S/PV.9843 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Colombia to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Luis Gilberto Murillo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia; Mr. Diego Tovar, representative of the high contracting party to the Commission for the Follow-Up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement; and Mr. Armando Wouriyu Valbuena, Special High-Level Body on Ethnic Peoples of Colombia. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2024/968, the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. I now give the floor to Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu. Mr. Ruiz Massieu: I would like to begin by expressing my best wishes to the members of the Security Council at the start of a new year that will certainly demand redoubled efforts to consolidate peace in Colombia. It is an honour to be joined by Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo. I am pleased also that Diego Tovar, representing the other signatory party to the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, is able once again to address the Council in today’s meeting. The presence of representatives of both the Government and the former the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia- Ejército del Pueblo reflects their continued commitment to an implementation process that requires their active cooperation. I also look forward to hearing the perspective of Armando Valbuena, of the High-level Forum of Ethnic Peoples, on the challenges of the implementation of the ethnic chapter. As last year drew to a close, Colombians celebrated the eighth anniversary of the peace agreement, taking pride in historic achievements of the peace process, while looking ahead to fresh opportunities to further the cause of peace in 2025. Tragically, the first days of the year have been marred instead by violence. I am deeply saddened by the actions that have bloodied the remote Catatumbo region of north-east Colombia since late last week, claiming dozens of civilian lives, including former combatants, signatories to the peace agreement, as well as local leaders and members of communities. According to numerous reports, many of the victims were individually targeted and killed. The Secretary-General issued a statement yesterday evening expressing his deep concern and condemnation of the violence against civilians in Catatumbo. Thousands of persons have been displaced, and there has been an outpouring of appeals from civil society in the region and nationally for an immediate stop to the killing. The bloodshed — the result of an ELN attack in an area of presence of a rival armed group known as the Estado Mayor de los Bloques y Frentes — is part of the ongoing confrontation between armed groups in various areas of the country where there is a limited presence of the State and where they compete for control over illegal economies. I condemn those killings, which are an attack against peace itself, and I call again for armed groups to cease all actions that place at risk the civilian population, including community leaders and peace signatories. I call further for armed groups to permit unhindered access for humanitarian responders. Local teams of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia have assisted in the evacuation of at-risk persons, including ex-combatants, from the areas of confrontation, and United Nations humanitarian colleagues are offering their support to the affected population. I would like to acknowledge the dedication of our colleagues on the ground in that area, who from the very outset of this crisis have been doing their utmost to help those in danger and in need. Catatumbo is like many regions of Colombia that are still awaiting the dividends of the 2016 peace agreement in terms of a comprehensive presence of the State that would bring public services, legal economies, development opportunities and security. It is in the vacuum of State presence that illegal armed groups are fighting for territorial and social control. The implementation of the peace agreement is as central as ever to lasting solutions for preventing and resolving the causes of armed conflict. The Secretary-General, in his report (S/2024/968), acknowledges the strong commitment of the Government to the implementation of the peace agreement. Translating the abundant desire for progress into increased results in the period ahead will depend not only on continued political will, but on establishing clear objectives and priorities, safeguarding resources and overcoming obstacles to coordination. In that regard, I welcome the recent assurance by President Petro Urrego that budgets for the peace agreement will be protected despite the currently complex financial climate in the country. The success of the Ministry of the Interior’s rapid response plan, aimed at accelerating implementation, will depend directly upon the availability of resources to deliver, for example, on its promise to speed development and infrastructure projects to regions prioritized in the peace agreement under the newly established territorial pacts. Also in relation to the rural reform, which has seen significant progress over the past year, funding will be essential for the adjudication and formalization of land. It is critical to accelerate the implementation of the ethnic chapter of the peace agreement, which focuses on the needs and priorities of Colombia’s Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities, including their protection. Too often they are the most victimized by the violence still plaguing rural Colombia. The Bari and Yukpa are among the populations affected by the violence taking place in Catatumbo for instance. We are hopeful also that the gender provisions of the peace agreement will move forward more rapidly in their implementation, in synergy with the new national action plan on women and peace and security. That also requires adequate Reintegration continues to be an inspiring example of how peace is changing the lives of former combatants and communities. I was able to appreciate that two weeks ago when I visited the territorial area for training and reintegration of Tierra Grata, in the department of Cesar. Former combatants demonstrated various achievements in their reintegration so far, such as the construction by their own means of more than 70 permanent dwellings and productive projects, such as a shoe-making factory and a road paved together with the nearby community. In places where ex-combatants are living all around the country significant challenges are yet to be addressed to ensure that projects are sustainable, housing is improved and security is guaranteed. (spoke in Spanish) With regard to the process of transitional justice, it must be recognized that progress has been achieved by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP). Those include unprecedented indictments of 158 individuals considered most responsible for serious crimes committed during the conflict, as well as their acknowledgements and contributions to the truth. However, disagreements between the jurisdiction and the peace signatories concerning the timing and scope of the proceedings remain a cause for concern. It is essential to continue the constructive dialogue in order to reach common visions and solutions to ensure the rights of the victims and guarantee the legal security of the participants in the process. The Mission will continue to offer its good offices to the parties to that end. The just demands of the victims require a response involving a wide range of actors that include, but are not limited to, the SJP. The SJP has a special role to play as a transitional tribunal whose success will be determined by its ability to contribute to both justice and peace. If it achieves that delicate balance, the Jurisdiction will cement a historic legacy for Colombia and the world. This year, in which we are confident that the first restorative sentences will finally be issued by the Jurisdiction, the decisive commitment and active involvement of the relevant State entities will be needed to establish the conditions for their implementation. Key actors include the Ministries of Defence and Justice, the Agency for Reintegration and Normalization and the Unit for the Implementation of the Final Agreement. The allocation of the necessary resources will be an indispensable condition to achieve that end. Effective coordination between the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Government is urgently needed. The State’s demonstration of its implementation capacity, starting with the issuance of the first sanctions of its own, is fundamental for the success of the transitional justice process and of the Agreement, in general. (spoke in English) Over the past few years, Colombia has clearly demonstrated its commitment to dialogue as the most constructive way of addressing differences and resolving armed conflict. The United Nations can only agree with that approach as a matter of principle. At the same time, the latest events in Catatumbo show us that any violence against civilians is unacceptable and can be devastating — not only to the victims, but also to the very environment for peace talks. Violence erodes trust and legitimacy among the parties, communities and public opinion, at large; and these are essential for any peace process to succeed. With respect to the various dialogue processes under way in Colombia, moments of crisis are also moments of opportunity for reflection and adjustments, where I would like to conclude by reiterating the centrality of the 2016 final peace agreement as the core instrument for consolidating peace across the country. Only by fully and deeply implementing the Agreement, bringing a comprehensive State presence to long-marginalized areas can the country expect to overcome the factors that continue to foster conflict. This year is an important window for Colombians to continue to work together to advance peace as a strategic national objective. It is also a crucial opportunity for the Council to maintain its unanimous support and solidarity for this historic peace process. I have no doubt that it will do so, and I greatly appreciate its support for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.

