Informing the Security Council for the last time as head of the UN verification mission, the special representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu said the peace agreement provided a road map to address the fundamental causes of the conflict.
“The 2016 Final Peace Agreement established the way to follow: a holistic and comprehensive roadmap to address deep structural problems that have promoted violence in Colombia for decades“He told the ambassadors.
He cited progress in agrarian reform, rural development, the reintegration of more than 13,000 former combatants, the beginning of a “complex trip” for truth and reconciliation and opening of the political space.
“Today, Colombia is a very different country from the one in the years prior to the signing of the Peace Agreement“He added, pointing, however, that gaps and challenges remain.
Violence persists
The main of them is the limited presence of civil and military state institutions in several regions of the country, where existing peace dividends remain inadequate and violence persists, even against social leaders and former combatants.
At least 472 former combatants have been killed since 2016, four in recent weeks, said Ruiz Massieu, urging measures to strengthen their protection and guarantee responsibility.
“It is also essential to achieve effective complementarity between peace consolidation policies, security strategies and efforts to combat illicit economies.“He added.
Painful moments revived
Mr. Ruiz Massieu highlighted the progress in the opening of the political space, noting that “a generalized rejection of political violence”, but warned that the attempt to murder of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe in June revived painful memories and stressed the need to eliminate violence from electoral competition.
To address persistent insecurity, he urged the complete implementation of security guarantees together with rural development programs and strategies to combat illicit economies.
“The extended and sustained state presence remains essential,” he said, emphasizing the need for coordinated investments in conflict prone regions.
A broad vision of the Security Council meeting on the UN verification mission in Colombia (UNVMC).
Next elections
The informative session also occurs when Colombia enters a sensitive period that leads to the elections next year.
Mr. Ruiz Massieu called all the actors to maintain commitments for a peaceful campaign and advance the integral vision of the 2016 agreement, which includes provisions for women, as well as Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities.
“In their search for peace, Colombians have a deeply entrenched history of resilience and persistence, “he said.” Sometimes their efforts have not yielded the expected results, but other times, thanks to patience and perseverance, they have achieved significant progress.“
The way to peace is never easy
“The path to peace is never easy, nor is it free of obstacles. But, keeping the course is always worth it“He concluded.”The 2016 Peace Agreement is a surprising example of this. “
Mr. Ruiz Massieu, who has directed the mission for more than six years, will soon assume duties as the special representative of the UN Secretary General for Haiti.
He thanked the Council for its “consistent and crucial” support, adding that the role of the UN mission in promoting trust “will remain as important as ever in the period ahead.”