Protocolo De Seguridad Y Proteccion Para Los Integrates Del Mecanismo De Monitoreo Y Verificacion - MMV En el Marco Del Acuerdo De Cese Al Fuego Bilateral, Nacional Y Temporal - CFBNT, Entre El Gobierno De La Republica De Colombia Y El Ejercito De Liberacion Nacional - ELN

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Protocolo De Seguridad Y Proteccion Para Los Integrates Del Mecanismo De Monitoreo Y Verificacion - MMV En el Marco Del Acuerdo De Cese Al Fuego Bilateral, Nacional Y Temporal - CFBNT, Entre El Gobierno De La Republica De Colombia Y El Ejercito De Liberacion Nacional - ELN
Date: 13 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: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Colombia VI - Government-ELN post-2015 process
Parties: Delegation of the Government of the Republic of Colombia:

(Signed) José Otty Patiño Hormaza, Head of delegation
(Signed) Iván Danilo Rueda Rodríguez, High Commissioner for Peace
(Signed) Iván Cepeda Castro
(Signed) Orlando Romero Reyes
(Signed) Horacio Guerrero García
(Signed) Olga Lilia Silva López
(Signed) Rosmery Quintero Castro
(Signed) Carlos Alfonso Rosero
(Signed) Adelaida Jiménez Cortés
(Signed) Rodrigo Botero García
(Signed) Dayana Paola Urzola Domicó
(Signed) José Félix Lafaurie Rivera
(Signed) Nigeria Rentería Lozano
(Signed) Álvaro Matallana Eslava
(Signed) María José Pizarro Rodríguez

Delegation of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional – ELN:

(Signed) Pablo Beltrán, Head of delegation
(Signed) Aureliano Carbonell
(Signed) Bernardo Téllez
(Signed) Manuel Gustavo Martínez
(Signed) María Consuelo Tapias
(Signed) Isabel Torres
(Signed) Simón Pabón
(Signed) Mauricio Iguarán
Third parties: As observers for the Armed Forces:

(Signed) Brig. Gen. William Oswaldo Rincón Zambrano
(Signed) Maj. Gen. Hugo Alejandro López Barreto

As witnesses and depositaries (Guarantor countries):

(Signed) Laura Berdine Santos Delamonica, Federative Republic of Brazil
(Signed) Patricia Esquenazi Marín, Republic of Chile
(Signed) Eugenio Martínez Enríquez, Republic of Cuba
(Signed) Roberto de León Huerta, United Mexican States
(Signed) Peder Østebø, Kingdom of Norway
(Signed) Gen. Carlos Martínez Mendoza, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Permanent accompanying partners:

(Signed) Angela Bargellini, Delegate of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Colombia
(Signed) Msgr. Héctor Fabio Henao Gaviria, Delegate for Church-State Relations, Episcopal Conference of Colombia
Description: A short but detailed protocol agreement connected to the bilateral national ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), providing for protection mechanisms to be enforced by the Police and Armed forces ensuring the safety of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM). Substantively the agreement sets out detailed provisions for how the Police and Armed forces should work with the MVM to ensure the protection of its members, including ELN members, when travelling to carry out implementation activities related to the national ceasefire. The agreement provides in detail for a range of protection mechanisms, encouraging channels of communication concering these protections between the MVM, Armed forces and Police Unit for peacebuilding. There is also provision for resources to support the protection mechanisms, to be provided by the government and the group of accompanying support and cooperation countries (GPAAC).

