Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana on behalf of the A3+ at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on the situation in Colombia
Madam President
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and my own country Guyana.
We wish to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, and (name of CSO briefer) for their informative briefings. We also welcome the participation of the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, His Excellency Luis Gilberto Murillo Urrutia.
Madam President,
Colombia constitutes a positive example of conflict resolution through inclusive dialogue and implementation of peace agreements despite the complex and challenging nature of the conflict.
The A3+ commends the ongoing efforts of the Government of Colombia for the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement.
The recent Council visit to Colombia was a welcome opportunity to view those efforts first-hand, and to assess the challenges and opportunities that the Government and people of Colombia are encountering in the implementation of the Peace Agreement.
We commend the continued prioritization of rural reform and take note of the positive developments to this end, including increased allocations for agricultural development projects, progress with the land cadastre, and the allocation of funds to support women’s projects. We are also pleased with the steps taken to improve the participation of Afro-Colombia organizations in rural reform. However, we urge further progress including for the approval of the rural health plan.
Addressing land issues is critical for the progress and sustainability of the peace process. While acknowledging the efforts of the government in this regard, we note the enduring challenges to definitively adjudicate land to the beneficiaries. The A3+ urges the acceleration of Government efforts in this regard.
The lack of substantive progress in the implementation of the ethnic chapter remains a cause for concern. We note that during the reporting period, only 4 out of 23 implementing institutions have met their ethnic chapter goals for 2023.
We recognize the efforts to accelerate the implementation of the ethnic chapter and stress the importance of stepping up these efforts to achieve concrete results.
We welcome the completion of the Women Peace and Security (WPS) Action Plan and look forward to its launch in April 2024. The inclusion of women is crucial to the peacebuilding efforts.
Madam President
We welcome the approach of the Government of Colombia to seek peace through dialogue with relevant groups. The ongoing negotiations between the Government and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) and the extended ceasefire are welcomed steps for the peace process.
The A3+ strongly condemns the acts of violence committed by the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) against Indigenous communities that led to the death of an Indigenous leader. We take note of the Government’s decision to suspend the ceasefire with the EMC in some areas, and will continue to monitor this situation closely. We urge the concerned parties to return to the path of peace for the benefit of the Colombian people.
We hope to see further progress in peace talks with other armed groups. We believe these agreements will lead to a reduction in violence on the ground and an improvement in the humanitarian situation in the affected areas.
Madam President
We commend the work and the progress made by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP). Considering the imminent sentences, we call for enhanced coordination between the Government, the SJP, and other stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of these sentences.
We recognize the importance of legal certainty for those under the jurisdiction of the SJP and the need for expeditious justice for the victims. In this regard, we support the Secretary General’s call for constructive dialogue with all concerned parties in the framework of the Final Peace Agreement.
Madam President,
The security situation in Colombia continues to pose a threat to the successful implementation of the Peace Agreement.
The A3+ condemns the killings of former combatants. We note that since the signing of the Agreement, 87 former combatants were killed while under or awaiting protection measures. We urge the Government of Colombia to increase efforts to urgently improve its protection measures.
We also condemn the persistent violence against social leaders, human rights defenders, the Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, particularly women and children. The continued recruitment of children is also cause for great concern. We call on all armed groups to immediately cease the recruitment and use of children.
Madam President
We note with concern that displacement and confinement continue to trend upwards in many parts of the country, particularly in the Pacific Coast and border regions. We commend the efforts being made to respond to these challenges and to ensure the protection of forcibly displaced populations.
The A3+ urges the Government to increase state presence and control across all territories to ensure the safety and protection of the civilian population, and to reduce insecurity in the country. This is also essential for the sustainability of the gains made thus far in the implementation of the peace agreement, and for the successful implementation of the agreement as a whole.
Madam President
In conclusion, the A3+ reaffirms its full support to the government and people of Colombia in the comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement, and for the important work of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia.
I thank you.
