UN Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu briefed the Security Council on the latest report on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, which was established following the 2016 Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP), an armed group of Colombian revolutionaries, and declared essential the promotion of dialogue between institutions and the guerrillas.
The FARC was founded in 1964 in an economic and social context strongly marked by striking inequalities and still today they count thousands of militants in their ranks. Human rights organisations have denounced the guerrilla groups as allegedly recruiting farmers and children in economic difficulties.
The latest report focused on land reform measures that allowed for a fairer distribution of land and the installation of infrastructure to support the populations most affected by the conflict. Moreover, the survey has dedicated a chapter to ethnic issues affecting the country, highlighting the government's role in the restitution of land to indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups.
Among the positive data reported by the study there is a decrease of both violence against ex-combatants and clashes and killings in the regions of Caquetá, Meta, Putumayo and Norte de Santander, while the data would still seem to be alarming in areas more affected by guerrilla actions. Massieu also emphasised that ceasefire operations would lead to a reduction in outbreaks of violence and the creation of a dialogue with dissident forces which would favour the realisation of the peace agreement.
To read more, please visit:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/04/1135617
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/04/1135487
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36605769
by Aleksander Del Prete