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OAS Secretary General Highlights Progress Achieved in the Peace Process in Colombia and Makes a Call to Implement Reforms to the Law of Justice and Peace

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, made a presentation today to the body's Permanent Council of the fifteenth Report on the Mission of Support for the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS), which underlines future challenges and highlights achievements and progress made in the country in these seven years.

The Secretary General emphasized the importance to the South American nation of the dismantling of the structure of the Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), and praised the opportunities the peace process created in terms of truth, justice, and redress, while giving rise to the conditions for the strengthening of State institutions in the most affected territories of the country.

The head of the OAS highlighted the relevance and importance of the Colombian law of Justice and Peace (975), which currently is being observed and referenced by various countries throughout the world as a tool to implement. He noted that the application of said law points out shortcomings and seeks reforms to enahnce trust in the State and give legal security to demobilized forces so as to prevent greater rates of recidivism and give victims greater access to their rights. He also mentioned the importance of giving an answer to issues such as the setting in motion of judicial processes and giving legal definition to events not contemplated by the law of Justice and Peace for having occurred outside the time established by said norm.

Referring to the role of the Colombian government, Insulza highlighted the efforts of the government of President Juan Manuel Santos in implementing measures aimed at the integral restitution of victims, particularly with respect to land and collective redress, a process in which the MAPP/OAS has participated at the invitation of the country's authorities. He also reiterated the need to make effective the mechanisms of the specific Protection Program for people who request it.

The head of the OAS reviewed the process' most important achievements, among which he mentioned the 17,331 demobilized forces that currently participate in the process of reentering civil life led by the Colombian government; the delivery and destruction of more than 18,000 weapons; the more than 300,000 people who participate in the process of Justice and Peace, which has recognized victims as fundamental actors in the peace process; the identification of more than 3,846 bodies and the 1,217 remains of the disappeared that have been returned to their families; the processes of justice and redress; and the participation of the State in the reconstruction of the social fabric among populations that had been subjected to the dominance of illegal armed groups.

Insulza concluded his presentation by thanking the Government of Colombia and the group of donor countries for the confidence they have placed on the MAPP/OAS, translated into a Mission with 15 regional offices and nearly one hundred officials in almost the entire national territory. The OAS Mission also has closely assisted communities and institutions in the process of guaranteeing the right to truth, justice, and redress to thousands of Colombians.

The OAS Mission of Support for the Peace Process in Colombia was created in 2004 with the objective of backing the processes of peace, verification of agreements, and assistance to communities victims of violence. Through the MAPP, the OAS has supported local initiatives in conflict zones with specific measures, initiatives, and projects aimed at reducing violence, fomenting trust, achieving reconciliation, and strengthening democracy.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

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

Reference: E-637/11