whose bodies were used as battlefields,” he said, speaking in Spanish. .
Optimism for the future
The Chairman of the Commission is optimistic about the future of Colombia because many citizens have joined “this fight for peace and for the defense of life”, including young people, women, indigenous people, Afro-Colombian people, religious leaders and members of the LGBTI+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex).
“Colombia has a long way to go but it has begun its journey, “I said. “Colombia is determined to look ahead, and we will accept our wounds to ultimately enrich ourselves as a culture, as a people, driven by creativity, art and freedom, and the very creation of life.”
‘A future of peace and reconciliation’
Father de Roux and his other Commissioners met with the UN Secretary General António Guterres on Wednesday and presented him with a copy of their report, which he described as “an important milestone and achievement of the peace process”.
Mr. Guterres congratulated the Commission for its hard work to examine the complex causes and painful consequences of the armed conflict in Colombia, his Spokesperson said in statement released on Thursday.
“The Secretary-General expressed hope that the Colombian people and their leaders will utilize the report as a tool to better understand the past in order to ensure a future of peace and reconciliation,” the statement said. said.
Mr. Guterres also affirmed the full support of the UN for the efforts to be made by the next committee to be established to disseminate the findings of the Commission and to advocate for the implementation of its recommendations. .
