Colombia - Security Council, 10257th meeting Security Council Date: 30 October 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/sc/10257 Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- UNSC · President [0:01]: The 10,257th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is identical letters dated 19th January, 2016, from the permanent representative of Colombia to the United Nations, addressed to the Secretary General and the President of the Security Council. S/2016/53. The agenda is adopted. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/26/759, the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. Members of the Council have before them document S/2026/857, the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. Will those in favour of the draft resolution contained in document S/2026/857 please raise their hand? The result of the voting is as follows: The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2833 of 2026. I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the vote. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [2:17]: Thank you, Madam President. The United Kingdom welcomes today's adoption and was pleased to vote in favor. The United Kingdom remains committed to Colombia's to comprehensive implementation of Colombia's 2016 peace agreement across all chapters. It remains essential for lasting peace. Ten years after, a central lesson is clear. Protecting the gains of the agreement and addressing today's security challenges are not competing objectives. They are mutually reinforcing and are essential not only for Colombia's future, but also for stability and peace throughout the region. We welcome the commitment from the government of Colombia to rural reform, and that this will now transfer to domestic institutions. As we heard in this chamber on 12 October from Foreign Minister Bula, this includes commitments to formalise land ownership, infrastructure, and economic opportunities for rural communities. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the peace agreement, we should recognise the significant achievements that it has delivered. More than 11,000 former combatants remain demobilised and committed to the agreement, but challenges remain. Violence and evolving conflict dynamics continue to threaten communities, and illicit economies fuel violence. The peace agreement remains central to tackling the factors that sustain conflict. Implementation needs to go hand in hand with stronger state presence, territorial development, and effective security policies. We welcome the reflection of these priorities in today's resolution. We also remain clear about the value of the United Nations mission. As the circumstances in Colombia evolve, so should the mission. Its ability to provide credible verification and to maintain engagement in conflict-affected regions remains as important as ever. Today’s resolution renews that mission until 31 October 2027 and focuses its mandate on verifying implementation of security, demobilization, and reintegration. The United Kingdom's commitment to the Colombian people and to their lasting peace is steadfast. Thank you. UNSC · President [4:33]: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for the statement, and now give the floor to the representative of China. China [4:45]: President, The Security Council has just unanimously adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia for another year. China voted in favor of the resolution. This reflects the firm support by the Council and the international community for the peace process in Colombia, which China welcomes. In light of the resolution, I wish to stress three points. First, the peace process should continue to move forward, the resolution welcomes the progress in Colombia's peace process, while recognizing ongoing challenges, including violence and conflict, which requires joint efforts by all parties to address underlying issues of the conflict. China hopes that the government will unite all sectors of society, enhance interagency coordination, and implement measures to improve people's livelihoods and well-being. At the same time, it should strengthen security guarantees for vulnerable groups, ensure overall social security and stability, and maintain the momentum of the peace process. The international community should continue to provide support and assistance in this regard. Second, security and development should go hand in hand. The resolution reaffirms that the peace process is the independent choice and constitutional commitment of the Colombian people. and underscores the importance of strengthening state presence and territorial development in conflict-affected areas. China supports the Cambodian government in curbing conflict and violence, combating illicit economies in accordance with the law, and strengthening state's presence in remote and conflict-affected areas. We hope the government will invest more resources in the development of remote and underdeveloped areas, and promote sustainable peace through balanced and sustainable economic and social development. Third, the role of the verification mission should be fully leveraged. The resolution underscores the importance of strengthening the mission's presence in remote and conflict-affected areas and facilitating engagement between the government and all sectors of society. China commends the mission's long-standing commitment to the peace process and supports its continued effective mandate delivery, stronger communication with parties in Colombia, and the provision of targeted assistance. We hope the Government will fully support the work of the mission. China stands ready to work with Colombia and the international community to further advance the Colombian-led and Colombian-owned peace process and help the Colombian people achieve comprehensive peace, stability, and development. Thank you, President. UNSC · President [7:29]: I thank the representative of China for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [7:37]: Thank you very much, Madam President. We welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2833 and thank the United Kingdom for their diligent work on the UN Verification Mission’s mandate renewal resolution. We also recognize and value Verification Mission’s vital work in Colombia. Our positive vote today is reflective of our