Peace Agreement: UN expresses concern for the safety of ex-combatants and presidential elections

On April 12, President Iván Duque will speak about the implementation of the Peace Agreement before the Security Council of the United Nations (UN). At the same meeting, the Verification Mission will present its report on the progress made in the last quarter, which highlights its concern for the safety of former combatants of the former FARC guerrilla group and the presidential elections.

The report contains what was observed by the organization between December 28, 2021 and March 25, 2022. The document highlights progress in the country in terms of political, social and economic integration; however, it shows an increase in insecurity and violence, which would jeopardize the gains achieved with the Final Peace Agreement.

During that period, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights received reports of 43 murders of social leaders and 25 massacres. The report also highlights that “security deteriorated considerably” and 116 people were killed in clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and FARC dissident groups.

The situation caused 13,821 people to suffer forced displacement and 48,331 Colombians were confined, of whom more than 42,000 belong to indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities in Chocó. The latter department, together with Putumayo and Arauca, were the most affected by the increased levels of violence due to the fighting.

On the other hand, the Verification Mission stated that most of the more than 13,000 ex-combatants are still in the process of reintegration “into civilian life despite the significant challenges they face” such as insecurity in the territories in which they live. Among them, 63% participate in individual and collective projects. However, since the signing of the Final Peace Agreement, 315 ex-combatants have been killed, of whom 10 were women, and in this quarter, 11 people who demobilized themselves from the extinct guerrillas were killed.

Presidential elections

It is important to remember that the period of time in which the report was developed corresponds to the electoral season of the legislative elections, so the report also records the irregularities that occurred in the elections.

The UN said that these elections were “the first in which people from conflict-affected regions vote for the Special Transitional Peace Constituencies (CITREP).” In turn, they indicated that during the elections most of the members belonging to the extinct FARC were able to exercise their right to vote.

Despite this achievement, the rates of violence in certain regions generated concern among the organization in the face of the upcoming presidential elections to be held on 29 May. The Secretary of the United Nations, António Guterres, called for political campaigns to be conducted free of violence and stigmatization.

“As the presidential elections approach, the Secretary General encourages political forces to remain committed to a campaign free of violence and stigmatization,” the document reads. Guterres also noted that he is confident that Colombian citizens and their political leaders will honor the principles that inspired the Peace Agreement to participate in the political debate and invited the country to continue to “channel its differences through institutional channels,” he added.

This is the full report of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia:

KEEP READING: