Colombia makes progress on peace deal, but must deliver for victims

(UPDATE: This information updates the information published on 5 October with statements by the head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu.) 

As the 15-year deadline for the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP approaches its halfway point, the UN Secretary-General considered that the first year of President Gustavo Petro's administration "provided an opportunity to renew the commitments made in the Agreement and to take decisive action to fulfil those promises".  

Released on 5 October, António Guterres' report for the June-September period on the UN Verification Mission in the country notes that this year has also served to launch other ambitious initiatives in the framework of the Petro government's total peace policy.  

 In presenting the report to the UN Security Council, the head of the Mission welcomed the announcement three days ago of a bilateral ceasefire between the Colombian government and FARC dissidents, in addition to other measures aimed at achieving lasting peace. 

 "We take a positive view of the talks between the government and the group that calls itself the FARC-EP Central General Staff. The parties announced last weekend a suspension of offensive actions against each other, and their intention to establish a peace talks table along with the entry into force of a bilateral ceasefire as of 16 October," said Carlos Ruiz Massieu. 

He added that the parties will soon request that the UN mission be authorised to participate in the monitoring and verification of the ceasefire.  

 Notwithstanding the positive actions, Guterres stressed in the report that the state's commitments to victims and vulnerable communities have yet to be fulfilled and that efforts in this regard must be redoubled. 

Increasing state presence 

In addition, there is a need to increase the presence of the state in all territories, the UN official said, adding that this is "a responsibility and a way of demonstrating political will and strengthening the legitimacy of the state". 

He explained that demonstrating this political will will will have practical implications as the government embarks on new peace negotiations. 

In this regard, he cited recent progress in negotiations between the government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), "which reflects the determination of both sides to end decades of conflict". 

Land reform 

The report reports on work to accelerate the implementation of comprehensive rural reform, and recalls that the provision of land and production support to landless peasants, women and victims is fundamental to realising these efforts.

He also highlights the launch in August of the national agrarian reform system, a key inter-institutional coordination mechanism aimed at ensuring coherent implementation, including encouraging the participation of peasants, women and indigenous and Afro-Colombian organisations.  

To take this initiative forward, António Guterres called on the private sector, the peasantry and all other stakeholders to prioritise dialogue as the main instrument to foster progress and achieve common goals. 

In line with the Secretary-General, Carlos Ruiz Massieu recalled that one of the root causes of the Colombian armed conflict is the skewed distribution of land and the lack of implementation of the rural reforms needed to correct it. 

 "It is precisely for this reason that the parties placed comprehensive rural reform at the heart of the Agreement, making it the first chapter of the pact and marking it out as the area that requires the most important long-term investments". 

He therefore considered the delay in progress in this area in the first years of implementation to be no surprise.  

Progress has been limited to the ability of the agreement to bring the expected transformations to long-marginalised populations in conflict-affected rural areas, he said. 

Noting that there is still a long way to go to achieve the ambitious goals of the Accord in this area, he acknowledged the government's increasing efforts to bring rural reform to a successful conclusion. 

 "The commitment to this point of the Agreement in particular, together with the new peace dialogue initiatives, are the most relevant in the first year of the government of President Gustavo Petro, which seeks to consolidate peace in the country," said Ruiz Massieu. 

 Violence continues 

 On the other hand, he deplored the violence against former members of the FARC-EP, specifying that 15 ex-combatants were murdered during this period, bringing the total number of murders of FARC-EP ex-combatants since the signing of the Final Agreement to 394. 

 It also reported that between 27 June and 30 August 2023, more than 8550 people were displaced and 27,183 were confined, for a total of 87,098 people affected so far this year, a reduction of 31% compared to the same period in 2022.  

There were also 52 reported killings of human rights activists (four verified, 44 in the process of verification and four inconclusive, a decrease of 13% compared to the previous year. 

Guterres urged the government to take measures to ensure the safety and protection of all communities and called for immediate investigations to bring those responsible to justice. 

 Dismantling of armed groups 

The report highlights that during the reporting period the public policy for the dismantling of illegal armed groups and criminal organisations, a long-awaited instrument to stop violence in conflict-affected areas, was approved and calls on all armed groups to cease attacks against the civilian population and to participate in good faith in ongoing peace initiatives.

With regard to the reintegration of ex-combatants into civilian life, it commends the strategy to promote access to employment for ex-combatants by providing incentives to private companies and encouraging employment in the public sector. 

According to UN data, 77.6% of ex-combatants are involved in state-sponsored productive projects and there are 218 cooperatives (56 run by women) involving some 7000 ex-combatants.  

The report also refers to progress in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace cases, and considers that the early issuing of the first sanctions will be essential for the transitional justice process.