I thank Mr. Ruiz Massieu for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Tovar.

I am grateful for this opportunity to participate, under rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure, in this Council meeting to speak about the latest developments in the implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, in the light of the Secretary-General’s quarterly report on Colombia (S/2024/968). It is an honour to attend this meeting alongside the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Luis Gilberto Murillo, whom I thank for protecting the bilateral nature of the peace agreement and allowing my regular participation as a representative of the high contracting party to the peace agreement. We admire the commitment of Mr. Armando Valbuena to the ethnic peoples, and we fully share his input to this meeting. I thank the Council, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and its Head, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, for their quarterly and unanimous support over the past eight years. I thank the guarantor countries — the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Norway — and I extend a special thanks to the victims of the conflict who are accompanying us in this meeting. We have changed the order of our statement owing to the recent grave violent events in Colombia. As detailed by the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, in the past six days alone, more than 80 people were assassinated in the Catatumbo region, approximately 100 were kidnapped and more than 30,000 were displaced. The violence is threatening to spread to other regions. This is the largest humanitarian crisis in Colombia since we signed the peace agreement. That is why we want to embrace Catatumbo and dedicate these words and today’s meeting to the memory of the victims. Ethnic communities and peoples, women, peasant communities and the signatories of the peace agreement continue to be the most affected by the reconfiguration of armed actors, all of them in dialogue with the Government. Impunity continues to be extremely high for the assassination of former combatants, reaching 90 per cent, according to the United Nations, with similar figures for the assassination of leaders. From the beginning, we have supported the importance of dialogue as a central axis in the construction of peace and as a historic opportunity to deepen these desires of Colombian society. However, the security of the civilian population must The Comprehensive Security System for the Exercise of Politics and the policy for dismantling armed organizations that attack the civilian population and hinder the implementation of the Final Agreement have not been developed, thwarted by the lack of coordination among institutions and their limited funding. Unless the total peace policy can be more effectively implemented, the implementation of the peace agreement will be significantly compromised. We welcome the communiqué issued yesterday by the Secretary-General (see SG/SM/22527) and echo his call. The Government’s rapid response plan  — or plan de choque  — whose very name reflects its urgent nature, was presented to the Council three months ago, with the main objective of recovering the inter-institutional coordination lost under this Administration, linking the entities and bodies created for that purpose, such as the Commission for the Follow-Up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement, the High-level Forum of Ethnic People and the Special Forum on Gender. Today the plan is not producing the predicted results. We, the high contracting party, have no news of its objectives, progress or implementation mechanisms. We therefore do not know if it will be able to meet the objectives of the Framework Plan for Implementation of the Final Agreement as the road map of the Agreement, as recently updated between the parties. It is urgent to strengthen the inter-institutional coordination of the Agreement and reinforce the presence of the State in various regions. We are concerned that the ethnic chapter of the peace agreement is one of the areas where we see the least progress. Without repeating what the Secretary of the Special High-Level Body on Ethnic Peoples of Colombia explained very well, in Colombia, 60 per cent of the population affected by violence belongs to ethnic communities and peoples. In addition, almost 3,000 people — equivalent to 25 per cent of the signatories to the peace agreement  — belong to ethnic communities and their reintegration process is also not progressing. We must urgently advance the ethnic chapter, work with the Special High-Level Body on Ethnic Peoples and deliver results. With regard to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, at the midpoint in the time allotted for it to conclude its activities, has not issued a single ruling and has offered no assurances on its plan to issue rulings in the short term. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace has interpreted its mandate in a broad, maximalist manner. Each judge utilizes a different focus and methodology, without providing a predictable and homogeneous decision on the restorative process. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace does not accept the selection criteria stipulated in the Agreement. As a result, for the former members of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo and the public security forces, there are few decisions that grant waivers to the criminal prosecution of those who are not the most responsible parties. That has a negative impact on their reintegration and legal security. There are signatories who remain imprisoned after the signing of the Agreement and who are waiting for the Jurisdiction to generate prompt solutions to their cases. We consider the Jurisdiction’s application of balanced treatment in investigations to be weak and question its capacity to judge and punish those most responsible for the armed conflict. Again, we urge the Jurisdiction to return to the peace agreement that created it, and to respect its mandate. We call on our counterpart, the State, to support it in that process. Eight years on, the reintegration process remains precarious. Its non-implementation and persistent violent actions have led to 80 per cent of the Finally, regarding the comprehensive rural reform, in three months, the rapid response plan has not yet materialized at the local level, and insecurity in several regions is impeding results. The unjust distribution of land is one of the root causes of the conflict. To address that, the Agreement provides for the adjudication and formalization of land for the benefit of peasants, rural women and victims. Progress is insufficient. Adequate funding is urgently needed to achieve the goals. Also, we hope for better articulation with chapter 4 of the Agreement — on illicit crop substitution, which is a key programme. A failure to implement it opens the door for armed groups to control illicit economies and bolster their activities, thereby affecting the communities concerned. In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to the Council for its constant and decisive support for our peace, the successful implementation of which depends on actual deeds, and not so much on speeches, as our representative, Rodrigo Londoño, often says. We are convinced that, with the Council’s clear will and valuable support, in spite of adversity, peace will triumph in Colombia.

I thank Mr. Tovar for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Valbuena.