long-standing support to Colombia and its people in their efforts to overcome the trauma from the past and charting a Colombian-led and owned process of peacebuilding for the security, well-being, and prosperity of all Colombian people. We remain convinced that the 2016 Peace Accord agreed among the Colombian stakeholders can help deliver stability in Colombia. We fully defer to Colombia's preference to focus the mandate of the UN Verification Mission on the aspects of security and reintegration. We are confident that with the vast expertise at the disposal of the UN Verification Mission, it would positively contribute to these areas. Earlier this month, we heard Foreign Minister Omar Bullar reaffirming his government's commitment to implement the peace agreement and to ensure safety and security of all the Colombian people. We welcome this commitment and fully respect Colombia's sovereign choices in that regard. Pakistan remains committed to support Colombia in the pursuit of peace, and we stand in solidarity with Colombia and its people to support their spirited journey towards a stable and prosperous country and enduring peace. I thank you very much. UNSC · President [9:11]: I thank the representative of Pakistan for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [9:19]: Madam President, the Russian Federation voted in favour of the mandate renewal. resolution for UNVAC. This is in accordance with our unstinting position in support of the work of this SPM. It's important that under conditions of a change of government and a change in state policy priorities in Bogota, that there's still a commitment to the implementation of the final peace agreement and its international accompaniment. We'd like to underscore that, irrespective of the political course pursued by the Colombian authorities, we've unswervingly promoted the comprehensive implementation of the FPA, including provisions concerning the rural reform and transitional justice. They are of utmost importance for thousands who suffered as a result of the conflict and for the fate of ex-combatants who've opted to lead civilian lives. We stand convinced that UNVAC's expertise on these issues with due regard for the broad-based presence of the UN in conflict-affected regions, would be useful not just for the Security Council, but for the authorities in Bogota as well. Therefore, removing the rural reform task from the mission's mandate cannot but elicit our regret. We hope that, despite this, The Abelardo de la Espera government will establish effective communications and cooperation with UNVOC so as to ensure security guarantees and the reintegration of former insurgents, as well as to facilitate territorial development and to help strengthen the State presence in remote regions. I thank you. UNSC · President [10:55]: I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement and now give the floor to the representative of France. France [11:03]: Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, 10 years ago, a bilateral peace agreement was signed between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, putting an end to decades of conflict. And that courageous decision taken by Colombia to commit to a demanding peace process received the unstinting support of this Council. That support still takes the form of the United Nations Verification Mission, whose presence on the ground is an asset for supporting the extension of the Colombian State's authority. The work of this mission is commendable and France will continue to support it. Madam President, there are still many challenges to the strengthening of peace and security in Colombia. We heard the Colombian Foreign Minister remind us of this in the Council at our last meeting, and France also expresses its concern over the increase in the activity of armed groups. Those groups are benefiting from drug trafficking and illegal gold extraction and are continuing to carry out reprisals against the civilian population, first and foremost children, whose recruitment and use by armed groups is continuing. We therefore understand the priority that the Colombian government wants to attach to security, but the peace agreement, in its comprehensive nature, addresses both economic and social issues, such as comprehensive rural reform, and issues linked to stopping the and disarming the combatants. It is therefore an appropriate response to this challenge. It provides a roadmap to salve the wounds of a country that has suffered for decades and to strengthen national reconciliation efforts carried out by successive Colombian governments over the last 10 years and which should continue up until 2030. Madam President, France remains convinced that resolving conflicts and building peace are possible when there is a shared will by the parties and determined support from the international community. France will continue to work to this end with all of the members of this Council so that Colombians can live in peace and security. We welcome the unanimous adoption of our resolution, and we would like to thank the penholder for the efforts made to ensure this outcome. Thank you very much. UNSC · President [13:15]: I thank the representative of France for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Liberia. Liberia · A3 [13:23]: Thank you, Madam President. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and my own country, Liberia. BA3 voted in favor of this resolution because preserving Colombia's peace gains requires sustained commitment from Colombians and from this Council. We welcome the extension of the United Nations Verification Mission until 31st October, 2027, with its focus on verification and monitoring of commitments under the 2016 final peace agreement, pertaining to resolution 2366 of 2017. The reincorporation of former combatants and the implementation of security guarantees remain essential to ensuring that choosing peace leads to a secure and viable future. The resolution recognizes both Colombia's progress and the serious challenges that persist. Continued violence in conflict-affected areas, including sexual and gender-based violence, demands sustained attention. Strengthening the state's presence must bring communities security, justice, public services, and opportunities. We reaffirm Colombia's sovereign ownership of the peace process. We also underscore the