“As we take stock today, we can confidently affirm that the implementation of the peace process is taking deep roots,” Mr. said in Bogotá during an event commemorating the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC-EP, that ended the Western hemisphere’s longest-running war. Speaking from the headquarters of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, one of the main justice mechanisms created as part of the peace deal between the Government and the guerrilla movement, the Secretary-General said the fifth anniversary is a testimony to the commitment of the parties, but also of the State institutions and the vibrant Colombian civil society, working together despite many difficulties, including tackling the pandemic.

An investment in peace

Among the “undeniable achievements” the accord has yielded, Mr. Guterres noted the fact that a guerrilla movement that had waged armed combat for half a century is today a political party and that the majority of ex-combatants, some 13,000, are striving “admirably” to build new lives. Moreover, he recalled to Antioquia’s mountainside village of Llano Grande, where he had witnessed “determination in the face of adversity and uncertainty” as the local community, ex-combatants and police are now living and working side-by-side. “I also witnessed how, with Government action and support, the expansion of locally designed development and social protection programs are bringing peace dividends to conflict-affected communities,” the Secretary-General said, adding that: “Ensuring the sustainability of these efforts will be critical in the future.” “In a world marked by conflicts, many of them without an end in sight, a peace agreement negotiated to end a conflict that many believed to be unsolvable is something extremely unique and valuable,” stated the UN chief, adding: “Colombia has sent a clear message: The time has come to invest in peace.”

Hard won peace comes with risks

Yet, despite the solid progress, the Secretary-General cautioned that all sides “must be clear about the risks” that may threaten the long-term sustainability of the agreement. “Ethnic communities and women and girls are always particularly affected,” said the UN chief, also spotlighting other factors that could contravene the deal, including violence by armed groups in connection with drug trafficking; threats and murders of ex-combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders, often women and indigenous populations; displacement and confinement; violence against women and sexual violence; and the recruitment of children. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, more than 300 ex-combatants and 477 human rights defenders and civic leaders have been killed, according to data from the in Colombia. “Each death is itself a tragedy,” Mr. Guterres continued. “Each death sends a devastating message to these communities that still await the promises of the Accord.” “I am confident of the President's determination to ensure that the security provisions of the Agreement will be fully implemented, as well as all the [articles] on rural reform, solving the problem of illicit drug trafficking and all the complexity that comes from the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” the Secretary-General stated.

Challenges are part of the process

Despite these challenges to peace, Mr. Guterres said “it is not too late to reverse this trend”, and stressed that it would be necessary for the full implementation of the peace accord’s security provisions, as well as those dealing with rural reforms and tackling drug trafficking. He recalled that the Peace Agreement itself reflected the reality that transformations of this magnitude will take time. “There are still ten years left [for] what was initially planned” and “the challenges are part of the peace processes.” “There are many issues on which you can disagree in a democracy, but peace can no longer be one of them,” he argued, before calling on Colombia “to remain on this path of peace-building and persist in overcoming challenges”. To this end, he encouraged all Colombians to follow the roadmap set out in the Peace Agreement, which not only sought to silence the weapons, but “aimed at transforming the root causes of the conflict and beginning to heal the wounds, so that the atrocities [here] committed do not happen again.” With those goals in mind, the UN chief noted progress on “the creation of a transitional justice system that aims at justice for victims and survivors, as well as ensuring lasting peace.” Indeed, he said: “We have seen historical indictments for war crimes and recognition of unprecedented responsibility. We have seen emotional encounters that unite victims and those responsible. And we have seen how families finally come out of the uncertainty about the fate of their missing loved ones.” Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General said that “after more than five decades of conflict, and a deep awareness of the suffering it caused, we have a moral obligation to guarantee that this peace process is successful.”

Testimony of victims: infinite hope

Ahead of his remarks, the Secretary-General heard testimonies from victims, including of Ana Sofía Martínez, whose father disappeared 20 years ago after he was detained by the FARC-EP. After calling on all parties, the Government and FARC-EP, to put aside their disagreements and fulfill their obligations, Ms. Martínez said she felt tired, sad and happy. “Tired of bureaucracy and protocol; sad because disappearances continue to occur and the guarantees that the State gives about post-conflict activities are increasingly vague; and happy because in the face of so much adversity, we continue dreaming, sustained by infinite hope and more than one hundred thousand reasons. For the people still missing, we must hope. And we insist on action,” she affirmed. Another participant was Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth, who listed the positive actions by one side or another, but also stressed that unfortunately, no steps had been taken to achieve what he called “the great peace”: a peace that is above all party interests. Also participating in the event were former President Juan Manuel Santos and former FARC commander Rodrigo Londoño, signatories of the Peace Agreement, and current President Iván Duque, as well as the current President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Eduardo Cifuentes Muños, and other actors who promoted the negotiations that led to the signing of the Agreement. All recognized that there are still many challenges, but stressed that the peace process continues to move forward.

“As we take stock today, we can confidently affirm that the implementation of the peace process is taking deep roots,” Mr. said in Bogotá during an event commemorating the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC-EP, that ended the Western hemisphere’s longest-running war. Speaking from the headquarters of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, one of the main justice mechanisms created as part of the peace deal between the Government and the guerrilla movement, the Secretary-General said the fifth anniversary is a testimony to the commitment of the parties, but also of the State institutions and the vibrant Colombian civil society, working together despite many difficulties, including tackling the pandemic.

An investment in peace

Among the “undeniable achievements” the accord has yielded, Mr. Guterres noted the fact that a guerrilla movement that had waged armed combat for half a century is today a political party and that the majority of ex-combatants, some 13,000, are striving “admirably” to build new lives. Moreover, he recalled to Antioquia’s mountainside village of Llano Grande, where he had witnessed “determination in the face of adversity and uncertainty” as the local community, ex-combatants and police are now living and working side-by-side. “I also witnessed how, with Government action and support, the expansion of locally designed development and social protection programs are bringing peace dividends to conflict-affected communities,” the Secretary-General said, adding that: “Ensuring the sustainability of these efforts will be critical in the future.” “In a world marked by conflicts, many of them without an end in sight, a peace agreement negotiated to end a conflict that many believed to be unsolvable is something extremely unique and valuable,” stated the UN chief, adding: “Colombia has sent a clear message: The time has come to invest in peace.”

