A3+ statement delivered by Her Excellency Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to the United Nations, during the Security Council briefing on the United Nations Mission in Colombia
Mr. President,
1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and my own country Guyana.
2. We wish to thank the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu for his enlightening briefing on the latest developments in Colombia. We also welcome the participation of His Excellency Álvaro Leyva Duran, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, in today’s meeting.
Mr. President,
3. The A3+ recognizes the determination and efforts undertaken by President Gustavo Petro Urrego, his Government and the Colombian People, in order to promote peace and stability in the country, after decades of armed conflict.
4. The information contained in the Secretary General's Report on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia over the last 3 months is very encouraging and commendable, especially with regard to the Government's actions on promoting participatory dialogue through the involvement of the Colombian society, including communities affected by the conflict, women's organizations, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples, and former members of the FARC-EP.
5. In this regard, we would like to salute the efforts made by the Government, former FARC - EP and civil society actors in organizing numerous forums, cultural events and meetings throughout the country to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement. This shows how committed and determined Colombia is to consolidating peace.
6. We also congratulate the Government for having recently created a National Agrarian Reform System, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, with the aim of promoting the much-needed coordination between the entities responsible for implementing rural reform, as a way of complying with the provisions of the current agreement, and for having its first meeting last November.
7. We welcome the formalizing of land ownership of sixteen thousand seven hundred and seventeen (16,717) hectares, which benefited peasants, Afro-Colombians and victims, almost a third being women. The issue of land is a crucial element in the country's peace process.
8. The A3+ also welcome the entry into force of the ceasefire between the Government and the group of the former FARC - EP which identifies itself as the Estado Mayor Central Fuerzas Armadas
Revolucionarias de Colombia (EMC FARC- EP), where the parties commit themselves to the protection of civilians, in respect and observance of international law.
9. Similarly, we welcome the holding of the second municipal and departmental elections on 29 October 2023, since the signing of the agreement, where more than half of the voting-age population exercised their civic right, including Indigenous and Afro Colombian territories.
10. The reintegration process is an aspect that deserves our utmost attention. We believe that a successful reintegration of former combatants involves the creation of better and sustainable living conditions for them and their families. The recently adopted reintegration of former combatants program represents important progress towards achieving peace in Colombia.
11. In this regard, we are pleased to note that 80 percent of former combatants, including two thousand seven hundred and seventy-three (2,763) women participate in five thousand six hundred and ninety-one (5,691) productive projects.
12. This demonstrates that the Colombian Government is increasingly committed to complying with the agreement according to its capabilities.
13. We therefore, commend the government’s continued effort to promote institutional reforms and allocate necessary funds for comprehensive rural reform.
Mr. President,
14. Despite the aforementioned efforts made by the Colombian Government, there are still challenges in the peace process.
15. The A3+ regrets and condemns the persistence of armed attacks on civilians, where 24 massacres have been reported. Similarly, the persecution of men and women who have dedicated their efforts to defending the rights of entire communities and the implementation of the Agreement continues to be worrying, with 46 allegations of murders of social leaders having been recorded.
16. Although this represents a reduction in comparison to the previous quarter, such continuing loss of life is cause for concern. We encourage the Colombian Government to continue its efforts towards the cessation of hostilities and seeking ceasefire agreements with the relevant groups.
17. The successful implementation of the Ethnic Chapter and the Integrated Rural Reform are fundamental for consolidating peace and resolving issues of inequality and exclusion, which mainly affect Indigenous and Afro Colombian communities.
18. We remain concerned regarding the lack of substantive progress of the Ethnic Chapter. We note that most efforts to advance the ethnic provisions remain in the planning phase, including identifying more priority areas, rather than moving forward with the areas previously identified.
Mr. President,
19. The security situation in Colombia continues to be of great concern. It is a potential threat to the successful implementation of the Peace Agreement.
20. The A3+ notes with concern the persistent security challenges, especially in regions historically affected by the limitation of the presence of the State, with a record of violence that mostly affects Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.
21. As well as the occurrence of crimes linked to economic dynamics, social and territorial control, such as kidnapping, extortion, forced recruitment and conflict-related sexual violence persist or have increased, requiring specific measures by the authorities to prevent such crimes, protect civilians, prosecute and punish perpetrators.
Mr. President,
22. In light of this worrying situation, we urge the Colombian Government to redouble its efforts, accelerating the implementation of a vital component of the Peace Agreement. We also urge that progress made show concrete economic results in the lives of Former Combatants.
23. The A3+ commends and encourage the continued efforts of the Office of Her Excellency Francia Márquez, Vice-President of Colombia, together with the Unit for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement, aimed at improving the implementation of the ethnic chapter.
24. We reiterate our appeal to the Government to intensify the State's presence in regions with criminal incidence, while ensuring the safety and protection of the civilian population, especially the Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, which are mostly affected, in order to reduce insecurity in the country.
Mr. President,
25. In concluding, the A3+ commends the progress made thus far and reaffirms its full support to the Government of Colombia in the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement. We also encourage the International Community, the United Nations and Partners, to continue giving their political and financial support to the peace consolidation and stabilization efforts of Government of Colombia throughout the Country.
26. We reaffirm our support to the Verification Mission and the Special Representative, in their task of monitoring the fulfillment of the commitments of the Peace Agreement of Colombia, through their constructive engagement with different actors of the Colombian society.
I thank you.
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