importance of implementing the final comprehensive agreement, including rural reform and commitments to indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. Women and young people must remain meaningful participants in shaping the peace. We support effective coordination across the United Nations system with responsibilities carried out by the most appropriate entities. These arrangements should sustain coherent support to Colombia. The mission's field presence remains particularly valuable for engagement with authorities and communities affected by conflict. Signing an agreement changes the promise of a country. Implementing it changes the lives of its people. Our vote today affirms the A3’s commitment to helping Colombia turn that promise into lasting peace. I thank you. UNSC · President [16:09]: I thank the representative of Liberia for the statement and now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain. Bahrain [16:16]: Madam President. We would like to thank the UK for all of the efforts undertaken so as to craft the final version of the resolution. We welcome the adoption of 2833. We voted in favor of this draft resolution. This attests to the commitment of the international community with a view to supporting the peace process in Colombia. in particular, the implementation of the 2016 Bilateral Peace Agreement. Rooted in our principles, that is, promoting and consolidating peace and security, the role of UNVIC is particularly important if we are to follow up on the implementation of the Bilateral Peace Accord and to promote coordination with the relevant stakeholders. We reiterate the importance of continuing the role of UNVICT on the basis of close cooperation between the Colombian government, well, this in a coherent framework stressing national ownership by the Colombian government. We believe that the progress made recently is a positive step. We should draw on this progress, continuing efforts to ensure there is investment in sustainable development. We reaffirm our support for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. We stand convinced that it is important to continue international and UN efforts so as to support the implementation of the bilateral peace agreement and constructive cooperation with the Colombian Government so as to achieve lasting peace and to meet the aspirations of the Colombian people, the kindred people of Colombia, so as to build a prosperous future. I thank you. UNSC · President [18:24]: I thank the representative of Bahrain for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark. Denmark [18:31]: Thank you, Madam President. Denmark voted in favour of this resolution and thanks the United Kingdom as penholder for their efforts to ensure a very timely adoption. Let me express Denmark's unwavering support for Colombia's final agreement to end the armed conflict and build a stable and lasting peace. This month marks the 10th year since the signing of the 2016 peace agreement. We congratulate the Colombian people on this significant milestone. We firmly believe the agreement remains a vital instrument to address key concerns that persist in Colombia today, and we call for its concerted and full implementation. Denmark expresses our full support for the UN verification mission and its crucial role to verify the reintegration of former FARC-EP combatants and security guarantees. The mission's field presence in conflict affected areas remain indispensable as a bridge builder between vulnerable populations and the state. Madam President, addressing historical grievances and structural inequalities are crucial to building sustainable peace. Denmark believes that effective implementation of rural reform is a key element to foster development and strengthen state presence for the benefit of communities across the country. We also reiterate our support for the transitional justice component of the peace agreement to advance the rights of victims, as well as the ethnic chapter. Denmark believes nationally-led ownership is essential to ensure sustainable long-term peace and that UN missions should evolve to support the needs of the situation on the ground. In light of this adoption, we wish to state that the reduced mandate of the mission should not be considered as the UN stepping back. Today's anonymous renewal reaffirms the Security Council and international community's confidence in Colombia's peace process and the verification mission's adaptability to supporting the agreement. Madam President, in closing, we believe great progress has been made, but continued implementation is needed to build on the progress achieved over the last decade to fulfill the promises to signatories and to the Colombian people. Denmark remains certain that with the determination of the Colombian people, the commitment of the government, and support of the international partners, Colombia will find sustainable and lasting peace. Thank you. UNSC · President [21:06]: I thank the representative of Denmark for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Latvia. Latvia [21:13]: Thank you, Madam President. We thank the United Kingdom for the constructive leadership in bringing this resolution forward. By voting in favor of the renewal of the mission's mandate, Latvia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to peace, stability, sustainable development, and reconciliation in Colombia. We welcome Colombia’s commitment to upholding its constitutional obligations in relation to the peace process and the implementation of the final peace agreements. The agreement continues to offer a unique opportunity to consolidate peace, strengthen security, and deliver tangible results for all Colombians. Realizing this potential requires preserving the agreement’s core principles while effectively addressing existing implementation gaps. Although we note that verification of rural reform will no longer form part of the mission's mandate, we encourage the government of Colombia to sustain its efforts to address regional development and longstanding inequalities in rural areas, which remain among structural factors fueling violence. We recognize the progress made in implementation of the final peace agreement since 2016. but also acknowledge evolving conflict dynamics and persistent challenges related to increased violence by illegal armed groups and organized