Hard won peace comes with risks

Yet, despite the solid progress, the Secretary-General cautioned that all sides “must be clear about the risks” that may threaten the long-term sustainability of the agreement. “Ethnic communities and women and girls are always particularly affected,” said the UN chief, also spotlighting other factors that could contravene the deal, including violence by armed groups in connection with drug trafficking; threats and murders of ex-combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders, often women and indigenous populations; displacement and confinement; violence against women and sexual violence; and the recruitment of children. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, more than 300 ex-combatants and 477 human rights defenders and civic leaders have been killed, according to data from the in Colombia. “Each death is itself a tragedy,” Mr. Guterres continued. “Each death sends a devastating message to these communities that still await the promises of the Accord.” “I am confident of the President's determination to ensure that the security provisions of the Agreement will be fully implemented, as well as all the [articles] on rural reform, solving the problem of illicit drug trafficking and all the complexity that comes from the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” the Secretary-General stated.

Challenges are part of the process

Despite these challenges to peace, Mr. Guterres said “it is not too late to reverse this trend”, and stressed that it would be necessary for the full implementation of the peace accord’s security provisions, as well as those dealing with rural reforms and tackling drug trafficking. He recalled that the Peace Agreement itself reflected the reality that transformations of this magnitude will take time. “There are still ten years left [for] what was initially planned” and “the challenges are part of the peace processes.” “There are many issues on which you can disagree in a democracy, but peace can no longer be one of them,” he argued, before calling on Colombia “to remain on this path of peace-building and persist in overcoming challenges”. To this end, he encouraged all Colombians to follow the roadmap set out in the Peace Agreement, which not only sought to silence the weapons, but “aimed at transforming the root causes of the conflict and beginning to heal the wounds, so that the atrocities [here] committed do not happen again.” With those goals in mind, the UN chief noted progress on “the creation of a transitional justice system that aims at justice for victims and survivors, as well as ensuring lasting peace.” Indeed, he said: “We have seen historical indictments for war crimes and recognition of unprecedented responsibility. We have seen emotional encounters that unite victims and those responsible. And we have seen how families finally come out of the uncertainty about the fate of their missing loved ones.” Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General said that “after more than five decades of conflict, and a deep awareness of the suffering it caused, we have a moral obligation to guarantee that this peace process is successful.”

Testimony of victims: infinite hope

Ahead of his remarks, the Secretary-General heard testimonies from victims, including of Ana Sofía Martínez, whose father disappeared 20 years ago after he was detained by the FARC-EP. After calling on all parties, the Government and FARC-EP, to put aside their disagreements and fulfill their obligations, Ms. Martínez said she felt tired, sad and happy. “Tired of bureaucracy and protocol; sad because disappearances continue to occur and the guarantees that the State gives about post-conflict activities are increasingly vague; and happy because in the face of so much adversity, we continue dreaming, sustained by infinite hope and more than one hundred thousand reasons. For the people still missing, we must hope. And we insist on action,” she affirmed. Another participant was Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth, who listed the positive actions by one side or another, but also stressed that unfortunately, no steps had been taken to achieve what he called “the great peace”: a peace that is above all party interests. Also participating in the event were former President Juan Manuel Santos and former FARC commander Rodrigo Londoño, signatories of the Peace Agreement, and current President Iván Duque, as well as the current President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Eduardo Cifuentes Muños, and other actors who promoted the negotiations that led to the signing of the Agreement. All recognized that there are still many challenges, but stressed that the peace process continues to move forward.

“As we take stock today, we can confidently affirm that the implementation of the peace process is taking deep roots,” Mr. said in Bogotá during an event commemorating the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC-EP, that ended the Western hemisphere’s longest-running war. Speaking from the headquarters of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, one of the main justice mechanisms created as part of the peace deal between the Government and the guerrilla movement, the Secretary-General said the fifth anniversary is a testimony to the commitment of the parties, but also of the State institutions and the vibrant Colombian civil society, working together despite many difficulties, including tackling the pandemic.

An investment in peace

Among the “undeniable achievements” the accord has yielded, Mr. Guterres noted the fact that a guerrilla movement that had waged armed combat for half a century is today a political party and that the majority of ex-combatants, some 13,000, are striving “admirably” to build new lives. Moreover, he recalled to Antioquia’s mountainside village of Llano Grande, where he had witnessed “determination in the face of adversity and uncertainty” as the local community, ex-combatants and police are now living and working side-by-side. “I also witnessed how, with Government action and support, the expansion of locally designed development and social protection programs are bringing peace dividends to conflict-affected communities,” the Secretary-General said, adding that: “Ensuring the sustainability of these efforts will be critical in the future.” “In a world marked by conflicts, many of them without an end in sight, a peace agreement negotiated to end a conflict that many believed to be unsolvable is something extremely unique and valuable,” stated the UN chief, adding: “Colombia has sent a clear message: The time has come to invest in peace.”

Hard won peace comes with risks

Yet, despite the solid progress, the Secretary-General cautioned that all sides “must be clear about the risks” that may threaten the long-term sustainability of the agreement. “Ethnic communities and women and girls are always particularly affected,” said the UN chief, also spotlighting other factors that could contravene the deal, including violence by armed groups in connection with drug trafficking; threats and murders of ex-combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders, often women and indigenous populations; displacement and confinement; violence against women and sexual violence; and the recruitment of children. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, more than 300 ex-combatants and 477 human rights defenders and civic leaders have been killed, according to data from the in Colombia. “Each death is itself a tragedy,” Mr. Guterres continued. “Each death sends a devastating message to these communities that still await the promises of the Accord.” “I am confident of the President's determination to ensure that the security provisions of the Agreement will be fully implemented, as well as all the [articles] on rural reform, solving the problem of illicit drug trafficking and all the complexity that comes from the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” the Secretary-General stated.

Challenges are part of the process

Despite these challenges to peace, Mr. Guterres said “it is not too late to reverse this trend”, and stressed that it would be necessary for the full implementation of the peace accord’s security provisions, as well as those dealing with rural reforms and tackling drug trafficking. He recalled that the Peace Agreement itself reflected the reality that transformations of this magnitude will take time. “There are still ten years left [for] what was initially planned” and “the challenges are part of the peace processes.” “There are many issues on which you can disagree in a democracy, but peace can no longer be one of them,” he argued, before calling on Colombia “to remain on this path of peace-building and persist in overcoming challenges”. To this end, he encouraged all Colombians to follow the roadmap set out in the Peace Agreement, which not only sought to silence the weapons, but “aimed at transforming the root causes of the conflict and beginning to heal the wounds, so that the atrocities [here] committed do not happen again.” With those goals in mind, the UN chief noted progress on “the creation of a transitional justice system that aims at justice for victims and survivors, as well as ensuring lasting peace.” Indeed, he said: “We have seen historical indictments for war crimes and recognition of unprecedented responsibility. We have seen emotional encounters that unite victims and those responsible. And we have seen how families finally come out of the uncertainty about the fate of their missing loved ones.” Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General said that “after more than five decades of conflict, and a deep awareness of the suffering it caused, we have a moral obligation to guarantee that this peace process is successful.”

