April 9, 2024
Thank you, Madam President. And SRSG Massieu, thank you for your briefing today. And thank you, Marcela Sánchez for your important briefing. I also wish to welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia to this meeting.
Madam President. The United States appreciated the opportunity to join the Council on its important trip to Colombia earlier this year. And we thank the Government of Colombia for hosting the visit.
The United States reiterates its strong support for the continued implementation of the 2016 Peace Accord. Accelerating efforts toward full implementation is vital to Colombia’s efforts to make progress toward justice for victims of the conflict, alongside its security, stability, and counternarcotics goals.
We welcome continued dialogue between the Colombian government and the ELN, including the sixth round of talks in Cuba, as well as the UN Verification Mission’s deployment of more than 100 personnel to support the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism of the bilateral ceasefire. We are glad to hear reports that the mechanism is helping to reduce conflict, and that the ceasefire was extended.
We welcome the Verification Mission’s efforts to implement those provisions of the peace agreement that are outstanding, including gender provisions.
We encourage the Colombian government to continue regularly consulting with diverse women and LGBTQI+ civil society to develop and fully implement the First National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security in Colombia, and to ensure that their rights and perspectives are fully integrated.
We also welcome progress on the implementation of the Comprehensive Rural Reform chapter, a fundamental aspect of the Agreement. More must be done to expand access to land, in particular for marginalized ethnic communities.
We condemn acts of violence perpetrated by the FARC-EP on March 16 and 17 2024 against Indigenous communities in the municipality of Toribio, Cauca. In particular, we mourn the death of community leader, Carmelina Ascué Yule, and the wounding of two Indigenous guards. According to reports, FARC dissidents attacked her and others following their protests against the armed groups’ forced recruitment of minors.
We also remain greatly concerned by increased violence in regions such as Antioquia, Cauca, Chocó, Nariño, and Putumayo that particularly threatens the safety and development of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.
We continue to monitor discussions between the Colombian government and the FARC-EP. The United States will continue to look for more progress on these efforts before considering a further expansion of the UNVMC mandate to include monitoring the ceasefire between the FARC-EP and the Colombian government. Unhindered humanitarian access, particularly for humanitarian demining organizations, as well as civilian protections, continues to be of paramount importance.
The ELN, FARC-EP, and Segunda Marquetalia remain designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations under U.S. law, and these designations demonstrate the United States’ solidarity with Colombia’s efforts to support victims as they seek truth and justice.
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.
Thank you, Madam President.