I welcome Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo, Diego Tovar and Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu. On behalf of the ethnic peoples of Colombia, I express my gratitude to the members of the Council for supporting our country’s efforts to achieve peace throughout the years. Ethnic peoples make up one tenth of the Colombian population and collectively inhabit one third of the national territory, areas mostly constituting a wealth of forests, water and biodiversity. As such, we are environmental guardians for the other nine tenths of Colombians and for the planet. To a large degree, that environmental aspect captures our essence as peoples and collective communities of Afro-descendant, Raizal, Palanquero and Rom peoples. During the negotiation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, in Havana, we were the only social actor to sit down and agree with the Colombian Government and the former Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), resulting in the chapter that would become a first in the history of peace agreements, with an ethnic perspective for all the components of the final peace agreement. For the purposes of representation, advice and dialogue concerning the Afro-descendant, Raizal, Palenquero and Rom Indigenous peoples and communities, a mechanism was created called the High-level Forum with Ethnic Peoples (IEANPE), which I have the honour of directing under the supervision of a council of eight men and women from among the ethnic peoples. Today, eight years into the implementation of the agreement, the ethnic chapter continues to lag the furthest behind. In 2023, the current Government set a target of 60 per cent for compliance with the chapter by the end of the Government’s term in 2026. Through the pact for the implementation of the ethnic chapter, as a measure that recognized and sought to resolve the level of the lag vis-à-vis Afro- descendant and Indigenous peoples and communities, towards the middle of 2024 the In any case, the conditions for a substantive improvement in the pace of implementation require the activation of the bodies designated for the participation of the different peace actors in the Agreement. For example, the Commission for the Follow-Up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement is an inactive forum that has the potential to bring together the representatives of the Colombian State, the signatories to the peace agreement of the now defunct FARC, the international community, the High-level Forum on Gender and IEANPE. It is also important that the ethnic peoples’ forum — IEANPE — be recognized as a national interlocutor by the various actors in the implementation of the peace agreement when it comes to the coordination of efforts and that it be supported to strengthen it so that it can carry out its functions. The resources at our disposal currently are insufficient to meet our responsibilities. On the other hand, we demand that the Colombian State include us in the 16 national sectoral plans for comprehensive rural reform and in the development programmes with a territorial focus. We have no evidence of their impact on ethnic territories. As I speak here, in the Catatumbo area, on the border with the Republic of Venezuela, ex-combatants and my brothers from among the original Bari people are victims, some of displacement and others of confinement. The Bari, however, have taken in hundreds of peasant families in their territories and require urgent humanitarian aid. The situation caused by the armed conflict persists not just in Catatumbo. It is also taking place in Cauca, south-west Colombia; in the Chocó department, on the Pacific coast; and in Guaviare, in the jungle, among other regions, where ethnic peoples and communities are the most affected, including the leaders of the special consultation mechanisms. We demand that the National Commission on Security Guarantees review the problem, including the strengthening of collective self-protection mechanisms, as contemplated in the final peace agreement. Lastly, we want to highlight the support for the ethnic chapter and IEANPE provided by the Verification Mission, the United Nations system in Colombia and the United States and Mexico as accompaniers.

I thank Mr. Valbuena for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

We once again thank the presidency of the Security Council for guiding our work, and we warmly welcome our friend Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo to today’s meeting. His presence once again demonstrates his country’s high-level commitment to advancing the process of building a stable, lasting and sustainable peace in Colombia  — our brotherly, neighbouring country. We also want to thank the briefers for their very informative presentations. However, I would like to begin by expressing my regret at the tragic incident that took place in the Catatumbo region, which has left more than 80 dead, more than 20 injured and thousands of people displaced. Panama expresses its full solidarity with the victims and their families and joins the call for a lasting and verifiable ceasefire that guarantees the comprehensive protection of the human rights and lives of the members of the community and the peace signatories. Panama recognizes the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Colombia to consolidate and implement the peace agreements over the past eight years. Without a doubt, Colombia is an example that political will and a constructive spirit in dialogue We take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia pursuant to resolution 2754 (2024) (S/2024/968), in particular regarding progress in implementing the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace based on the following pillars: rural reform, the ethnic chapter and gender provisions. Regarding those pillars, we would like to make the following comments. For Panama, as a signatory to the women and peace and security commitment, the recognition and guarantee of the rights of women and girls and their role in the maintenance of peace and the post-conflict reconstruction process is fundamental. That is why we very much welcome the Colombian Government’s recent launch of the action plan on resolution 1325 (2000) — the first national strategy on women and peace and security. We also take note of the concern expressed by the parties, which have reaffirmed their desire to accelerate and boost progress in the implementation of the Agreement. In addition, recognizing the difficulties of its implementation, we respectfully call for the speeding up of the sentences of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. The victims need an outcome — a demand that has also been made by those responsible themselves. Likewise, while we welcome the efforts to implement the Final Agreement, we recognize the complexities on the ground and value the dialogue initiatives. We express our concern because in some regions close to the Panamanian border disputes between armed groups and clashes with Colombian public security forces have continued following the suspension or non-renewal of calls for ceasefires. The civilian population is always the most affected, in particular our Indigenous peoples on both sides of the border. We also express our concern about reports of the increased recruitment of children, the use of anti-personnel mines and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. In that regard, Panama would like to reiterate, as established by the spirit of the Final Agreement itself, that the protection of victims and civilians must remain at the centre of any effort to resolve the conflict in Colombia. We urge all parties involved to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, while ensuring the protection of civilians from the effects of conflict. We also note with care and empathy the report of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the displacement of 176,609 people — approximately 128,000 of those in individual events and roughly 48,000 people in mass events — and the confinement of around 138,000 people in 17 departments and 77 municipalities. It is important to underscore that, in conflict situations, forcibly displaced persons and those in situations of irregular migration face significant risks arising from their vulnerability, in particular regarding transnational organized crime networks. Those networks take advantage of their vulnerability and can be exploited through human trafficking, migrant smuggling, forced labour or sexual exploitation. The connection between conflict and transnational organized crime not only exacerbates humanitarian crises but perpetuates cycles of violence and poverty, challenging international efforts to ensure the human rights and security of those populations. Allow me to conclude by expressing my delegation’s strong support for the work of the Special Representative and his good offices in promoting the implementation of the Final Agreement and for political dialogues between the Government and

