Agreement on a Peace Dialogues Table

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Agreement on a Peace Dialogues Table
Date: 8 Jul 2023
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 VI - Government-ELN post-2015 process
Parties: For the National Government
Daniel Rueda Rodriguez
High Commissioner for Peace

For the Central General Staff of the FARC-EP
Andrey Abendano Guevara
Head of the Peace Dialogues Commission of the
Central General Staff of the FARC-EP
Third parties: -
Description: The National Government and the Central General Staff of the FARC-EP declared the initiation of a Peace Dialogue Table to discuss and approve a temporary, national ceasefire. The preliminary phase of the dialogue will involve representatives from the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the MAPP OEA, the Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches; they will discuss the protection of communities, civilian population, and adjustments to the ceasefire protocol, among other agenda points. In their joint statement, both parties expressed a strong intention to construct a peace agreement to end the armed confrontation and promote comprehensive, stable, and enduring peace, with an emphasis on social and environmental justice.

Agreement document: CO_230708_Agreement on a Peace Dialogues Table_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CO_230708_Agreement on a Peace Dialogues Table.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: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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: Rights related issues→Protection measures→Protection of civilians
(i) adjustments to the national bilateral and temporary ceasefire protocol, the protection of communities and the civilian population in general, and implementation of the Oversight, Monitoring and Verification Mechanism at national and local levels;
Rights related issues→Protection measures→Protection of groups
(i) adjustments to the national bilateral and temporary ceasefire protocol, the protection of communities and the civilian population in general, and implementation of the Oversight, Monitoring and Verification Mechanism at national and local levels;
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: The parties reaffirm their strong commitment towards the construction of a Peace Agreement that puts an end to the armed confrontation and that fosters the establishment of enduring, inclusive peace characterized by social and environmental justice.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: In this preliminary stage, a National Confidence Building and Contingency Resolution Team will be established, made up of representatives of the National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP, officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace and representatives from the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the MAPP OAS, the Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches, with the corresponding security and protection measures.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
During the Peace Dialogue Table, the parties will discuss and approve a national bilateral and temporary ceasefire.
(i) adjustments to the national bilateral and temporary ceasefire protocol, the protection of communities and the civilian population in general, and implementation of the Oversight, Monitoring and Verification Mechanism at national and local levels;
The parties reaffirm their strong commitment towards the construction of a Peace Agreement that puts an end to the armed confrontation and that fosters the establishment of enduring, inclusive peace characterized by social and environmental justice.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: The National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARCEP announce that they have reached an agreement to engage in a Peace Dialogue Table.
For this purpose, from today until the installation date, representatives from the National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP will begin the preliminary phase of the Peace Dialogue Table, with the permanent presence of officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace and representatives of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the MAPP OAS, the Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches.
In this preliminary stage, a National Confidence Building and Contingency Resolution Team will be established, made up of representatives of the National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP, officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace and representatives from the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the MAPP OAS, the Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches, with the corresponding security and protection measures.
In the upcoming days, the National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP will publicly disclose the identities of their delegation members.
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: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: For this purpose, from today until the installation date, representatives from the National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP will begin the preliminary phase of the Peace Dialogue Table, with the permanent presence of officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace and representatives of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the MAPP OAS, the Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: No specific mention.

JOINT STATEMENT

Caqueta, 8 July 2023

The National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARCEP announce that they have reached an agreement to engage in a Peace Dialogue Table.

During the Peace Dialogue Table, the parties will discuss and approve a national bilateral and temporary ceasefire.

For this purpose, from today until the installation date, representatives from the National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP will begin the preliminary phase of the Peace Dialogue Table, with the permanent presence of officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace and representatives of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the MAPP OAS, the Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches.

During this phase, the parties will discuss:

(i) adjustments to the national bilateral and temporary ceasefire protocol, the protection of communities and the civilian population in general, and implementation of the Oversight, Monitoring and Verification Mechanism at national and local levels;

and (ii) the pre-agenda of the Peace Dialogue Table.

In this preliminary stage, a National Confidence Building and Contingency Resolution Team will be established, made up of representatives of the National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP, officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace and representatives from the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the MAPP OAS, the Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches, with the corresponding security and protection measures.

The parties reaffirm their strong commitment towards the construction of a Peace Agreement that puts an end to the armed confrontation and that fosters the establishment of enduring, inclusive peace characterized by social and environmental justice.

In the upcoming days, the National Government and the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP will publicly disclose the identities of their delegation members.

National Government

Danilo Rueda Rodríguez

High Commissioner for Peace

Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP

Andrey Abendaño Guevara

Head of the Peace Dialogues Commission of the Estado Mayor Central (Central General Staff) of the FARC-EP