Testimony of victims: infinite hope

Ahead of his remarks, the Secretary-General heard testimonies from victims, including of Ana Sofía Martínez, whose father disappeared 20 years ago after he was detained by the FARC-EP. After calling on all parties, the Government and FARC-EP, to put aside their disagreements and fulfill their obligations, Ms. Martínez said she felt tired, sad and happy. “Tired of bureaucracy and protocol; sad because disappearances continue to occur and the guarantees that the State gives about post-conflict activities are increasingly vague; and happy because in the face of so much adversity, we continue dreaming, sustained by infinite hope and more than one hundred thousand reasons. For the people still missing, we must hope. And we insist on action,” she affirmed. Another participant was Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth, who listed the positive actions by one side or another, but also stressed that unfortunately, no steps had been taken to achieve what he called “the great peace”: a peace that is above all party interests. Also participating in the event were former President Juan Manuel Santos and former FARC commander Rodrigo Londoño, signatories of the Peace Agreement, and current President Iván Duque, as well as the current President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Eduardo Cifuentes Muños, and other actors who promoted the negotiations that led to the signing of the Agreement. All recognized that there are still many challenges, but stressed that the peace process continues to move forward.

“As we take stock today, we can confidently affirm that the implementation of the peace process is taking deep roots,” Mr. said in Bogotá during an event commemorating the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC-EP, that ended the Western hemisphere’s longest-running war. Speaking from the headquarters of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, one of the main justice mechanisms created as part of the peace deal between the Government and the guerrilla movement, the Secretary-General said the fifth anniversary is a testimony to the commitment of the parties, but also of the State institutions and the vibrant Colombian civil society, working together despite many difficulties, including tackling the pandemic.

An investment in peace

Among the “undeniable achievements” the accord has yielded, Mr. Guterres noted the fact that a guerrilla movement that had waged armed combat for half a century is today a political party and that the majority of ex-combatants, some 13,000, are striving “admirably” to build new lives. Moreover, he recalled to Antioquia’s mountainside village of Llano Grande, where he had witnessed “determination in the face of adversity and uncertainty” as the local community, ex-combatants and police are now living and working side-by-side. “I also witnessed how, with Government action and support, the expansion of locally designed development and social protection programs are bringing peace dividends to conflict-affected communities,” the Secretary-General said, adding that: “Ensuring the sustainability of these efforts will be critical in the future.” “In a world marked by conflicts, many of them without an end in sight, a peace agreement negotiated to end a conflict that many believed to be unsolvable is something extremely unique and valuable,” stated the UN chief, adding: “Colombia has sent a clear message: The time has come to invest in peace.”

Hard won peace comes with risks

Yet, despite the solid progress, the Secretary-General cautioned that all sides “must be clear about the risks” that may threaten the long-term sustainability of the agreement. “Ethnic communities and women and girls are always particularly affected,” said the UN chief, also spotlighting other factors that could contravene the deal, including violence by armed groups in connection with drug trafficking; threats and murders of ex-combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders, often women and indigenous populations; displacement and confinement; violence against women and sexual violence; and the recruitment of children. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, more than 300 ex-combatants and 477 human rights defenders and civic leaders have been killed, according to data from the in Colombia. “Each death is itself a tragedy,” Mr. Guterres continued. “Each death sends a devastating message to these communities that still await the promises of the Accord.” “I am confident of the President's determination to ensure that the security provisions of the Agreement will be fully implemented, as well as all the [articles] on rural reform, solving the problem of illicit drug trafficking and all the complexity that comes from the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” the Secretary-General stated.

Challenges are part of the process

Despite these challenges to peace, Mr. Guterres said “it is not too late to reverse this trend”, and stressed that it would be necessary for the full implementation of the peace accord’s security provisions, as well as those dealing with rural reforms and tackling drug trafficking. He recalled that the Peace Agreement itself reflected the reality that transformations of this magnitude will take time. “There are still ten years left [for] what was initially planned” and “the challenges are part of the peace processes.” “There are many issues on which you can disagree in a democracy, but peace can no longer be one of them,” he argued, before calling on Colombia “to remain on this path of peace-building and persist in overcoming challenges”. To this end, he encouraged all Colombians to follow the roadmap set out in the Peace Agreement, which not only sought to silence the weapons, but “aimed at transforming the root causes of the conflict and beginning to heal the wounds, so that the atrocities [here] committed do not happen again.” With those goals in mind, the UN chief noted progress on “the creation of a transitional justice system that aims at justice for victims and survivors, as well as ensuring lasting peace.” Indeed, he said: “We have seen historical indictments for war crimes and recognition of unprecedented responsibility. We have seen emotional encounters that unite victims and those responsible. And we have seen how families finally come out of the uncertainty about the fate of their missing loved ones.” Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General said that “after more than five decades of conflict, and a deep awareness of the suffering it caused, we have a moral obligation to guarantee that this peace process is successful.”

Testimony of victims: infinite hope

Ahead of his remarks, the Secretary-General heard testimonies from victims, including of Ana Sofía Martínez, whose father disappeared 20 years ago after he was detained by the FARC-EP. After calling on all parties, the Government and FARC-EP, to put aside their disagreements and fulfill their obligations, Ms. Martínez said she felt tired, sad and happy. “Tired of bureaucracy and protocol; sad because disappearances continue to occur and the guarantees that the State gives about post-conflict activities are increasingly vague; and happy because in the face of so much adversity, we continue dreaming, sustained by infinite hope and more than one hundred thousand reasons. For the people still missing, we must hope. And we insist on action,” she affirmed. Another participant was Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth, who listed the positive actions by one side or another, but also stressed that unfortunately, no steps had been taken to achieve what he called “the great peace”: a peace that is above all party interests. Also participating in the event were former President Juan Manuel Santos and former FARC commander Rodrigo Londoño, signatories of the Peace Agreement, and current President Iván Duque, as well as the current President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Eduardo Cifuentes Muños, and other actors who promoted the negotiations that led to the signing of the Agreement. All recognized that there are still many challenges, but stressed that the peace process continues to move forward.