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Ruiz Massieu, Mr. Tovar and Mr. Valbuena for briefing us today. I also warmly welcome Minister for Foreign Affairs Murillo to the Chamber. The United Kingdom welcomes the Colombian Government’s renewed focus on the implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace of 2016 and the rapid response plan presented to the Security Council last year. Coordinated action between Government agencies and regional authorities, as well as sufficient resourcing, will be critical to its success. In that light, we welcome President Petro Urrego’s recent commitment to ensuring that funding for implementation of the Final Agreement is maintained, despite broader Government budget cuts. As highlighted by Mr. Valbuena, there must be continued focus on progress for the most conflict-affected communities, particularly Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. The United Kingdom was delighted to see the publication of Colombia’s first- ever women and peace and security national action plan. That will be an important tool to reinforce the implementation of the 2016 Final Agreement and wider gender goals. It also served to shine a much-needed spotlight on the violence that women and girls continue to face. However, we are concerned about the increase in child recruitment and the use of anti-personnel mines. We urge the Government to prioritize the security of all vulnerable Colombians. Transitional justice is at the heart of the 2016 Final Agreement. The United Kingdom urges the Government and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to work together to accelerate sentencing and restorative justice measures, thereby maintaining the confidence of both the victims and the signatories to the Agreement. We condemn the violence between the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) and the Estado Mayor de los Bloques y Frentes (EMBF), in Catatumbo on 16 January, which left more than 80 dead, including signatories to the 2016 Agreement, and displaced approximately 18,000 people. Those barbaric actions, which follow a string of attacks on the Colombian security forces, and the widespread oppression of communities further call into question the ELN’s and EMBF’s interest in dialogue and desire for peace. They must end that behaviour and make clear to the Colombian people their commitment to dialogue so as to give the political process any chance of success. Let me to conclude by underscoring the United Kingdom’s resolute commitment to supporting Colombia along its path to sustainable peace.

I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Carlos Ruiz Massieu for his informative briefing and commend him and his team for their efforts in assisting the Colombian Government with the implementation of the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. I would also like to welcome the briefing by Mr. Tovar and Mr. Valbuena. I welcome Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo to this meeting. The Minister’s presence here today is a testament to the Colombian Government’s continued commitment, not only to the peace agreement of 2016 but also to the cause of improving the lives and livelihoods of the Colombian people. Peace embodies more than the mere absence of conflict; it is about creating conditions that prevent the resurgence of violence by providing justice, ensuring safety, improving livelihoods and building a social and economic edifice that caters to the needs of the people, without any distinction or discrimination. The continued violence against former combatants of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, social leaders and human rights defenders is an issue of concern. We remain particularly concerned about the targeting of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities and peasants by armed groups and about the reports of sexual and gender-based violence against women and children and the recruitment of children by armed groups. We welcome the visit by the Security Council’s Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict to Colombia and encourage the Colombian Government to consider its recommendations for curbing child recruitment. My delegation condemns the recent attacks, reportedly perpetrated by members of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) in Catatumbo. We regret the massive loss of life resulting from the attack and the displacement of the local population as a result of the incident. We endorse the statement that was issued by the Secretary-General on that event. We also take note of Colombian Government’s decision to put on hold the dialogue process with the ELN. We note the Colombian Government’s policy of dialogue with various armed groups. We call upon all armed groups to engage sincerely with the Government with a view to establishing ceasefires at an early date, to eschew all forms of violence, to recommit to the process of dialogue without preconditions and to respect local laws and the Colombian Constitution. The provision of justice to the victims of the conflict would go a long way towards ensuring sustainable and lasting peace. Colombia has taken remarkable strides towards ending the conflict in the country. Let me reassure the Government and the people of Colombia of Pakistan’s continued support for the realization of sustainable peace through collective efforts, perseverance, empathy, mutual understanding and an unwavering commitment to a harmonious future.

We would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, for his report (S/2024/968). We welcome the participation in today’s meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Mr. Luis Murillo, and the representative of the high contracting party, Mr. Diego Tovar. We listened attentively to the civil society briefer, Mr. Armando Valbuena. The peacebuilding process in Colombia has come up against one of the most serious challenges since the signing of the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. The wave of violence in the Catatumbo subregion claimed dozens of casualties and included the unprecedented killing of six signatories of the final peace agreement. It also led to the largest The tragedy of recent days has brought into sharp relief the key problem in the peace process, namely, the lack of security for ex-combatants, social leaders and all victims of the conflict. How can we talk about guarantees for former insurgents when they are being killed by the dozen? Constant threats mean that former FARC-EP members, who chose peace over weapons, are living in constant fear and are forced to hide and flee their homes instead of being fully reintegrated. We are convinced that the security measures provided for in the agreement cannot be implemented without a full State presence across all conflict-affected territories. For the time being, groups that are formally participating in dialogue with the authorities but have not laid down their arms remain in control, representing a growing threat to signatories to the final peace agreement and the victims of the conflict. We commend Bogotá’s endeavours to resolve conflicts through peace agreements but we have, on more than one occasion, stated that negotiations with illegal armed groups should follow clear protocols and principles and should be aligned with both the authorities’ overall peacebuilding strategy and the priority task of implementing the final peace agreement. The final peace agreement should remain the bedrock of national reconciliation and post-conflict transformation in Colombia. We understand that responsibility for its stalled implementation rests largely with the previous Colombian Administration, which openly torpedoed and supplanted the implementation of the final peace agreement. By contrast, we note that President Gustavo Petro Urrego and his Government are committed to implementing the Agreement, and we see that the authorities have made that task a priority. Nonetheless, we cannot yet point to any meaningful progress there. The practical implementation of the Government’s rapid response plan, announced in the Chamber, has not yet begun. For now, we must acknowledge that the pace of land distribution in Colombia, which is part of the agrarian reform that is of the utmost importance for Colombia’s peacebuilding process, has been insufficient. As of the end of 2024, only 6 per cent of the promised 3 million hectares had been transferred. We still see no progress regarding the ethnic chapter, with Indigenous and Afro- Colombian populations being disproportionately affected by the conflict. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace has for some time been another source of disagreement. We believe that the unique transitional justice mechanism established by the agreement should remain independent and autonomous. At the same time, its expected decisions should be timely and should provide legal certainty for all parties to the conflict, thereby helping to restore justice and pan-national reconciliation. It is our view that, given the current crisis, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia should continue to play a constructive role by carrying out its good offices and establishing informal channels of communication between the parties. Needless to say, ensuring the security of the Mission’s staff and the overarching objective of verifying the implementation of the final peace agreement remain imperative here. For our part, we reaffirm Russia’s commitment to providing comprehensive assistance to the peace process in Colombia and to the efforts of the Verification Mission under the leadership of Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu.

