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8319th Security Council Meeting: Situation in Colombia
Members of the Security Council joined the Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia today in welcoming progress in the implementation of the South American nation’s landmark peace agreement, while expressing worries over a rash of violence that risks imperilling hard‑won gains.
Briefing the Council, Jean Arnault, who is also the Secretary‑General’s Special Representative for Colombia, put a spotlight on positive developments, from the election of a new President, Iván Duque of the Centro Democrático political party, the inauguration of a new Congress that includes members of the now‑disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia‑People’s Army (FARC‑EP), and the first hearings of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, a key accountability mechanism under the final agreement to end the armed conflict and build a stable and lasting peace signed in November 2016 between the Government and FARC‑EP.
Voicing concern over post‑election attacks on civil society activists, human rights defenders and former FARC‑EP members, he praised a “pact of repudiation” signed by outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, the President‑elect and others that reflected national outrage at the killings. Such broad consensus is significant, he said, hopeful that a sense of unity and urgency will give momentum to the implementation of security measures set out in the peace agreement while galvanizing judicial efforts to prosecute those responsible for the attacks.
Going forward, the Special Representative looked ahead to a similar consensus being forged around the core challenge for consolidating peace — namely, addressing poverty, violence and illegal economies in the zones of conflict. In that regard, he called for dialogue and cooperation between the new Government, local authorities, social organizations and civil society.
Colombia’s Vice‑President, Óscar Adolfo Naranjo Trujillo, participating in today’s meeting, said that 12 days from the culmination of the Santos Calderón Presidency, the Government and 50 million Colombians wanted to thank the Council for its unwavering support for peace after 53 years of violence that cost 250,000 lives.
Caring for peace requires carrying out what was agreed on in the peace accord, he said, noting that in a span of just nine months, weapons have been laid down and FARC‑EP has become a political party with seats in Congress. It also requires multiplying efforts to ensure that violence decreases, he added, noting that while Colombia has seen its lowest murder rate in the last 42 years, threats and attacks against social leaders and rights defenders have increased.
Taking the floor, Council members unanimously encouraged further progress, with many holding up Colombia as a model for resolving other conflicts. At the same time, they echoed concerns about deadly attacks, including those on civil society activists and human rights defenders, and called for greater efforts to reintegrate former FARC‑EP combatants and their families into mainstream life.
The representative of Peru said the security situation in Colombia calls for redoubled efforts to combat organized crime, which thrived on the scant State presence in areas formerly controlled by FARC‑EP. Sustainable development is required, including for the success of the reintegration process, in which the region’s social and economic dynamics must be considered. The rule of law is essential in promoting trust, he added.
Bolivia’s delegate, emphasizing that it can take years to consolidate a ceasefire, urged that investigations into killings continue so that those responsible are brought to justice and punished. He also drew attention to the feelings of uncertainty and fear among former FARC‑EP combatants vis‑à‑vis the transitional justice system following the arrest of one of its former leaders.
The representative of the United States, describing the Mission’s work as vital to the ongoing peace process, said successful implementation hinges on curtailing narcotics trafficking. In that regard, he highlighted his country’s supporting role in curbing the production of coca, as well as Colombia’s leadership at the regional level in welcoming people fleeing Venezuela.
The representative of the United Kingdom, the Council’s penholder on Colombia, said dialogue and cooperation will remain essential for consolidating the peace process. At the same time, he expressed concern over the security situation in post‑conflict areas due to the proliferation of armed groups and expressed hope that parties will work to improve security.
Also speaking today were representatives of China, Côte d’Ivoire, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Ethiopia, Poland, France, Kazakhstan, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait and Sweden.
The meeting began at 3:08 p.m. and ended at 4:48 p.m.