Agreement document: CO_230713_Protocol on security and protection for the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CO_230713_Protocolo De Seguridad Y Proteccion Para Los Integrates Del Mecanismo De Monitoreo Y Verificacion.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: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
In addition, the members of the Mechanism shall take ethnic considerations into account in their interactions with the authorities of Indigenous Peoples and Black, Afro-Colombian and Palenquero communities when they visit the territories of those communities.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: Groups→Indigenous people→Rhetorical
In addition, the members of the Mechanism shall take ethnic considerations into account in their interactions with the authorities of Indigenous Peoples and Black, Afro-Colombian and Palenquero communities when they visit the territories of those communities.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: 16. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall take a differential and gender-sensitive approach to the provision of security and protection for members of the Mechanism.
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: In addition, the members of the Mechanism shall take ethnic considerations into account in their interactions with the authorities of Indigenous Peoples and Black, Afro-Colombian and Palenquero communities when they visit the territories of those communities.
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: 3. When travelling ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who are carrying out activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols shall be accompanied by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and/or the Episcopal Conference of Colombia.
5. The security systems for the protection of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism when travelling shall be established according to the characteristics of the relevant locations and the specific risks identified.
6. The national body of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall agree on a procedure or protocol governing the travel of the ELN members of the Mechanism when they are performing activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols outside the city where the national body has its base.
11. Any travels of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall be planned in advance with the Armed Forces in order to identify the safest route and consider the information provided by the members and communications liaisons of ELN regarding, among other issues, routes that may be contaminated with conventional and non-conventional explosive devices or other hazards that may pose a risk to the safety of the members of the Mechanism.
13. The Armed Forces and the Police shall adopt the comprehensive security measures that are needed to protect and facilitate the movement and work of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism throughout the national territory.
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: 9. The group of accompanying, support and cooperation countries (GPAAC) shall be requested to provide the necessary resources for the operation of the ELN component of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in accordance with the terms of reference, the operating manual and the budget submitted by ELN.
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: Pursuant to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) signed on 9 June 2023 the present Protocol establishes measures for the security and protection of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism with a view to preventing and reducing risks and threats that might affect them during the implementation of the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols.
1. The National Police through the protection group of the Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall be responsible for the protection of the bases and members of the national regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.
The National Protection Unit shall be responsible for the protection of individual ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and other members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who request it.
2. The National Police through the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall make recommendations on security protection and self-protection to the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who upon following those recommendations shall also bear responsibility for their security and protection.
3. When travelling ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who are carrying out activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols shall be accompanied by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and/or the Episcopal Conference of Colombia.
This is in addition to the protection provided by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit as appropriate.
When requested by ELN its members shall also be accompanied by representatives of the guarantor countries subject to their availability.
4. Security for the lodging facilities of the ELN members of the national body of the Mechanism including the necessary technical support shall be provided by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding in coordination with the National Protection Unit.
5. The security systems for the protection of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism when travelling shall be established according to the characteristics of the relevant locations and the specific risks identified.
6. The national body of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall agree on a procedure or protocol governing the travel of the ELN members of the Mechanism when they are performing activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols outside the city where the national body has its base.
7. The Government of Colombia shall coordinate and implement among the State institutions the necessary measures to respond to medical contingencies and emergencies affecting the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism or their protection escorts in the national territory.
The Government of Colombia shall establish a specific procedure to ensure that the members of ELN on the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism receive emergency health care, which will be available once the Mechanism becomes operational.
In the event that any members require specialized, continuous or prolonged treatment that renders them incapacitated, a request shall be made for them to be treated in one of the guarantor countries, if they so desire.
8. Any travel that members of the national, regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism undertake in the performance of their duties shall be reported to and coordinated with the members of the Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and of ELN, using the mean and channels of communication of the respective protection systems.
9. The group of accompanying, support and cooperation countries (GPAAC) shall be requested to provide the necessary resources for the operation of the ELN component of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in accordance with the terms of reference, the operating manual and the budget submitted by ELN.
The Government of Colombia shall provide the budget necessary for the participation of the State officials tasked with providing security and protection services for the members of ELN on the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.
10. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall coordinate with the Armed Forces to take preventive measures and establish security measures in the places where the members of the Mechanism must be present.
The components of the Monitoring and Verification Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall agree on procedures or protocols to protect the members of the Mechanism in the places where their presence is required in accordance with the mandate of the Mechanism.