I would like to thank Special Representative Massieu for his briefing and commend his leadership of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. I also wish to express my gratitude to Mr. Valbuena and Mr. Tovar for sharing their insights, and I welcome Minister Murillo to today’s meeting. As witnessed in recent days, another major challenge remains the lack of security guarantees for former combatants, human rights defenders and social leaders, compounded by the limited State presence in the areas previously occupied by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of civilians in Catatumbo region over the weekend. We are also concerned about reports of armed clashes between the Government and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional, which, following the expiration of the ceasefire, have resulted in multiple casualties on both sides and have further negatively affected the civilian population in rural areas. We condemn in particular the increase in the recruitment and use of children by armed groups and the use of anti-personnel mines, especially in the vicinity of schools and hospitals. In that regard, we call for the immediate cessation of violence by all parties, the protection of the civilian population and safe and unhindered humanitarian access to prevent further displacement of the population. Finally, Slovenia welcomes the adoption of Colombia’s first national action plan on women and peace and security. We encourage the Government to sustain its political will, allocate sufficient funding to ensure effective implementation and complement it with the gender provisions of the Agreement and ongoing peace dialogues. That will ensure women’s full, equal, safe and meaningful participation in all stages of the dialogues and the protection and promotion of their rights. Sexual and gender-based violence, including against children and adolescents, remains a significant protection concern that must be addressed effectively. In conclusion, let me use the example of the national action plan to highlight the resolve of the Colombian people to ultimately achieve peace in the face of adversity. Indeed, Colombia’s efforts to consolidate peace over the years continue to serve as a valuable source of knowledge and experience in peacebuilding for the international community, including in the area of environmental peacebuilding.

I thank Special Representative Ruiz Massieu, representative of the high contracting party Tovar, and Mr. Valbuena for their briefings today, and I welcome the participation of Colombia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Murillo in this meeting. At the end of last year, Colombia celebrated the eighth anniversary of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace — a historic agreement that brought an end to more than 50 years of conflict. Denmark commends the Colombian people for their determination and their tireless pursuit of peace. Allow me to focus on three key areas. First, violence continues to represent an existential threat to the final peace agreement. Denmark is alarmed by the escalation in violence in the Catatumbo Secondly, despite those serious challenges, progress has been made. We are encouraged by the Government’s commitment to advancing the rural reform chapter and progress on land distribution and formalization. We commend the efforts of the Government to dismantle illegal armed groups and criminal organizations. We call on the Government to expand its efforts towards establishing an integrated State presence across conflict-affected areas to protect vulnerable communities. Denmark is also encouraged by the Government’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of the ethnic chapter. However, as we have heard again today from Mr. Valbuena, challenges remain. We hope to see greater progress and resources allocated to ensure the benefits of that important chapter are felt by ethnic communities. Tackling insecurity, which causes further delays in implementation, is key. The women of Colombia played a critical role in shaping the peace process, demanding their rightful place in the discussions that would shape the future of their country. Like others here today, Denmark therefore warmly welcomes the launching of Colombia’s first national action plan on women and peace and security. We hope that the plan will complement the gender provisions in the peace agreement and reinforce women’s political participation. The allocation of a sufficient budget for 2025 across all those areas will be vital. Funding is critical for the consolidation of the gains made for the people of Colombia. My third point relates to transitional justice. Denmark commends the progress made by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) to support the victims and survivors of the conflict. We look forward to the prompt issuance of the SJP’s first restorative sentences. We underscore the necessity for adequate funding and the necessary security arrangements to be in place to implement those rulings. Legal certainty for individuals under the SJP’s jurisdiction is critical. Closure helps to consolidate peace, allowing the scars of the conflict to heal. We call for any issues between the SJP and signatories to the peace agreement to be resolved on basis of the framework of the peace agreement. In conclusion, allow me to underscore Denmark’s full support for Colombia’s peace process, which remains an example to the world. We look forward to supporting Colombia on its path to lasting and sustainable peace during our Council term.

