Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to make representations to his counterpart in Colombia on approving the statutory law that will give the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in that country the provisions it needs to guarantee truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition in accordance with the 2016 peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the revolutionary armed forces of Colombia - people's army; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace continues to function under currently existing legal provisions despite the recent objections of President Duque to certain articles of the law. However, we remain concerned that a delay in finalising the legal underpinning of the transitional justice system risks undermining its authority and reducing cooperation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Our Ambassador in Bogota informed President Duque of Colombia of the UK position on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace on 11 March during a briefing for the international community. He emphasised the importance of finalising the legal underpinning for the transitional justice system as quickly as possible to mitigate the risk of undermining its authority and reducing cooperation with the FARC. The UK permanent representative to the UN met Colombian Foreign Minister Holmes Trujillo on 15 March to reiterate the importance of a speedy process the positive signal that accelerating the implementation of the Peace Agreement would send.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if we will make representations to the Government of Colombia on ensuring that the Special Jurisdiction for Peace is consolidated in law in that country in accordance with the terms of the 2016 peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the revolutionary armed forces of Colombia - people's army; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace continues to function under currently existing legal provisions despite the recent objections of President Duque to certain articles of the law. However, we remain concerned that a delay in finalising the legal underpinning of the transitional justice system risks undermining its authority and reducing cooperation of theRevolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Our Ambassador in Bogota informed President Duque of Colombia of the UK position on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace on 11 March during a briefing for the international community. He emphasised the importance of finalising the legal underpinning for the transitional justice system as quickly as possible to mitigate the risk of undermining its authority and reducing cooperation with the FARC. The UK permanent representative to the UN met Colombian Foreign Minister Holmes Trujillo on 15 March to reiterate the importance of a speedy process and the positive signal that accelerating the implementation of the Peace Agreement would send.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received reports alleging that police in Colombia have passed information to the FARC party warning of plans they have uncovered to kill members of their party leadership; if he will make representations to the Government in Colombia on the protection of those people; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alan Duncan
I discussed the killings of former members of the FARC, human rights defenders and social activists in Colombia with President Duque's advisor for international affairs and human rights on 17 October. I also condemn the attempted murder of FARC leader Erika Montero in Medellin on 4 November which seeks to undermine confidence in the peace process.
The Colombian Government has taken welcome steps to train protection teams for FARC leaders, with recruits including former FARC combatants. The UK has raised the importance of providing security guarantees set out in the peace deal during discussions at the UN Security Council where the UK holds the pen for the peace process, and through CSSF funding we have strengthened the Colombian Government's capacity to do this. The UK has also called for improved protection measures for human rights defenders, including through recommendations that Colombia accepted during its Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights at the UN (Geneva) in May.
The UK fully supports implementation of the 2016 historic peace agreement and continues to work closely with the new Colombian Government and international partners to ensure a safer more prosperous future for all Colombians.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Colombia on protection for leaders of the FARC party since the attempted murder of Fancy Urrego (Erika Montero), a member of that party's leadership; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Alan Duncan
I discussed the killings of former members of the FARC, human rights defenders and social activists in Colombia with President Duque's advisor for international affairs and human rights on 17 October. I also condemn the attempted murder of FARC leader Erika Montero in Medellin on 4 November which seeks to undermine confidence in the peace process.
The Colombian Government has taken welcome steps to train protection teams for FARC leaders, with recruits including former FARC combatants. The UK has raised the importance of providing security guarantees set out in the peace deal during discussions at the UN Security Council where the UK holds the pen for the peace process, and through CSSF funding we have strengthened the Colombian Government's capacity to do this. The UK has also called for improved protection measures for human rights defenders, including through recommendations that Colombia accepted during its Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights at the UN (Geneva) in May.
The UK fully supports implementation of the 2016 historic peace agreement and continues to work closely with the new Colombian Government and international partners to ensure a safer more prosperous future for all Colombians.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent discussions he has had with his Colombian counterpart on the peace process in that country.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Prime Minister confirmed the UK’s full support to the peace process during her phone call with the new Colombian President on 9 August. The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Holmes also discussed UN Security Council support to peace in Colombia when they met in New York on 24 August.