Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Colombia.
The UK welcomes the Colombian Government's renewed focus on implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, and the rapid response plan presented to the Council last year.
Coordinated action between Government agencies and regional authorities, as well as sufficient resourcing, will be critical to its success.
In that light, we welcome President Petro's recent commitment to ensure that funding for implementation of the Peace Agreement is maintained, despite broader government budget cuts.
As highlighted by Mr Valbuena, there must be continued focus on progress for the most conflict affected groups, particularly Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.
The UK was delighted to see the publication of Colombia's first-ever Women Peace and Security National Action Plan.
This will be an important tool to reinforce implementation of the 2016 Agreement, and wider gender goals.
It also serves to shine a much-needed spotlight on the violence that women and girls continue to face.
We are, however concerned by the rise in child recruitment and the use of anti-personnel mines.
We urge the Government to prioritise the security of all vulnerable communities.
Transitional justice is at the heart of the 2016 Agreement.
The UK urges the Government and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to work together to accelerate sentencing and restorative justice measures, maintaining the confidence of both the victims, and the signatories to the Agreement.
President, we condemn the violence between the Ejército de Liberación Nacional and the Estado Mayor Central, in Catatumbo on 16 January which left over 80 dead, including signatories to the 2016 Agreement and which displaced approximately 18,000 people.
These barbaric actions, which follow a string of attacks on the Colombian security forces, and widespread oppression of communities, further call into question the ELN and EMBF's interest in dialogue and desire for peace.
They must end this behaviour and make clear to the Colombian people their commitment to dialogue to give this political process any chance of success.
Let me conclude by underscoring the United Kingdom's resolute commitment to support Colombia along its path to sustainable peace.