I would like to thank Special Representative Mr. Ruiz Massieu; the representative of the high contracting party to the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, Mr. Tovar; and Mr. Valbuena; for their briefings. I also welcome the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Mr. Murillo. Greece reiterates its full support for the peace process in Colombia, anchored in the 2016 peace agreement. We commend the Colombian Government’s “total peace” agenda, which we consider complementary to the peace agreement, and the rapid response plan recently presented by the Colombian Government. We acknowledge that the peace process in Colombia seeks to address the root causes of the conflict and historic injustices. In that respect, we welcome the progress on rural reform, including the restitution of land to the victims of the conflict, and we encourage the continuation of efforts towards achieving the goals set in the 2016 peace agreement. It is noteworthy that rural reform in Colombia incorporates environmental considerations, as emphasized during the sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which took place in Cali, Colombia, in October 2024. Rural reform is also linked to the reintegration of ex-combatants, providing them with livelihoods and housing and enabling their access to education and healthcare services. That integrated approach of land distribution and reintegration can contribute significantly to reducing violence and insecurity in rural areas, allowing for increased State presence. At the same time, accelerating the implementation of the ethnic chapter of the peace agreement is crucial to rectifying injustices faced by Indigenous people and Afro-Colombian populations, thus ensuring their empowerment and active participation in public life. We cannot ignore that those populations are particularly affected by the recruitment and use of children and conflict-related sexual violence. Those practices are utterly unacceptable, and the safety and security of children and women must be prioritized. In that respect, we welcome Colombia’s first national action plan on women and peace and security, launched in November 2024, and we are confident that it will complement effectively the gender provisions of the peace agreement. Moreover, we appreciate the recent visit of the Security Council’s Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict to Colombia, which highlights the Government’s commitment to implementing the children and armed conflict agenda. Similarly, the protection of social leaders and human rights defenders from attacks remains an absolute imperative. Greece also recognizes the innovative role of transitional justice in Colombia’s peace process and urges the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Government to take all necessary measures for the swift issuance and successful implementation of restorative sentences. In conclusion, Greece reiterates its unwavering support for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and acknowledges their invaluable contributions to promoting the effective implementation of the peace agreement. For our part, we will remain committed to a Colombian-led and Colombian-owned peace process, with the ultimate goal of achieving justice for the victims and survivors of the conflict.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus (A3+), namely Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia and my country, Guyana. We thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Carlos Ruiz Massieu for his briefing and commend him and the United Nations Monitoring and Verification Mission team in Colombia for their invaluable work. We have also listened carefully to civil society representative Armando Valbuena. We welcome the participation of His Excellency Mr. Luis Gilberto Murillo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in today’s The A3+ is encouraged by the continued progress in implementing the peace agreement. Despite some setbacks, we are pleased to note that the positive momentum has continued, and we echo the Secretary-General’s assessment that Colombia is a valuable source of knowledge and experience in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. The intensification of efforts to advance comprehensive rural reform and boost land adjudication and formalization is a welcome development, even as we recognize that there is much more to be done to achieve the targets set, especially with respect to adjudication. We also welcome the recent reintegration of 12,000 former combatants. We encourage the relevant authorities to continue developing and implementing measures that enable the sustainable transition of former combatants into society, which is critical to building trust and consolidating peace. While acknowledging ongoing efforts, we see opportunities to accelerate progress on implementing the ethnic chapter of the peace agreement. We encourage the Government to redouble its efforts to address impediments to the effective implementation of that chapter and its gender provisions. We note that there has been limited progress on fulfilling the commitments in the pact and hope to see greater progress ahead of the 2026 deadline. We also hope to see an acceleration of progress in collective reparations for ethnic communities, which will no doubt contribute to healing and reconciliation. We are optimistic that the rapid response plan designed to expedite the implementation of the Agreement will produce positive outcomes for the ethnic chapter. In that context, the A3+ endorses the idea that the Ministry of the Interior’s rapid response plan can be enhanced by incorporating provisions related to gender and the priorities of the ethnic chapter. On the issue of the gender provisions of the agreement, the A3+ has taken positive note of the signing of the inter-institutional agreement to promote compliance with the gender provisions and welcomes the launch of the women and peace and security action plan. We continue to emphasize the need for adequate funding to be made available to ensure its proper implementation. Another fundamental issue of concern for the A3+ is the ongoing recruitment of children by armed groups. The A3+ firmly condemns the recruitment and use of children by armed groups and notes that there has been an increase in that activity over the reporting period. We demand an immediate end to such practices and underscore the need for full adherence to international law. Ensuring accountability for crimes against children is an important step to guaranteeing justice. To that end, we welcome recent efforts to strengthen legal frameworks for child protection in Colombia, including the recent legislation on child marriage and the adoption of the Bogotá Call to Action. We urge the Government to continue those efforts and to prioritize child protection in peace dialogues. Moreover, we remain deeply concerned about high instances of conflict- related sexual violence and gender-based violence, including against children and adolescents in reintegration areas. We emphasize the need for early warning systems to be put in place to identify security risks and to facilitate urgent and timely follow-up mechanisms without delay. We acknowledge the updates made to the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia guidelines on addressing sexual and gender-based violence in line with resolution 2754 (2024) and believe that that will contribute significantly to the effort to address the issue of violence against children comprehensively. The A3+ condemns the recent killing of more than 80 persons in Catatumbo and remains gravely concerned about the rupturing of the peace talks between the Government and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). We recognize Colombia’s deep-rooted conviction that dialogue is the only way forward, and we strongly urge the ELN to show renewed proof of its commitment to peace. We commend the progress made by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and encourage the issuance of the long-awaited sentences. We further reiterate the need for effective coordination between all relevant entities and acknowledge the Government’s commitment to allocating $20 million this current year and providing additional necessary resources towards that endeavour. The need for legal certainty for those under the jurisdiction of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace is paramount. The A3+ acknowledges that the issue of financing is critical to the overall implementation of the peace agreement. We call on the Colombian Government and the legislature to ensure the provision of adequate finances, and we call on the international community to support Colombia in that regard. As I conclude, I wish to once again express the firm support of the A3+ for the Government and people of Colombia in the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement and to reiterate its call for support at all levels to ensure the comprehensive implementation thereof. Let me also applaud the work undertaken by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia during the past year and thank the Mission for its continued efforts to support the implementation of the peace agreement.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ruiz Massieu, Mr. Tovar and Mr. Valbuena for their presentations, and we welcome Minister Murillo. The United States has proudly supported the implementation of Colombia’s Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace since its signing in 2016, and the United States will continue efforts to support a durable and lasting peace in Colombia. The peace agreement sought to address conflict-related atrocities and abuses that took place over more than 50 years. However, Colombia continues to experience long-term consequences of conflict. We note the efforts of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to seek to end impunity for conflict-related crimes and to respond to victims and survivors. We also appreciate the supporting role played by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. We urge the Government of Colombia to continue its commitment to attaining justice for victims and survivors of the conflict, including survivors of gender-based violence. Absent those efforts, Colombia will continue to face challenges meeting its security, stability and counter-narcotics goals. The level of conflict-related violence and attacks against former combatants remained high in this reporting period and continues to be a concern. We want to join the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and other Council members in condemning the recent violence in Catatumbo. Likewise, the continued violence against social leaders and human rights defenders is deeply troubling. Those crimes not only target the leaders that Colombia needs most in peacebuilding efforts, but also have a chilling effect on their communities. Notably, we are pleased to see that the Special Jurisdiction for Peace’s first indictments have been issued and that it is advancing its work on gender-based crimes in macro-case 11. The United States remains committed to preventing impunity for criminal acts carried out by terrorists and other illegal armed groups. Past peace processes have made clear that a security strategy is essential to pressure illegal armed groups to negotiate in good faith and to avoid impunity for their abuses. In the eight years since the Final Agreement, implementation of the peace agreement and its ability to address Colombia’s deteriorating security conditions remains a work in progress. Achieving peace for the sake of all Colombians should remain at the forefront for all involved, including in the Council.

