A3+ Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at the Security Council Briefing on the United Nations Mission in Colombia
Mr. 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 SRSG Carlos Ruiz Massieu for his briefing, and indeed commend him and the team of the UN Monitoring and Verification Mission for their very important work.
We welcome the participation of the President of Colombia, His Excellency Gustavo Petro, and the representative of the High Contracting Party, Mr. Diego Tovar, and thank them for their presentations.
Mr. President
The A3+ welcomes the progress in implementing the Final Peace Agreement, including efforts to enhance coordination and coherence among the relevant entities. Even with the challenges, the A3+ believes that Colombia is a success story in progress. Peace is never perfect but can be sustained when everyone works together. We are therefore encouraged by the government’s strong commitment to improving coordination and accelerating implementation at all levels.
We also commend the work undertaken by the Commission for the Follow-up, Promotion and Verification (CSIVI) to review the Framework Plan for Implementation and to develop a rapid response plan to accelerate implementation of the agreement. We believe that this first review could be instructive in driving forward implementation.
We also welcome the development at the Rural Development Agency (ADR), and see as positive, the first revision of the Territorial Focused Action Plans (PDET) which will address a key gap hindering implementation. Additionally, we note the efforts of the Government to address budgetary and institutional obstacles to enable the full implementation of the Peace Agreement, as outlined by President Petro.
Mr. President,
These achievements notwithstanding, and cognizant of the structural and other challenges being faced, we continue to urge more robust implementation. On rural reform, which is a central pillar of the Peace Agreement, there continues to be limited progress in land acquisition. We stress the need for more timely execution given the increase in resource allocation. We urge the Government to step up efforts to consolidate the reintegration process by frontally addressing obstacles to implementation. Delivering on the commitments related to land allocation and access to housing and security are critical to securing livelihoods in the reintegration process and sustaining peace. These challenges must be addressed comprehensively and require strong coordination and synergy among the relevant institutions and sectors.
The A3+ is also seriously concerned about the lack of substantive implementation of the Ethnic Chapter. This is critical to the overall success of the Peace Agreement, as it seeks to safeguard the rights of ethnic peoples, specifically Afro-Colombians and Indigenous Peoples, and address the issues affecting them. We note that efforts to implement the Pact for the Implementation of the Ethnic Chapter have remained in the early stages. We continue to call for greater efforts to be made to enhance the effective implementation of the Ethnic Chapter, in consultation with the relevant communities and through strengthened coordination at the national and local levels.
In this regard, we hope that the procedural challenge regarding the creation of the Ministry of Equality will soon be resolved, and that progress can continue towards the goal of achieving 60% implementation by 2026.
Mr. President
We see as positive that the Government and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), have continued to implement the agreements signed, including on the participation of society in peacebuilding efforts. While negotiations continue to face challenges, we urge continued dialogue and encourage the parties to honour their obligations under the bilateral ceasefire agreement. We also encourage the parties to extend the ceasefire before it expires in a few weeks. Similarly, we call for the extension of the ceasefire with the FARC-EMC which expires in a few days, both to secure the continuity of peace for the Colombian people.
We also commend the Government’s commitment to pursue peace through dialogue and will continue to monitor closely the ongoing peace dialogues between the Government and illegal armed groups. The A3+ welcomes the government-issued decree formally adopting the public policy to dismantle armed groups and criminal organizations. Nevertheless, we remain concerned that violence and threats by illegal armed groups persist. We condemn all forms of violence, including against women, children, social leaders and human rights defenders as well as the Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.
We further condemn the rise in violent clashes including attacks by the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) and other illegal armed groups and commend the efforts of the UN Monitoring and Verification Mission in securing the release of hostages, strengthening dialogue and preventing further confrontations.
We take note that efforts are also being made to finalize the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and continue to emphasize the importance of ensuring that adequate resources are deployed to support implementation and to ensure maximum impact at the national and local levels.
Mr. President
The A3+ takes note of the preparations being made for the implementation of sentences by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP). In this regard, we recognize the efforts to coordinate between the Government, the SJP, and all stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the sentences and encourage greater engagement at all levels.
We also reiterate the importance of legal certainty for those under the jurisdiction of the SJP. We underscore the importance of having a common understanding on how this aspect of the Final Peace Agreement is implemented and urge all parties to align their efforts toward its effective implementation.
In conclusion, Mr. President, the A3+ recognizes the efforts of the Colombian Government to accelerate the implementation of the Peace Agreement, while also acknowledging the obstacles still to be surmounted. The people of Colombia deserve sustainable peace. This is why the A3+ reaffirms its full support to the Government and people of Colombia in their goal of the comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement. We also reiterate our support for SRSG Massieu and the team of the United Nations Verification Mission as they accompany Colombia in this process to achieve lasting peace and stability in the country.
I Thank you.
