Former Combatants Commit to Peace in Colombia
Decades of violence and armed conflict created significant obstacles to human development and sustainable peace in Colombia. UNDP, FAO, UNICEF, WFP, IOM, OHCHR, UN Women, UNMAS and UNHCR worked together with the Government and increased the confidence of communities most affected by the armed conflict. The timely establishment and operation of the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and No Repetition and the Jurisdiction for Peace provided legal security for the laying down of the weapons process by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army The sustainability of both institutions has been now guaranteed through regular allocations from the national budget. Timely assistance provided for the economic and political reincorporation of ex-combatants helped accelerate the process for reparations to individuals and communities, and placed victims at the center of the peace agreement. ??
“Being a survivor of the conflict for more than 50 years allows me to echo once again that the struggle for peace is worthwhile and that I reaffirm my commitment to work on it,” Marcela Moreno, a former FARC-EP Combatant and the Founding Associate of the Humanicemos DH Corporation, an organization created under the Peace Agreement between the Government and the FARC-EP.
UNMAS and UNOPS helped train former combatants in mine clearance management in Humanicemos. Managed solely by former combatants, it carries out mine action activities and provides opportunities for economic reincorporation as well as reconciliation between ex-combatants and local communities affected by land mines.
Marcela says, “mine action activities allow us to be a bridge, or an articulation vehicle for local authorities, community leaders, governments and other actors of society that are required to enable the development in our territories. We can contribute to release lands from the threat of mines and other explosive hazards, and support programmes such as land restitution, development plans and income generation projects, for the benefit of communities.”
More than 100 former combatants and their families benefitted from the socio-economic reintegration opportunities and have become valued and respected members of the communities previously affected by the war.
The PBF invested in implementation of peace agreements in diverse settings ranging from Colombia, the Central African Republic and Papua New Guinea. It spearheaded responses to imminent threats to peace processes, support for the implementation of peace agreements and political dialogue, in particular, to strengthen national institutions and processes set up under those agreements. The PBF emphasized its support to political dialogue, rule of law and transitional justice, security sector reform, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.