crime. This includes ongoing sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls, disproportionate levels of violence affecting Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, and the alarming recruitment of children by illegal armed groups in conflict-affected areas in Colombia. Going forward, this Council should remain focused on how best to support Colombia’s efforts to consolidate peace. Latvia remains committed to that objective. We firmly believe that the UN Verification Mission’s extensive territorial presence, sustained engagement with local communities, and considerable field experience are essential to supporting Colombian stakeholders in addressing implementation challenges and translating the principles of the final peace agreement into tangible progress towards a just and lasting peace. I thank you. UNSC · President [23:26]: I thank the representative of Latvia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Panama. Panama [23:35]: Thank you, Madam President. First of all, we would like to thank the United Kingdom for its leadership as penholder and for the efforts made to facilitate consensus throughout this important process. Equally, we recognize the will of Colombia as the host country to continue to have the accompaniment of the United Nations in the implementation of some aspects of the final peace agreement. As we approach the 10th anniversary of its signing, we believe it is important to recognize that the implementation of the final agreement is a long-term process which has been through different administrations and political contexts. Therefore, we voted in favor of the resolution, and we welcome the fact that it was adopted unanimously. Naturally, each government has moved ahead with different approaches and priorities to the implementation of this constitutional and state level commitment, which goes beyond election cycles and ideological differences. In this context, although Panama recognizes the value of international verification on rural reform, we respect Colombia's priorities as the host country, and we celebrate the consensus reached in this Council to adjust the mission's mandate. We trust that these adjustments will not lead to a reduction in the territorial presence of the mission because its presence on the ground at the regional level and the sub-regional and local levels constitute one of its main strengths, the importance of which has been once again recognized by this Council in the resolution that we adopted today. Madam President, we are aware that Colombia's peace process continues to face significant challenges, But we also recognize the progress that has been made and the value of preserving the mechanisms that contributed to its consolidation, as well as the agreement to maintain a focus on the developing situation on the ground. As a neighboring and fraternal country, Panama reiterates its readiness to continue supporting Colombia and the United Nations in these efforts, with the hope that the progress achieved will make it possible to continue to build a lasting peace for the entire Colombian people. Thank you very much. UNSC · President [26:15]: The representative of Panama for the statement, and now give the floor to the representative of the United States. United States of America [26:22]: Thank you, Madam President. The United States voted in favor of this resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, and of course our thanks to the UK for the work and making it possible. A year ago, we would not support this mission's mandate. Its mandated tasks were unachievable. That has changed. Under President de la Espriella, Colombia has governed with focus and intention. On its own initiative, Colombia asked the Security Council to narrow this mission’s scope back to its core function: verifying reintegration and security guarantees. We supported that request, and we are pleased to see it reflected in this text. Colombia made clear it is ready to carry rural reform forward as its own national responsibility. That is exactly the kind of ownership this Council should want to see from every host government: not endless mandates, but governments stepping up and taking the lead. We have said for years that UN field missions need to focus on core peace and security objectives and get out of the business of doing everything for everyone. This resolution has done that. We thank, of course, the UK as penholder for working with Colombia in helping achieve today's outcome. And we thank Colombia for exemplifying true national ownership. The United States looks forward to deepening our security and economic partnership with Colombia as it builds a safer and more prosperous future for its people. Thank you. UNSC · President [28:10]: I thank the representative of the United States for the statement and now give the floor to the representative of Colombia. Colombia [28:19]: Thank you, Madam President. I have listened with particular attention to the statements made by my colleagues during this meeting and during the negotiations which led to the Security Council resolution that we have just unanimously adopted. On behalf of the Republic of Colombia, I would like to thank you for your support, for your disposition and for your understanding as to the situation of violence and the difficulties that we are facing. Without security, peace is nothing but an idea. Without justice, without reparation, peace becomes impunity. When the principle of non-repetition is systematically violated, and when the perpetrators of crimes against humanity become the primary beneficiaries of that peace, peace itself becomes an instrument of conflict. Madam President, Colombia wishes to thank very especially the UK for its efforts in crafting constructively this resolution. We thank the United States, and we thank all the members of the Council that have supported this resolution. We thank also the United Nations. And naturally, we are clear in understanding that this resolution means that the presence of the United Nations in Colombia is as important as the presence of the government. Sometimes we must let history accomplish its structural role to teach us. No matter the conflict, the inexorable pass of time remind us the same lesson. Whenever war and peace collide, peace will always be the most intelligent option. However, this is neither the case nor the reality