“As we take stock today, we can confidently affirm that the implementation of the peace process is taking deep roots,” Mr. said in Bogotá during an event commemorating the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC-EP, that ended the Western hemisphere’s longest-running war. Speaking from the headquarters of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, one of the main justice mechanisms created as part of the peace deal between the Government and the guerrilla movement, the Secretary-General said the fifth anniversary is a testimony to the commitment of the parties, but also of the State institutions and the vibrant Colombian civil society, working together despite many difficulties, including tackling the pandemic.

An investment in peace

Among the “undeniable achievements” the accord has yielded, Mr. Guterres noted the fact that a guerrilla movement that had waged armed combat for half a century is today a political party and that the majority of ex-combatants, some 13,000, are striving “admirably” to build new lives. Moreover, he recalled to Antioquia’s mountainside village of Llano Grande, where he had witnessed “determination in the face of adversity and uncertainty” as the local community, ex-combatants and police are now living and working side-by-side. “I also witnessed how, with Government action and support, the expansion of locally designed development and social protection programs are bringing peace dividends to conflict-affected communities,” the Secretary-General said, adding that: “Ensuring the sustainability of these efforts will be critical in the future.” “In a world marked by conflicts, many of them without an end in sight, a peace agreement negotiated to end a conflict that many believed to be unsolvable is something extremely unique and valuable,” stated the UN chief, adding: “Colombia has sent a clear message: The time has come to invest in peace.”

Hard won peace comes with risks

Yet, despite the solid progress, the Secretary-General cautioned that all sides “must be clear about the risks” that may threaten the long-term sustainability of the agreement. “Ethnic communities and women and girls are always particularly affected,” said the UN chief, also spotlighting other factors that could contravene the deal, including violence by armed groups in connection with drug trafficking; threats and murders of ex-combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders, often women and indigenous populations; displacement and confinement; violence against women and sexual violence; and the recruitment of children. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, more than 300 ex-combatants and 477 human rights defenders and civic leaders have been killed, according to data from the in Colombia. “Each death is itself a tragedy,” Mr. Guterres continued. “Each death sends a devastating message to these communities that still await the promises of the Accord.” “I am confident of the President's determination to ensure that the security provisions of the Agreement will be fully implemented, as well as all the [articles] on rural reform, solving the problem of illicit drug trafficking and all the complexity that comes from the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” the Secretary-General stated.

Challenges are part of the process

Despite these challenges to peace, Mr. Guterres said “it is not too late to reverse this trend”, and stressed that it would be necessary for the full implementation of the peace accord’s security provisions, as well as those dealing with rural reforms and tackling drug trafficking. He recalled that the Peace Agreement itself reflected the reality that transformations of this magnitude will take time. “There are still ten years left [for] what was initially planned” and “the challenges are part of the peace processes.” “There are many issues on which you can disagree in a democracy, but peace can no longer be one of them,” he argued, before calling on Colombia “to remain on this path of peace-building and persist in overcoming challenges”. To this end, he encouraged all Colombians to follow the roadmap set out in the Peace Agreement, which not only sought to silence the weapons, but “aimed at transforming the root causes of the conflict and beginning to heal the wounds, so that the atrocities [here] committed do not happen again.” With those goals in mind, the UN chief noted progress on “the creation of a transitional justice system that aims at justice for victims and survivors, as well as ensuring lasting peace.” Indeed, he said: “We have seen historical indictments for war crimes and recognition of unprecedented responsibility. We have seen emotional encounters that unite victims and those responsible. And we have seen how families finally come out of the uncertainty about the fate of their missing loved ones.” Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General said that “after more than five decades of conflict, and a deep awareness of the suffering it caused, we have a moral obligation to guarantee that this peace process is successful.”

Testimony of victims: infinite hope

Ahead of his remarks, the Secretary-General heard testimonies from victims, including of Ana Sofía Martínez, whose father disappeared 20 years ago after he was detained by the FARC-EP. After calling on all parties, the Government and FARC-EP, to put aside their disagreements and fulfill their obligations, Ms. Martínez said she felt tired, sad and happy. “Tired of bureaucracy and protocol; sad because disappearances continue to occur and the guarantees that the State gives about post-conflict activities are increasingly vague; and happy because in the face of so much adversity, we continue dreaming, sustained by infinite hope and more than one hundred thousand reasons. For the people still missing, we must hope. And we insist on action,” she affirmed. Another participant was Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth, who listed the positive actions by one side or another, but also stressed that unfortunately, no steps had been taken to achieve what he called “the great peace”: a peace that is above all party interests. Also participating in the event were former President Juan Manuel Santos and former FARC commander Rodrigo Londoño, signatories of the Peace Agreement, and current President Iván Duque, as well as the current President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Eduardo Cifuentes Muños, and other actors who promoted the negotiations that led to the signing of the Agreement. All recognized that there are still many challenges, but stressed that the peace process continues to move forward.

“As we take stock today, we can confidently affirm that the implementation of the peace process is taking deep roots,” Mr. said in Bogotá during an event commemorating the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC-EP, that ended the Western hemisphere’s longest-running war. Speaking from the headquarters of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, one of the main justice mechanisms created as part of the peace deal between the Government and the guerrilla movement, the Secretary-General said the fifth anniversary is a testimony to the commitment of the parties, but also of the State institutions and the vibrant Colombian civil society, working together despite many difficulties, including tackling the pandemic.

An investment in peace

Among the “undeniable achievements” the accord has yielded, Mr. Guterres noted the fact that a guerrilla movement that had waged armed combat for half a century is today a political party and that the majority of ex-combatants, some 13,000, are striving “admirably” to build new lives. Moreover, he recalled to Antioquia’s mountainside village of Llano Grande, where he had witnessed “determination in the face of adversity and uncertainty” as the local community, ex-combatants and police are now living and working side-by-side. “I also witnessed how, with Government action and support, the expansion of locally designed development and social protection programs are bringing peace dividends to conflict-affected communities,” the Secretary-General said, adding that: “Ensuring the sustainability of these efforts will be critical in the future.” “In a world marked by conflicts, many of them without an end in sight, a peace agreement negotiated to end a conflict that many believed to be unsolvable is something extremely unique and valuable,” stated the UN chief, adding: “Colombia has sent a clear message: The time has come to invest in peace.”

