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OAS Secretary General Stresses Efforts of the Peace Process in Colombia on Land Restitution

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today presented to the Permanent Council the Sixteenth Report on the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS), which highlights the enactment of the Victims and Land Restitution Law as an element "that introduces numerous possibilities for progress toward comprehensive reparations to victims and thereby strengthens the country's domestic normalcy and the peace process.”

In his presentation, the OAS leader recognized the political will of the Colombian authorities and their efforts to implement the Law of Land Restitution, and stressed the important efforts that have been made to ensure the sustainability of the return of people displaced by the violence and the potential for repairing the social fabric, a point "where security plays a fundamental role."

Summarizing the most important achievements of the process during 2011, the Secretary General referred to Colombia’s initiative in beginning the process of reforming the Justice and Peace Law, efforts toward reintegration and reconciliation, and the progress made in resolving the legal limbo of demobilized combatants through the Law 1424 of 2010. On this last point he noted that "as of December 2011, 90 percent of demobilized combatants have availed themselves of the benefits of the Law, participating in the process of reintegration into civilian life led by the Colombian government."

“Sustainable restitution depends largely on return conditions that allow for repair of the social fabric, and here security plays a decisive role. If the environment to which victims return is still threatening, it will be very difficult to create the conditions for effective exercise of their restored rights” cites the MAPP report, presented periodically to the Council, which also reflects concern over insecurity. “Criminal gangs and illegal activities in these areas jeopardize the return of people displaced by the violence and the potential for repairing the social fabric there,” it said.

In this regard, the report considers an "urgent challenge for all institutions to take up the issue of guaranteeing the individual and collective security of the victims as an essential condition for the process’s sustainability" and calls on authorities “to step up efforts through agile and differentiated protection mechanisms, to strengthen local institutions, and to continue fighting organized crime and corruption.”

Speaking to members of the Permanent Council, Secretary General Insulza also announced that President Juan Manuel Santos and the OAS signed an "addendum" entrusting the MAPP/OAS with follow-up and monitoring of land restitution in the context of the comprehensive lands policy “as a component of comprehensive redress to victims of forcible displacement and land seizure.” This step, the Secretary General added, “reaffirms the work that the MAPP/OEA has been doing on this issue and demonstrates the commitment of the General Secretariat to continue supporting the Colombian government and society in their efforts to make reparations to the victims and move towards peace and national reconciliation.”

The Alternate Representative of Colombia to the OAS, Carlos Iván Plazas, thanked the General Secretariat for its report and noted that it reflects "the significant progress and the efforts made by the national government, the congress, the communities, the institutions and the authorities involved, as well as social organizations."

The Colombian diplomat summed up the evolution of various initiatives launched by the government of President Juan Manuel Santos, specifically those related to the reform of the Justice and Peace Law and the draft amendment of the Legal Framework for Peace that seeks to solve the crimes committed during the armed conflict and identify patterns of violence. He further noted the importance of the processes of truth and historical memory "which are part of the victims’ right to full reparation", and recognized the security challenges, while explaining the measures taken to address them.

The OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia was established in 2004 with the objective of supporting the peace process, verification of agreements and support to the communities affected by violence. Through the MAPP, the OAS has supported local initiatives in areas of conflict with measures, actions and projects aimed at reducing violence, build confidence, achieving reconciliation and strengthen democracy.

The report on the MAPP/OAS is available here.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-107/12