Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the implementation of the Peace Accord in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a serious challenge to all countries, and Latin America is facing one of the deadliest outbreaks. Inevitably this has added to the difficulties Colombia faces with the implementation of the Peace Accord, but all parties have taken effective steps to try to mitigate this impact, as the Special Representative, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, noted in his most recent report. At the UN Security Council on 14 July, our Permanent Representative commended the parties for having adapted quickly to the situation, and urged the Colombian government to continue to work with its domestic and international partners to provide assistance to former combatant communities so reintegration could remain on track despite an economic downturn.

During this challenging time, the Colombian government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the 2016 peace agreement in full. The UK will continue to support the Colombian peace process and to emphasise the importance of pressing ahead with work to consolidate peace and build stability. We will continue to work closely with the Colombian Government and civil society on the peace process and related matters.