Hard won peace comes with risks

Yet, despite the solid progress, the Secretary-General cautioned that all sides “must be clear about the risks” that may threaten the long-term sustainability of the agreement. “Ethnic communities and women and girls are always particularly affected,” said the UN chief, also spotlighting other factors that could contravene the deal, including violence by armed groups in connection with drug trafficking; threats and murders of ex-combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders, often women and indigenous populations; displacement and confinement; violence against women and sexual violence; and the recruitment of children. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, more than 300 ex-combatants and 477 human rights defenders and civic leaders have been killed, according to data from the in Colombia. “Each death is itself a tragedy,” Mr. Guterres continued. “Each death sends a devastating message to these communities that still await the promises of the Accord.” “I am confident of the President's determination to ensure that the security provisions of the Agreement will be fully implemented, as well as all the [articles] on rural reform, solving the problem of illicit drug trafficking and all the complexity that comes from the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” the Secretary-General stated.

Challenges are part of the process

Despite these challenges to peace, Mr. Guterres said “it is not too late to reverse this trend”, and stressed that it would be necessary for the full implementation of the peace accord’s security provisions, as well as those dealing with rural reforms and tackling drug trafficking. He recalled that the Peace Agreement itself reflected the reality that transformations of this magnitude will take time. “There are still ten years left [for] what was initially planned” and “the challenges are part of the peace processes.” “There are many issues on which you can disagree in a democracy, but peace can no longer be one of them,” he argued, before calling on Colombia “to remain on this path of peace-building and persist in overcoming challenges”. To this end, he encouraged all Colombians to follow the roadmap set out in the Peace Agreement, which not only sought to silence the weapons, but “aimed at transforming the root causes of the conflict and beginning to heal the wounds, so that the atrocities [here] committed do not happen again.” With those goals in mind, the UN chief noted progress on “the creation of a transitional justice system that aims at justice for victims and survivors, as well as ensuring lasting peace.” Indeed, he said: “We have seen historical indictments for war crimes and recognition of unprecedented responsibility. We have seen emotional encounters that unite victims and those responsible. And we have seen how families finally come out of the uncertainty about the fate of their missing loved ones.” Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General said that “after more than five decades of conflict, and a deep awareness of the suffering it caused, we have a moral obligation to guarantee that this peace process is successful.”

Testimony of victims: infinite hope

Ahead of his remarks, the Secretary-General heard testimonies from victims, including of Ana Sofía Martínez, whose father disappeared 20 years ago after he was detained by the FARC-EP. After calling on all parties, the Government and FARC-EP, to put aside their disagreements and fulfill their obligations, Ms. Martínez said she felt tired, sad and happy. “Tired of bureaucracy and protocol; sad because disappearances continue to occur and the guarantees that the State gives about post-conflict activities are increasingly vague; and happy because in the face of so much adversity, we continue dreaming, sustained by infinite hope and more than one hundred thousand reasons. For the people still missing, we must hope. And we insist on action,” she affirmed. Another participant was Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth, who listed the positive actions by one side or another, but also stressed that unfortunately, no steps had been taken to achieve what he called “the great peace”: a peace that is above all party interests. Also participating in the event were former President Juan Manuel Santos and former FARC commander Rodrigo Londoño, signatories of the Peace Agreement, and current President Iván Duque, as well as the current President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Eduardo Cifuentes Muños, and other actors who promoted the negotiations that led to the signing of the Agreement. All recognized that there are still many challenges, but stressed that the peace process continues to move forward.

“As we take stock today, we can confidently affirm that the implementation of the peace process is taking deep roots,” Mr. said in Bogotá during an event commemorating the 2016 peace deal between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC-EP, that ended the Western hemisphere’s longest-running war. Speaking from the headquarters of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, one of the main justice mechanisms created as part of the peace deal between the Government and the guerrilla movement, the Secretary-General said the fifth anniversary is a testimony to the commitment of the parties, but also of the State institutions and the vibrant Colombian civil society, working together despite many difficulties, including tackling the pandemic.

An investment in peace

Among the “undeniable achievements” the accord has yielded, Mr. Guterres noted the fact that a guerrilla movement that had waged armed combat for half a century is today a political party and that the majority of ex-combatants, some 13,000, are striving “admirably” to build new lives. Moreover, he recalled to Antioquia’s mountainside village of Llano Grande, where he had witnessed “determination in the face of adversity and uncertainty” as the local community, ex-combatants and police are now living and working side-by-side. “I also witnessed how, with Government action and support, the expansion of locally designed development and social protection programs are bringing peace dividends to conflict-affected communities,” the Secretary-General said, adding that: “Ensuring the sustainability of these efforts will be critical in the future.” “In a world marked by conflicts, many of them without an end in sight, a peace agreement negotiated to end a conflict that many believed to be unsolvable is something extremely unique and valuable,” stated the UN chief, adding: “Colombia has sent a clear message: The time has come to invest in peace.”

Hard won peace comes with risks

Yet, despite the solid progress, the Secretary-General cautioned that all sides “must be clear about the risks” that may threaten the long-term sustainability of the agreement. “Ethnic communities and women and girls are always particularly affected,” said the UN chief, also spotlighting other factors that could contravene the deal, including violence by armed groups in connection with drug trafficking; threats and murders of ex-combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders, often women and indigenous populations; displacement and confinement; violence against women and sexual violence; and the recruitment of children. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, more than 300 ex-combatants and 477 human rights defenders and civic leaders have been killed, according to data from the in Colombia. “Each death is itself a tragedy,” Mr. Guterres continued. “Each death sends a devastating message to these communities that still await the promises of the Accord.” “I am confident of the President's determination to ensure that the security provisions of the Agreement will be fully implemented, as well as all the [articles] on rural reform, solving the problem of illicit drug trafficking and all the complexity that comes from the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” the Secretary-General stated.

Challenges are part of the process

Despite these challenges to peace, Mr. Guterres said “it is not too late to reverse this trend”, and stressed that it would be necessary for the full implementation of the peace accord’s security provisions, as well as those dealing with rural reforms and tackling drug trafficking. He recalled that the Peace Agreement itself reflected the reality that transformations of this magnitude will take time. “There are still ten years left [for] what was initially planned” and “the challenges are part of the peace processes.” “There are many issues on which you can disagree in a democracy, but peace can no longer be one of them,” he argued, before calling on Colombia “to remain on this path of peace-building and persist in overcoming challenges”. To this end, he encouraged all Colombians to follow the roadmap set out in the Peace Agreement, which not only sought to silence the weapons, but “aimed at transforming the root causes of the conflict and beginning to heal the wounds, so that the atrocities [here] committed do not happen again.” With those goals in mind, the UN chief noted progress on “the creation of a transitional justice system that aims at justice for victims and survivors, as well as ensuring lasting peace.” Indeed, he said: “We have seen historical indictments for war crimes and recognition of unprecedented responsibility. We have seen emotional encounters that unite victims and those responsible. And we have seen how families finally come out of the uncertainty about the fate of their missing loved ones.” Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General said that “after more than five decades of conflict, and a deep awareness of the suffering it caused, we have a moral obligation to guarantee that this peace process is successful.”