I welcome the presence of Colombian Foreign Minister Murillo at today’s meeting. I also thank Special Representative Massieu and the representative of the Comunes Party, Mr. Tovar, for their briefings. I also listened with interest to a statement made by the civil society representative. Over the past year, all parties in Colombia have worked together to consolidate and build peace, translating their resolve into concrete actions and registering positive progress in promoting the peace process. China appreciates those efforts. In the New Year, we hope that all Colombians will forge ahead with unwavering confidence, maintain unity and continue to draft a new chapter of peace, reconciliation and progress. I would like to share three hopes. First, we hope that new improvements will be achieved on the security front. We are concerned about the recent tensions in the Catatumbo region of Colombia and condemn the atrocities perpetrated in the killing of civilians. The displacement caused by the conflict is worrisome. China notes that on 20 January, President Petro Urrego declared a state of emergency in response to the escalating armed conflict. We support the Colombian Government in stepping up security deployment and effectively deterring violence, so as to restore stability as soon as possible, protect the lives of Colombians, alleviate the humanitarian situation on the ground and enhance the protection of vulnerable groups, such as former combatants, ethnic minorities, women and children. Secondly, we hope that the dialogue and reconciliation process will make new progress. China appreciates the efforts of the Colombian Government to resolve the conflict through dialogue and negotiation. We hope that a breakthrough will be achieved in the dialogue at an early date. The peace talks between the Government and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional have encountered setbacks. We hope that Thirdly, we hope that the implementation of the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace will produce new results. China appreciates the efforts of the Colombian Government, under the leadership of President Petro Urrego, to prioritize the implementation of the peace agreement, promote rural reform and the reintegration of former combatants and formulate a rapid response plan to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement. At the same time, the Secretary-General’s report (S/2024/968) indicated that the overall progress in land adjudication and formalization continued to fall short of expectations and that former combatants continue to face livelihood challenges. China encourages the Government to scale up investment and enhance policy coordination. We also call on United Nations entities and international and regional partners to maintain their support to Colombia in consolidating the gains of the peace process. China appreciates the unique role played by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia under the leadership of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ruiz Massieu in supporting the Colombia peace process. China supports the Mission in further fulfilling its mandate, promoting the advancement of the Colombian-led and Colombian-owned peace process and providing important assistance to the Colombian people in achieving peace and development.

I extend my gratitude to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Carlos Ruiz Massieu for his comprehensive briefing, and I appreciate the perspectives of Mr. Tovar and Mr. Valbuena. I also welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, His Excellency Mr. Murillo, to this meeting. First and foremost, the Republic of Korea commends the valuable work of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s tireless efforts and good offices. My delegation also recognizes the Colombian Government’s steadfast commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement, especially as the country celebrated the eighth anniversary of its signing in November 2024. Advances in land reform, the launch of Colombia’s inaugural national action plan on women and peace and security and the ongoing peace dialogues highlight the progress made towards lasting peace. At the same time, we acknowledge the challenges that remain. These include delays in implementing land delivery, the ethnic chapter and gender provisions, as well as the escalating violence against former combatants and civilians. Those issues must be addressed decisively to sustain progress in the peace process. As Colombia moves forward in its peacebuilding efforts, I would like to highlight the following points. First, Korea welcomes President Petro Urrego’s reaffirmation that comprehensive rural reform remains a priority for the Government. Given that inequitable land distribution has been a root cause of Colombia’s decades-long armed conflict, accelerating the pace of rural reform is crucial for achieving sustainable peace. However, concerns about government budget cuts for 2025 and their potential impact on rural reform initiatives must be addressed. We urge the Colombian Government to prioritize resource allocation for rural reform and ensure that budgetary constraints do not hinder other peace-related priorities. To support Colombia’s rural reform efforts, in 2025 Korea will officially launch projects amounting to nearly Secondly, my delegation recognizes the vital role and achievements of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) as a cornerstone of Colombia’s transitional justice system. However, to fully accomplish its mandate within the established time frame, the SJP must maintain a balance between the scope of its mission and efficiency. It is critical to provide legal certainty for individuals under its jurisdiction and address victims’ needs for justice in a timely manner. We are deeply concerned about recent violence in Catatumbo, which resulted in at least 80 deaths, including eight peace agreement signatories, as well as kidnappings and massive displacement, estimated to affect more than 32,000 people. That led to the suspension of peace talks with the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), as well as the declaration of a state of internal commotion and a state of economic emergency by President Petro Urrego. Such attacks targeting civilians, former combatants and social leaders are unacceptable. We urge the ELN to immediately cease all hostilities and demonstrate a commitment to peace. At the same time, we call on the Colombian Government to take actions to strengthen the State’s presence in the regions most affected by violence, ensuring comprehensive security measures and protections for vulnerable communities.

