A3+ commends Colombia’s progress on peace accord, urges faster land, ethnic reforms

…Guyana’s UN envoy reiterates call for sustained international support, protection of vulnerable groups

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, on behalf of the African members of the UN Security Council (the A3+) – Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana – has lauded the Government of Colombia for its continued progress in implementing the 2016 Peace Agreement, while urging greater acceleration in land reform, rural development, and the protection of ethnic and vulnerable groups.
Delivering the statement on October 3 at the UN Security Council’s meeting on the situation in Colombia, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett reaffirmed the A3+’s support for Colombia’s journey toward lasting peace and stability, noting that although nearly nine years have passed since the signing of the accord, “this remains a relatively short period given the decades of conflict that preceded it.”
“The A3+ commends the progress made in the implementation of the Peace Agreement and encourages the Government of Colombia to continue pressing forward toward achieving the goal of lasting peace and stability,” Rodrigues-Birkett said.
The Guyanese diplomat congratulated Miroslav Jenča on his appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and new Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia and expressed appreciation to outgoing head Mr Carlos Ruiz Massieu for six years of dedicated service. She also commended the work of the Verification Mission’s team and welcomed Colombia’s Permanent Representative, Her Excellency Leonor Zalabata Torres, to the Council’s deliberations.

Land reform pivotal to lasting peace
Addressing key aspects of the Secretary-General’s report, the A3+ emphasised that comprehensive land reform remains “a central pillar of rural transformation” and is crucial for consolidating peace.
Rodrigues-Birkett highlighted the Government of Colombia’s efforts to facilitate land access for peasants, rural women, and victims of conflict, noting that approximately 33,000 hectares were adjudicated during the reporting period and over 125,000 hectares were formalised – nearly half of the seven-million-hectare target under the Final Agreement.
However, she cautioned that progress must be accelerated, pointing out that 66 per cent of definitive land titles remain pending.
“The A3+ urges the Government to further accelerate the process of rural reform,” she said.
The A3+ also commended the commitment of former combatants to the reintegration process, noting that 95 per cent have completed their individual plans and that 17,000 hectares of land have been allocated to support their transition.
However, Rodrigues-Birkett called for stronger gender inclusion, observing that while more than 90 per cent of productive projects for former combatants have been approved, only a small fraction – 20 projects – are led by women.
“We encourage the provision of greater support and funding in this regard,” she urged.
Further, the envoy also expressed the A3+’s “grave concern” over the limited implementation of the ethnic chapter of the peace agreement, which is designed to address the historical marginalisation of Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities. While noting recent momentum, Rodrigues-Birkett reiterated that “greater progress is urgently needed.”
She also called for the removal of barriers impeding the implementation of the gender provisions of the agreement, emphasising that full inclusion is vital for long-term peace and equity.
The A3+ condemned continued violence against human rights defenders, social leaders, former combatants, and vulnerable communities and urged stronger state presence in affected regions.
Rodrigues-Birkett stressed that the National Commission on Security Guarantees, which has not convened in over a year, must resume its work to dismantle armed groups and criminal organisations.
“Ending the recruitment and use of children by illegal armed groups, and the immediate release of all children from within their ranks, must also be of foremost priority,” she said.
On this point, the Guyanese diplomat reaffirmed the group’s conviction that “dialogue is the pathway to peace,” expressing concern over the suspension of talks between the Colombian Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN). She urged both sides to resume negotiations and prioritise discussions likely to yield tangible results.
Rodrigues-Birkett also welcomed progress made by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) in issuing its first long-awaited sentences, while encouraging enhanced coordination among Government and judicial actors to ensure full implementation.
She underscored the need for legal certainty for those under the SJP’s jurisdiction, saying it remains critical to building trust in the justice process.