Testimony of victims: infinite hope

Ahead of his remarks, the Secretary-General heard testimonies from victims, including of Ana Sofía Martínez, whose father disappeared 20 years ago after he was detained by the FARC-EP. After calling on all parties, the Government and FARC-EP, to put aside their disagreements and fulfill their obligations, Ms. Martínez said she felt tired, sad and happy. “Tired of bureaucracy and protocol; sad because disappearances continue to occur and the guarantees that the State gives about post-conflict activities are increasingly vague; and happy because in the face of so much adversity, we continue dreaming, sustained by infinite hope and more than one hundred thousand reasons. For the people still missing, we must hope. And we insist on action,” she affirmed. Another participant was Father Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth, who listed the positive actions by one side or another, but also stressed that unfortunately, no steps had been taken to achieve what he called “the great peace”: a peace that is above all party interests. Also participating in the event were former President Juan Manuel Santos and former FARC commander Rodrigo Londoño, signatories of the Peace Agreement, and current President Iván Duque, as well as the current President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Eduardo Cifuentes Muños, and other actors who promoted the negotiations that led to the signing of the Agreement. All recognized that there are still many challenges, but stressed that the peace process continues to move forward.

Peace and ‘family ties’

The visited the northern town of Llano Grande, in the Department of Antioquia, along with Colombia’s President, Ivan Duque, as well as the former FARC-EP commander, Rodrigo Londoño. The town is one of several areas in the country where the former guerillas are being reincorporated into civilian life. Colombia has 32 Departments, or ‘States’. With up to 80 per cent of its population affected, Antioquia was one of the areas most impacted by the more than 50-year conflict. Llano Grande is a town of 150 inhabitants, where former ‘enemies’ now live and work together. With the support of the United Nations and the Government, the small village has become a place where peace reigns, and as inconceivable as it may have seemed five years ago, FARC combatants and locals now consider themselves family. The UN chief walked through the town and was able to talk with its residents who are benefiting from different reincorporation entrepreneurial projects. “I am very pleased to be in Llano Grande and I see first-hand the achievements of peace,” Mr. Guterres while visiting the town’s tailoring workshop. There, he spoke with worker Monica Astrid Oquendo, who that the Peace Agreement had brought with it initiatives that have greatly helped their community. Mr. Guterres also spoke with other workers about their labour and discussed the importance of women’s leadership in the peace process.

A new brand of coffee

Meanwhile, a group of former combatants took advantage of the UN Chief’s visit to launch Trópicos, a new coffee brand created by a cooperative with 1,200 members. Mr. Guterres was very interested in the cultivation process of the plant and the different types of coffee that are produced in Colombia. “Trópicos [Spanish for ‘tropics regions’] is a brand whose geography offers special characteristics. The ‘rebellion’ of the tropics makes this coffee special because it comes from the community, and from people in the process of reincorporation. It not only has a social background but also quality standards. We have carefully selected each grain to be able to achieve high quality and to offer ‘Trópicos’ to the world,” explained Frey Gustavo de Maté, one of its creators. The Secretary-General also learned of other projects such as a town school, an arepas (Colombian cornmeal cakes) factory, and a soap factory. Later, in a brief address to the community on the town's soccer field, Mr. Guterres congratulated everyone for “their enthusiasm and dedication” to these projects, which, he added, have the support of the Government and the international community. He also acknowledged that the projects have been hampered by financial difficulties and stressed that as such, it will be necessary to redouble efforts to guarantee their sustainability, as well as to involve the private sector to help find solutions. The UN chief recognized the work of the community in the entire municipality of Dabeiba, of which Llano Grande is part, and in other nearby municipalities, which he praised “as an example of integration and reconciliation for receiving ex-combatants with open arms and normalizing democratic life”. “This shows true human qualities of teamwork, generosity, hope and courage to build a better future,” he added.

Peace does not come overnight

After hearing from many more members of the community, Mr. Guterres said they know better than anyone that peace does not come overnight. “It costs work to build it, take care of it, sustain it…There is a paradox: the objective of peace is a society with no enemies, but unfortunately there are enemies of peace,” he said expressing his solidarity with the victims and their families. Since 2017, there have been 30 homicides and four disappearances, mostly men, only in the Department of Antioquia, according to UN reports. Moreover, throughout the country, more than 300 former combatants have been murdered, with some 25 disappearances. Almost 500 human rights defenders and civic leaders have also lost their lives in violent attacks. Mr. Guterres said he admired “the tenacity and commitment” of the people who “continue to bet on building peace in Colombia on a day-to-day basis”. He also warned that “ensuring their security is vital to consolidating peace”.

United Nations remains committed

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to support the peace process and assured that he will discuss with the Government both the issue of security and housing. “We are all going to take advantage of this meeting to enhance our work,” he said. However, he said that he recognized “with humility” that the Organization’s work is secondary and that the essential work in the construction of lasting peace belongs to Colombians. “If this were a film, we would not be candidates for the Oscar for Best Actor, but for the best Supporting Actor,” he concluded Joining Mr. Guterres in Llano Grande was the ex-commander of the FARC-EP, Rodrigo Londoño, who stressed that even though some 300 signatories to the peace deal had been killed, “we remain committed”. The visit of the Secretary General, he said, “shows that we have made progress and that this is not a failed process.” It also “refutes the assertions of those who do not believe in this process.” Mr. Londoño also expressed gratitude to Colombian President, Iván Duque, saying that the leader’s presence in Llano Grande “is encouraging” and a hopeful sign that the Colombian people must continue travelling the path of peace. In his remarks, President Duque stated that the progress underway in Llano Grande showed the will of his Government to support efforts to build lasting peace. “I think the most important thing that we see today is the rejection of violence … We value those who have made the decision to categorically reject the violence that was once justified,” the President said, and added: “This implies that there is no cause or ideology …that justifies murder, kidnapping or any other form of violence that threatens our freedom.”

