Joint Communiqué, Havana, July 17, 2014

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Joint Communiqué, Havana, July 17, 2014
Date: 17 Jul 2014
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Colombian Conflict (1964 - )
The Colombian conflict is really a set of conflicts and the peace agreements reflect both different processes relating to different conflict groups and dyads, and processes taking place at different times in a complex peace process history. The Colombian civil war has its roots in the late 1940s and the violent infighting between liberal and the conservative factions. Emerging from the liberal tradition with a thorough grounding in nationalist communist ideology, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army (FARC) began its armed insurrection against the Colombian government in 1964. Other left-wing guerrillas emerged as well, most notably the socialist/populist M-19, which would later be integrated into the formal political system in the peace process of 1990s; the National Liberation Army (ELN), which has strong roots in liberation theology, and the Maoist Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) (also part of the 1990 process, less successfully). Several stages of peace processes were undertaken by the various sides, which were further complicated by the emergence of right-wing paramilitary ‘self-defence’ forces. The peace agreement between the Colombian government under President Uribe and the main alliance of the paramilitary groups, the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), concluded in 2005 and is still heavily disputed as several remnants are still active, but now subsumed under the heading ‘Bacrim’ (Bandas criminales). In addition, FARC and ELN maintain a military presence, but both demonstrate a strong interest in completing successful peace negotiations with the government, with the most recent agreements being between FARC and the Government.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Colombia V - Santos
Parties: The agreement is a joint communication of the National Government and the FARC-EP
Third parties: -
Description: The communique informs the public that the negotiating parties agreed on a participation mechanism for the victims of the conflict in the negotiations. It also provides for the selection criteria and the organization of the victims' delegations.

Agreement document: CO_140717_Joint Communique.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 1,
[...]
At the request of the Table, the organization and the selection process for the delegations will be in charge of the Office of the United Nations in Colombia and the National University's Peace Process Think Tank and Follow-up Center (Centro de Pensamiento y Seguimiento al Proceso de Paz de la Universidad Nacional), in consultations with different associations of victims of the conflict.
[...]

Pages 1-2,
[...]
The delegations received the preliminary conclusions of the First Victims' Forum organized in Villavicencio by the Office of the United Nations in Colombia and the National University's Peace Think Tank (Centro de Pensamiento para la Paz de la Universidad Nacional). We thank the victims' voices and invite them to continue participating in the following forums and to send their proposals through the web page www.mesadeconversaciones.com.co.
[...]
Traditional/religious leaders: Page 1,
[...]
We invite the Episcopal Conference to accompany said process in order to contribute in guaranteeing compliance with the criteria set forth hereafter.
[...]
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 1, Selection criteria:
The main criteria for the selection of the delegations are balance, pluralism and fairness, which should be reflected in the composition of each one of the delegations. In particular, the delegations should reflect the whole universe of human rights violations and IHL infractions that have taken place throughout the internal conflict, taking the different social sectors, populations and the regional approach into account.
[...]
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: Page 2,
[...]
Furthermore, the delegations agreed to set in motion the Historical Committee of the Conflict and its victims and we will meet this coming July 25 to continue working on the preparation of this Committee.
[...]
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: [Summary: The whole agreement provides for an agreed mechanism for the direct participation of the victims of the internal conflict at the Dialogue Table in Havana. It lists several criteria for the selection of the delegations, provides for details on the set up of the delegations and stresses that the main goal is to end the conflict and achieve reconciliation. For detailed provisions see civil society, religious groups, human rights, equality, reconciliation, past provision and international mission.]
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 1,
[...]
The participation of the delegations is framed within the goal of ending the conflict and achieving reconciliation.
[...]

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1,
[...]
At the request of the Table, the organization and the selection process for the delegations will be in charge of the Office of the United Nations in Colombia and the National University's Peace Process Think Tank and Follow-up Center (Centro de Pensamiento y Seguimiento al Proceso de Paz de la Universidad Nacional), in consultations with different associations of victims of the conflict.
[...]
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: https://www.mesadeconversaciones.com.co/

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ HAVANA, JULY 17, 2014

The delegations of the National Government and the FARC - EP hereby inform the public opinion that we have agreed on the mechanisms for the direct participation of the victims of the internal conflict at the Dialogue Table in Havana, and that we acknowledge that their voice will be a fundamental input for the discussions on this item.

At the request of the Table, the organization and the selection process for the delegations will be in charge of the Office of the United Nations in Colombia and the National University's Peace Process Think Tank and Follow-up Center (Centro de Pensamiento y Seguimiento al Proceso de Paz de la Universidad Nacional), in consultations with different associations of victims of the conflict.

We invite the Episcopal Conference to accompany said process in order to contribute in guaranteeing compliance with the criteria set forth hereafter.

Selection criteria:

The main criteria for the selection of the delegations are balance, pluralism and fairness, which should be reflected in the composition of each one of the delegations.

In particular, the delegations should reflect the whole universe of human rights violations and IHL infractions that have taken place throughout the internal conflict, taking the different social sectors, populations and the regional approach into account.

The delegations' members shall be direct victims of the conflict and they will participate in that capacity and not in representation of others.

The foregoing does not exclude the cases of collective victimization.

The delegations and their members will have full autonomy to present their points of view.

The Table undertakes to duly record and take note of the approaches and proposals brought forth in order to contribute in guaranteeing the best possible materialization of the rights of the conflict's victims.

The participation of the delegations is framed within the goal of ending the conflict and achieving reconciliation.

The Table will review the operation of the selection mechanism in each one of the visits and will provide the necessary recommendations.

Number of delegations and victims per delegation:

One delegation will be invited per cycle, at least during five cycles.

Each delegation will be comprised by up to 12 people.

The first visit of the victims will take place on August 16.

The delegations received the preliminary conclusions of the First Victims' Forum organized in Villavicencio by the Office of the United Nations in Colombia and the National University's Peace Think Tank (Centro de Pensamiento para la Paz de la

Universidad Nacional).

We thank the victims' voices and invite them to continue participating in the following forums and to send their proposals through the web page www.mesadeconversaciones.com.co.

Furthermore, the delegations agreed to set in motion the Historical Committee of the Conflict and its victims and we will meet this coming July 25 to continue working on the preparation of this Committee.

Finally, we exchanged visions about other elements related to Item 5 of the Agenda, Victims.

The next cycle will start on August 12.