He thanked the Authorities of Colombia for its continued cooperation with the UN Verification Mission and underscored the essential position of the Safety Council within the progress achieved to this point. The veteran diplomat and negotiator formally take up his put up later this month.
Mr. Jenča emphasised that the excellent implementation of the Last Peace Settlement stays the cornerstone of efforts to consolidate lasting peace within the nation, which formally ended a long time of battle between FARC-EP rebels and Authorities forces.
Reality-finding mission
Following his designation, Mr. Jenča performed a preparatory go to to Colombia in September, the place he met a variety of stakeholders, together with authorities officers, signatories to the Peace Settlement, former combatants, and civil society representatives.
He acknowledged important progress in key areas similar to rural reform, reintegration, and transitional justice, whereas additionally highlighting ongoing challenges, notably within the areas of safety and monetary help.
Mr. Jenča welcomed the method which this month noticed the primary sentences handed down beneath transitional justice measures by the Particular Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), describing it as a historic milestone within the pursuit of reality, justice, and reparation.
“The battle inflicted immeasurable struggling on victims and their households. The transitional justice course of is delivering unprecedented convictions and acceptance of duty by those that dedicated severe crimes, whereas involving victims within the course of and providing redress to them by way of restorative motion to be carried out by the perpetrators,” he mentioned.
Name for swift implementation
He referred to as on the Authorities to promptly guarantee sentences are applied: this consists of actions similar to mine clearance, the seek for lacking individuals, and community-based infrastructure tasks.
The Particular Consultant expressed concern over the resurgence of violence in sure areas, underscoring that insecurity stays the best menace to peace.
He pressured the pressing want to make sure the secure conduct of upcoming nationwide elections and the safety of communities and former combatants alike.
Lastly, Mr. Jenča reaffirmed the UN mission’s readiness to adapt to evolving wants and to proceed constructing confidence between events to the peace deal on the bottom.
He famous that the Mission’s presence in conflict-affected areas is important and emphasised that Colombia is a “uncommon case” during which the Council has been capable of reply with focused help to a nationally owned peace course of.
“These are favorable circumstances for the United Nations to proceed to make a optimistic and centered contribution,” Mr. Jenča concluded.
Colombia reaffirms its dedication
Colombia’s Ambassador Leonor Zalabata reaffirmed her Authorities’s full dedication to the excellent implementation of the 2016 Peace Settlement.
Talking as a girl, an Arhuaco Indigenous chief, and a human rights defender, she emphasised the multi-ethnic and multicultural scope of the formidable deal, outlining the concrete progress achieved to date beneath President Gustavo Petro’s administration.
This consists of the formalisation of over three million hectares of rural land, the popularity of Indigenous and Afro-descendant territories, and help for over 11,000 former combatants within the reintegration course of.
US questions mission’s mandate
America Ambassador Mike Waltz criticised President Gustavo Petro’s insurance policies on safety and the peace course of, telling ambassadors that the mandate of the UN Verification Mission had been unnecessarily broadened “to replicate extreme political priorities,” similar to transitional justice and help for minority ethnic teams.
“America is intently inspecting this mission’s mandate and whether or not it deserves continued UN Safety Council help,” he added.