Marking five years of peace

From Llano Grande, Mr. Guterres and President Duque flew by helicopter to Apartadó, in the Urabá region, a province dedicated to the cultivation of bananas and where the Government chose to hold a regional commemorative event to mark the fifth anniversary of the peace accord. Ahead of that event, they visited the region’s Territorial Development Programme, improve the collaboration of different territorial agencies to achieve more effective sustainable development. With the Government’s backing these programmes are supporting a range of reconciliation projects, including the building of a school that will be inaugurated soon. The celebration event was held in a park and was attended by a large audience comprised of members of the municipality and the national government. For his part, the Secretary-General highlighted the role of women in the peace process and stressed that their participation “can help generate more inclusion.” He went on to express concern about the fact that several regions continue to face increasing insecurity. “The actions of the illegal armed actors diminish the hopes of local communities, as well as jeopardize the prospects for sustainable development,” said the Secretary-General. He concluded that “peace requires facing the suffering of the past” and “reconciliation is the only way to a stable and lasting peace.” Tomorrow on his last day in Colombia, Mr. Guterres will participate in the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in the capital, Bogotá. He will also attend the ‘La Paz es Productiva’ fair.

Peace and ‘family ties’

The visited the northern town of Llano Grande, in the Department of Antioquia, along with Colombia’s President, Ivan Duque, as well as the former FARC-EP commander, Rodrigo Londoño. The town is one of several areas in the country where the former guerillas are being reincorporated into civilian life. Colombia has 32 Departments, or ‘States’. With up to 80 per cent of its population affected, Antioquia was one of the areas most impacted by the more than 50-year conflict. Llano Grande is a town of 150 inhabitants, where former ‘enemies’ now live and work together. With the support of the United Nations and the Government, the small village has become a place where peace reigns, and as inconceivable as it may have seemed five years ago, FARC combatants and locals now consider themselves family. The UN chief walked through the town and was able to talk with its residents who are benefiting from different reincorporation entrepreneurial projects. “I am very pleased to be in Llano Grande and I see first-hand the achievements of peace,” Mr. Guterres while visiting the town’s tailoring workshop. There, he spoke with worker Monica Astrid Oquendo, who that the Peace Agreement had brought with it initiatives that have greatly helped their community. Mr. Guterres also spoke with other workers about their labour and discussed the importance of women’s leadership in the peace process.

A new brand of coffee

Meanwhile, a group of former combatants took advantage of the UN Chief’s visit to launch Trópicos, a new coffee brand created by a cooperative with 1,200 members. Mr. Guterres was very interested in the cultivation process of the plant and the different types of coffee that are produced in Colombia. “Trópicos [Spanish for ‘tropics regions’] is a brand whose geography offers special characteristics. The ‘rebellion’ of the tropics makes this coffee special because it comes from the community, and from people in the process of reincorporation. It not only has a social background but also quality standards. We have carefully selected each grain to be able to achieve high quality and to offer ‘Trópicos’ to the world,” explained Frey Gustavo de Maté, one of its creators. The Secretary-General also learned of other projects such as a town school, an arepas (Colombian cornmeal cakes) factory, and a soap factory. Later, in a brief address to the community on the town's soccer field, Mr. Guterres congratulated everyone for “their enthusiasm and dedication” to these projects, which, he added, have the support of the Government and the international community. He also acknowledged that the projects have been hampered by financial difficulties and stressed that as such, it will be necessary to redouble efforts to guarantee their sustainability, as well as to involve the private sector to help find solutions. The UN chief recognized the work of the community in the entire municipality of Dabeiba, of which Llano Grande is part, and in other nearby municipalities, which he praised “as an example of integration and reconciliation for receiving ex-combatants with open arms and normalizing democratic life”. “This shows true human qualities of teamwork, generosity, hope and courage to build a better future,” he added.

Peace does not come overnight

After hearing from many more members of the community, Mr. Guterres said they know better than anyone that peace does not come overnight. “It costs work to build it, take care of it, sustain it…There is a paradox: the objective of peace is a society with no enemies, but unfortunately there are enemies of peace,” he said expressing his solidarity with the victims and their families. Since 2017, there have been 30 homicides and four disappearances, mostly men, only in the Department of Antioquia, according to UN reports. Moreover, throughout the country, more than 300 former combatants have been murdered, with some 25 disappearances. Almost 500 human rights defenders and civic leaders have also lost their lives in violent attacks. Mr. Guterres said he admired “the tenacity and commitment” of the people who “continue to bet on building peace in Colombia on a day-to-day basis”. He also warned that “ensuring their security is vital to consolidating peace”.

United Nations remains committed

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to support the peace process and assured that he will discuss with the Government both the issue of security and housing. “We are all going to take advantage of this meeting to enhance our work,” he said. However, he said that he recognized “with humility” that the Organization’s work is secondary and that the essential work in the construction of lasting peace belongs to Colombians. “If this were a film, we would not be candidates for the Oscar for Best Actor, but for the best Supporting Actor,” he concluded Joining Mr. Guterres in Llano Grande was the ex-commander of the FARC-EP, Rodrigo Londoño, who stressed that even though some 300 signatories to the peace deal had been killed, “we remain committed”. The visit of the Secretary General, he said, “shows that we have made progress and that this is not a failed process.” It also “refutes the assertions of those who do not believe in this process.” Mr. Londoño also expressed gratitude to Colombian President, Iván Duque, saying that the leader’s presence in Llano Grande “is encouraging” and a hopeful sign that the Colombian people must continue travelling the path of peace. In his remarks, President Duque stated that the progress underway in Llano Grande showed the will of his Government to support efforts to build lasting peace. “I think the most important thing that we see today is the rejection of violence … We value those who have made the decision to categorically reject the violence that was once justified,” the President said, and added: “This implies that there is no cause or ideology …that justifies murder, kidnapping or any other form of violence that threatens our freedom.”