in our country. What we did here today is not going against peace. It's just understanding that the circumstances in the country, the war, and the conflict have have evolved, and as such, the United Nations needs to evolve its mandate to be more effective. And that's what national ownership is also about. We are not a country enjoying the benefits of a peace process. Au contraire, we are fighting some of its consequences if things go in another direction. We are fighting empowered drug cartels, guerrillas, criminal organization, corruption, and forced displacement, all alongside the devastating aftermath effects of a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook our nation. We are fighting everything at once. Let me be clear. The government of Colombia and the millions of citizens who elected are not against peace. We are against impunity. We are against using peace as a political shield for crimes against humanity and human rights atrocities, all while enabling criminal organizations, old and new, gain power and trample the most basic rights and the human dignity of our working people. Let me please disabuse you of the illusion and false narratives that sometimes surround the idea that you have here from those who have benefited the most from this unsettling peace process, particularly the ones that claim that the 2016 Peace Accord in Colombia is a model for the world. Well, not our world. Not the world of the thousands of Colombians that have been killed, kidnapped, or extorted since the agreement was signed. Certainly not the world of women that have been abducted by the guerrillas. And not the world of hundreds of children that have been recruited by gangs, criminal organizations, and drug cartels. The numbers quite simply don't hold the narrative. As such, it was necessary to review narrow and make the instrument more effective, because the circumstances, again, of the conflict have changed. Madam President, allow me to briefly explain why The Colombian peace agreement that was signed in 2016, entitled Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, was not final, was not stable, and was not lasting. The real sacrifice in any peace process is made by the victims, not the perpetrators. Peace is not made by those that sign agreements and appear in photos. Peace is made by the victims with the most noble of all purposes, the purpose of putting an end to the conflict and ensuring that there are no more victims. Nevertheless, the perpetrators and their defenders were the protagonists in this story. Although the voices of the victims stopped being listened to, the numbers speak for themselves. Colombia went from having 20,420 members of illegal armed groups in 2016, when the agreement was signed, to 29,004 in 2026. That is an increase of around 42% in 10 years. Although more than 13,000 members of the FARC were demobilized, which is a positive thing, which we should recognize, some of its members continue to engage in crime through criminal organizations known as FARC dissidents. which went from having 1,050 members in 2016 to 10,517 in 2026, thus multiplying their criminal strength by ten in the space of a decade. Between 2022 and 2026, 452 massacres were recorded, with 1,579 victims in Colombia. In that same period, 2,852 kidnappings were reported, and only between 2024 and 2025, there was an increase of 68% in the number of people affected by mass forced displacement events, going from almost 50,000 to 83,874 people. For Colombians, the names Bojayá, Mapiripán, Pueblo Bello and Catatumbo are not just places where peace never reached. They are the faces and the memory of the victims that we will not allow to be forgotten. Since the peace agreement was signed in July of 2016, there have been 30,478 homicides in the 170 municipalities that were prioritized by the agreement. Meanwhile, the vast majority of the victims go unidentified. The total value of goods reported by the FARC guerrilla group that signed the agreement, of that, 43% has not been able to be used for reparation, and 82.7% of the cash money was never handed over, with the accusation that it is either in the hands of the army or that it has been stolen. With the resources that have been reported by the FARC, reparation has only been provided to 2,356 victims, a figure that pales next to the number of victims that have been caused and that continue to be caused by the conflict in Colombia. The government of Colombia, led by the President Abelardo de la Espriella, knows that the constitutional and international mandate for peace and security is a comprehensive mandate. Real peace is achieved with justice, the presence of the state and territorial development in the regions, including economic development and including the most remote regions. Our country, moreover, recognizes the international support and accompaniment of the United Nations Security Council through the presence of the UN Verification Mission. This resolution is Undoubtedly, a fundamental achievement not only for my delegation, but for all of the members sitting on this Council. The unanimous vote of the UN Security Council is a resounding and unmistakable message. A verification mission that is focused, effective, efficient, and aligned with the reality being experienced by millions of Colombians has a greater chance of being successful. Colombia is once again grateful, especially for the efforts of the United Kingdom as penholder, as well as to the other members of the Security Council, for the constructive spirit in which the negotiations on the resolution took place. And all of the members: United Kingdom, Somalia, Russia, Panama, Pakistan, Liberia, Latvia, Greece, France, Denmark, Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Bahrain, United States, on behalf of the Republic of Colombia, thank you very much. From the most junior soldier right up to our head of state, from the most humble peasant all the way up to the most successful businessman, Every corner of the patria has heard the unending call of the tens of millions of victims left by the conflict, 10 million victims left by the conflict over 60 years. That is to say that without security, there is no peace. Thank you very much, Madam President. UNSC · President [39:23]: Excuse me. I thank the representative of Colombia for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.