At the outset I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, for his briefing. I welcome the presence among us of the Colombian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Luis Gilberto Murillo, and I would also like to thank Mr. Diego Tovar, signatory of the peace agreement and former combatant of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), and Mr. Armando Valbuena, for their briefings. France welcomes the Colombian Government’s commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement. The presence of President Petro Urrego in July 2024 (see S/PV.9683), and Colombia’s participation at the ministerial level at every meeting of the Council bear witness to that commitment at the highest level. Its efforts must be encouraged and supported. In that respect, France welcomes the unanimous renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in October 2024. That is a strong indication of the unity of the members of the Council in support of the Colombian authorities. France also welcomes the launch by Colombia on 30 November 2024 of its action plan relating to the women and peace and security agenda. The Government’s commitments must now be translated into concrete changes for the benefit of the population. That means speeding up the implementation of the peace agreement, with the rapid response plan presented by the Colombian authorities to the Council in October 2024. In that regard, I would like to emphasize four points. First, inter-institutional coordination is key to accelerating progress. We hope that that will materialize in the form of reinforced coordination within a framework of clearly defined responsibilities, as indicated in point 6 of the rapid response plan. Secondly, the reduction of violence and the increased presence of the State throughout the territory are crucial factors for the full implementation of the peace agreement. France welcomes the Colombian Government’s efforts to pursue dialogue with the armed groups, with the support of the Special Representative’s mission of good offices. France strongly condemns the resumption of violence in Catatumbo, which involves armed groups and has claimed more than 100 victims and displaced thousands of people. It calls on those armed groups to cease their violent actions immediately. Ceasefire agreements must be able to guarantee the Thirdly, transitional justice plays a crucial role in the process of reconciliation. Progress has been made under the aegis of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. I refer to the indictment in November 2024 of six former FARC leaders for recruiting children into their ranks and the investigations into acts of sexual and gender-based violence that have been under way since November 2023. In that respect, I would like to welcome Colombia’s hosting of the most recent Conference of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, in November 2024. Dialogue between the parties must continue so that the transitional justice process continues to move forward. Conditions must be created for the full implementation of restorative sentences once they have been handed down. Fourthly, agrarian reform is a central pillar for the development of a country that is currently 94 per cent rural. France, as the accompanying country for chapter I of the peace agreement on comprehensive rural reform, welcomes the progress made, and continues to give its full political and financial support to the Colombian Government in that area. France reiterates its full support for the Special Representative and the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia in their efforts on the ground and for Colombia on its path to lasting peace.

I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia.

I would like to begin by thanking the representatives for being here and for the constant support they have given to Colombia’s efforts to strengthen peace and for accompanying us on that path with so many challenges, as has been mentioned here, but also full of hope. As we have always said in the Security Council, we speak of peace and not of war. We do not make war, but rather we build peace. I am grateful in particular for the adoption of resolution 2754 (2024) of 2024, by which the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia in Colombia until 31 October of this year. The presence at this meeting of Mr. Diego Tovar, representative of the high contracting party to the Commission for the Follow-Up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement, is a compelling testament to the importance of bilateralism. The bilateral nature of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace is of utmost importance for dialogue and consultation in peacebuilding. I stand before the Security Council today on behalf of the Colombian Government with the clarity of someone who knows that peace is not only a national aspiration, but also a legacy that we must build for future generations, and with the indignation of those who unequivocally reject the war crimes and the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) and the dissidents of the 33rd Front in Catatumbo. The killings of the signatories of the peace agreement is unacceptable, and we strongly condemn them. The Government of Colombia will not rest until those responsible for those senseless acts of violence against the signatories of the peace agreement and against the civilian population are brought to justice. We express our solidarity with all the victims. As Mr. Ruiz Massieu stated, the people and Government of Colombia have demonstrated resilience and their commitment to peace. I must say that there is nothing truer than that. It is the reality. There is evidence of that throughout our history, and this week has been no exception. Colombians have turned out to welcome the displaced people who have left Catatumbo and to help the victims of violence, and the Colombian Government has taken extraordinary and exceptional measures to restore peace and tranquillity in that region. Resilience is part of the Colombian identity. I know that from my own experience, because when I had to leave my country in 2000, owing to the violence and in order to protect my family and survive those circumstances, I did so knowing that I would return when I had the opportunity to work for peace for Colombia. Many others in the country have done so as well. Therefore, I am convinced that Catatumbo is not renouncing peace. Colombia is not renouncing peace. From the most vulnerable communities to the leaders who fight every day in our country — they are not renouncing peace. We will continue to build peace. The Ministers of State of our Government have put in place a plan to expedite the implementation of the peace agreement, led by the Ministry of Interior. It is a detailed plan, which in recent months has resulted in significant progress, including the inclusion of gender provisions and provisions for ethnic peoples, as well as the signing of 16 territorial pacts to promote development programmes with a territorial approach, which we are very hopeful about. It is also necessary for the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to join those efforts of the Colombian State and quickly and efficiently make progress in defining the legal status of the signatories of the peace agreement. Through bodies such as the Commission for the Follow-Up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement and all the institutions and actors that make up the peace ecosystem in Colombia, we have reached a point of no return in the implementation of the peace agreement. Peace is the cornerstone of our commitment to life. We must make that a reality. Colombia continues to build on a shared dream — a country in which peace is not a privilege, but a right. The national Government, headed by President Gustavo Petro Urrego, has promoted a renewed approach to peace. The implementation of the 2016 peace agreement is the pillar on which we are building a policy of total peace. Every ministry, every institution and every community have contributed to us reaching a point of no return in that process, making achievements. There are obstacles, but we view them, with optimism, as surmountable. I would like share with the Council something that I consider essential. Colombia’s peace process, with its challenges and lessons learned, is a global point of reference. It teaches us that, even in the face of adversities, such as those we are facing today and even greater adversities, inclusive dialogue with a territorial focus can transform the reality of millions. I reiterate that peace continues to be our cornerstone. We request the continued unanimous support and accompaniment of the international community, as others have expressed today, through the Security Council for the new measures and guarantees proposed for the implementation of the agreement, understood as the basis of the total peace policy. We also recognize the committed work of the Verification Mission, under the leadership of Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu. We are confident that, during this year, we will continue working together to achieve tangible, verifiable and high-impact results. I want to seize this opportunity to invite one and all to accompany the Republic of Colombia in its noble aspiration to be part of this body, the Security Council, for the period 2026–2027. Colombia offers the international community its experience and commitment to reconciliation. Our country is proof that despite the wounds and obstacles, humankind can overcome. As my work as Minister for Foreign Affairs in Colombia comes to an end, I would like to affirm before the Council my personal and institutional commitment to peace. I will not continue to be part of the Government in the coming months, but I will continue to be a soldier for peace, convinced that our destiny is to live without fear and with dignity. Colombia has showed that peace is not a utopia, but a reality that is possible when there is determination and commitment. Our experience in reconciliation and conflict resolution is an invaluable asset that we wish to share with the world. We will continue our efforts to protect life and ensure stability and international cooperation. Together we can create a future where peace is the irreversible path for all nations.