Marking five years of peace

From Llano Grande, Mr. Guterres and President Duque flew by helicopter to Apartadó, in the Urabá region, a province dedicated to the cultivation of bananas and where the Government chose to hold a regional commemorative event to mark the fifth anniversary of the peace accord. Ahead of that event, they visited the region’s Territorial Development Programme, improve the collaboration of different territorial agencies to achieve more effective sustainable development. With the Government’s backing these programmes are supporting a range of reconciliation projects, including the building of a school that will be inaugurated soon. The celebration event was held in a park and was attended by a large audience comprised of members of the municipality and the national government. For his part, the Secretary-General highlighted the role of women in the peace process and stressed that their participation “can help generate more inclusion.” He went on to express concern about the fact that several regions continue to face increasing insecurity. “The actions of the illegal armed actors diminish the hopes of local communities, as well as jeopardize the prospects for sustainable development,” said the Secretary-General. He concluded that “peace requires facing the suffering of the past” and “reconciliation is the only way to a stable and lasting peace.” Tomorrow on his last day in Colombia, Mr. Guterres will participate in the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in the capital, Bogotá. He will also attend the ‘La Paz es Productiva’ fair.

Peace and ‘family ties’

The visited the northern town of Llano Grande, in the Department of Antioquia, along with Colombia’s President, Ivan Duque, as well as the former FARC-EP commander, Rodrigo Londoño. The town is one of several areas in the country where the former guerillas are being reincorporated into civilian life. Colombia has 32 Departments, or ‘States’. With up to 80 per cent of its population affected, Antioquia was one of the areas most impacted by the more than 50-year conflict. Llano Grande is a town of 150 inhabitants, where former ‘enemies’ now live and work together. With the support of the United Nations and the Government, the small village has become a place where peace reigns, and as inconceivable as it may have seemed five years ago, FARC combatants and locals now consider themselves family. The UN chief walked through the town and was able to talk with its residents who are benefiting from different reincorporation entrepreneurial projects. “I am very pleased to be in Llano Grande and I see first-hand the achievements of peace,” Mr. Guterres while visiting the town’s tailoring workshop. There, he spoke with worker Monica Astrid Oquendo, who that the Peace Agreement had brought with it initiatives that have greatly helped their community. Mr. Guterres also spoke with other workers about their labour and discussed the importance of women’s leadership in the peace process.

A new brand of coffee

Meanwhile, a group of former combatants took advantage of the UN Chief’s visit to launch Trópicos, a new coffee brand created by a cooperative with 1,200 members. Mr. Guterres was very interested in the cultivation process of the plant and the different types of coffee that are produced in Colombia. “Trópicos [Spanish for ‘tropics regions’] is a brand whose geography offers special characteristics. The ‘rebellion’ of the tropics makes this coffee special because it comes from the community, and from people in the process of reincorporation. It not only has a social background but also quality standards. We have carefully selected each grain to be able to achieve high quality and to offer ‘Trópicos’ to the world,” explained Frey Gustavo de Maté, one of its creators. The Secretary-General also learned of other projects such as a town school, an arepas (Colombian cornmeal cakes) factory, and a soap factory. Later, in a brief address to the community on the town's soccer field, Mr. Guterres congratulated everyone for “their enthusiasm and dedication” to these projects, which, he added, have the support of the Government and the international community. He also acknowledged that the projects have been hampered by financial difficulties and stressed that as such, it will be necessary to redouble efforts to guarantee their sustainability, as well as to involve the private sector to help find solutions. The UN chief recognized the work of the community in the entire municipality of Dabeiba, of which Llano Grande is part, and in other nearby municipalities, which he praised “as an example of integration and reconciliation for receiving ex-combatants with open arms and normalizing democratic life”. “This shows true human qualities of teamwork, generosity, hope and courage to build a better future,” he added.

Peace does not come overnight

After hearing from many more members of the community, Mr. Guterres said they know better than anyone that peace does not come overnight. “It costs work to build it, take care of it, sustain it…There is a paradox: the objective of peace is a society with no enemies, but unfortunately there are enemies of peace,” he said expressing his solidarity with the victims and their families. Since 2017, there have been 30 homicides and four disappearances, mostly men, only in the Department of Antioquia, according to UN reports. Moreover, throughout the country, more than 300 former combatants have been murdered, with some 25 disappearances. Almost 500 human rights defenders and civic leaders have also lost their lives in violent attacks. Mr. Guterres said he admired “the tenacity and commitment” of the people who “continue to bet on building peace in Colombia on a day-to-day basis”. He also warned that “ensuring their security is vital to consolidating peace”.

United Nations remains committed

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to support the peace process and assured that he will discuss with the Government both the issue of security and housing. “We are all going to take advantage of this meeting to enhance our work,” he said. However, he said that he recognized “with humility” that the Organization’s work is secondary and that the essential work in the construction of lasting peace belongs to Colombians. “If this were a film, we would not be candidates for the Oscar for Best Actor, but for the best Supporting Actor,” he concluded Joining Mr. Guterres in Llano Grande was the ex-commander of the FARC-EP, Rodrigo Londoño, who stressed that even though some 300 signatories to the peace deal had been killed, “we remain committed”. The visit of the Secretary General, he said, “shows that we have made progress and that this is not a failed process.” It also “refutes the assertions of those who do not believe in this process.” Mr. Londoño also expressed gratitude to Colombian President, Iván Duque, saying that the leader’s presence in Llano Grande “is encouraging” and a hopeful sign that the Colombian people must continue travelling the path of peace. In his remarks, President Duque stated that the progress underway in Llano Grande showed the will of his Government to support efforts to build lasting peace. “I think the most important thing that we see today is the rejection of violence … We value those who have made the decision to categorically reject the violence that was once justified,” the President said, and added: “This implies that there is no cause or ideology …that justifies murder, kidnapping or any other form of violence that threatens our freedom.”

Marking five years of peace

From Llano Grande, Mr. Guterres and President Duque flew by helicopter to Apartadó, in the Urabá region, a province dedicated to the cultivation of bananas and where the Government chose to hold a regional commemorative event to mark the fifth anniversary of the peace accord. Ahead of that event, they visited the region’s Territorial Development Programme, improve the collaboration of different territorial agencies to achieve more effective sustainable development. With the Government’s backing these programmes are supporting a range of reconciliation projects, including the building of a school that will be inaugurated soon. The celebration event was held in a park and was attended by a large audience comprised of members of the municipality and the national government. For his part, the Secretary-General highlighted the role of women in the peace process and stressed that their participation “can help generate more inclusion.” He went on to express concern about the fact that several regions continue to face increasing insecurity. “The actions of the illegal armed actors diminish the hopes of local communities, as well as jeopardize the prospects for sustainable development,” said the Secretary-General. He concluded that “peace requires facing the suffering of the past” and “reconciliation is the only way to a stable and lasting peace.” Tomorrow on his last day in Colombia, Mr. Guterres will participate in the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in the capital, Bogotá. He will also attend the ‘La Paz es Productiva’ fair.