11. Any travels of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall be planned in advance with the Armed Forces in order to identify the safest route and consider the information provided by the members and communications liaisons of ELN regarding, among other issues, routes that may be contaminated with conventional and non-conventional explosive devices or other hazards that may pose a risk to the safety of the members of the Mechanism.
12. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall put in place a contingency plan to address risks to the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in order to ensure that they are able to respond rapidly and effectively by coordinating and consolidating their capacities.
13. The Armed Forces and the Police shall adopt the comprehensive security measures that are needed to protect and facilitate the movement and work of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism throughout the national territory.
14. The Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and ELN shall provide information to the members of the Mechanism on possible risks, threats and vulnerabilities that may affect their safety, with a view to mitigating or neutralizing dangerous situations.
15. The members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism on the various bodies shall follow the security and protection measures and recommendations proposed by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit.
In highly complex situations of which the Mechanism is aware, the necessary security measures shall be adopted to ensure that the members of the Mechanism are present in the places where they are required to be.
16. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall take a differential and gender-sensitive approach to the provision of security and protection for members of the Mechanism.
In addition, the members of the Mechanism shall take ethnic considerations into account in their interactions with the authorities of Indigenous Peoples and Black, Afro-Colombian and Palenquero communities when they visit the territories of those communities.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Pursuant to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) signed on 9 June 2023 the present Protocol establishes measures for the security and protection of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism with a view to preventing and reducing risks and threats that might affect them during the implementation of the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols.
1. The National Police through the protection group of the Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall be responsible for the protection of the bases and members of the national regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.
The National Protection Unit shall be responsible for the protection of individual ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and other members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who request it.
2. The National Police through the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall make recommendations on security protection and self-protection to the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who upon following those recommendations shall also bear responsibility for their security and protection.
9. The group of accompanying, support and cooperation countries (GPAAC) shall be requested to provide the necessary resources for the operation of the ELN component of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in accordance with the terms of reference, the operating manual and the budget submitted by ELN.
The Government of Colombia shall provide the budget necessary for the participation of the State officials tasked with providing security and protection services for the members of ELN on the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.
The Government of Colombia shall inform the national body of the Mechanism of the appointment of those officials.
10. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall coordinate with the Armed Forces to take preventive measures and establish security measures in the places where the members of the Mechanism must be present.
The components of the Monitoring and Verification Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall agree on procedures or protocols to protect the members of the Mechanism in the places where their presence is required in accordance with the mandate of the Mechanism.
13. The Armed Forces and the Police shall adopt the comprehensive security measures that are needed to protect and facilitate the movement and work of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism throughout the national territory.
14. The Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and ELN shall provide information to the members of the Mechanism on possible risks, threats and vulnerabilities that may affect their safety, with a view to mitigating or neutralizing dangerous situations.
Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Pursuant to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) signed on 9 June 2023 the present Protocol establishes measures for the security and protection of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism with a view to preventing and reducing risks and threats that might affect them during the implementation of the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols.
1. The National Police through the protection group of the Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall be responsible for the protection of the bases and members of the national regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.
Police: 1. The National Police through the protection group of the Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall be responsible for the protection of the bases and members of the national regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.
2. The National Police through the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall make recommendations on security protection and self-protection to the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who upon following those recommendations shall also bear responsibility for their security and protection.
3. When travelling ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who are carrying out activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols shall be accompanied by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and/or the Episcopal Conference of Colombia.
This is in addition to the protection provided by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit as appropriate.
When requested by ELN its members shall also be accompanied by representatives of the guarantor countries subject to their availability.
4. Security for the lodging facilities of the ELN members of the national body of the Mechanism including the necessary technical support shall be provided by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding in coordination with the National Protection Unit.
10. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall coordinate with the Armed Forces to take preventive measures and establish security measures in the places where the members of the Mechanism must be present.
12. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall put in place a contingency plan to address risks to the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in order to ensure that they are able to respond rapidly and effectively by coordinating and consolidating their capacities.
13. The Armed Forces and the Police shall adopt the comprehensive security measures that are needed to protect and facilitate the movement and work of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism throughout the national territory.
15. The members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism on the various bodies shall follow the security and protection measures and recommendations proposed by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit.
16. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall take a differential and gender-sensitive approach to the provision of security and protection for members of the Mechanism.
Armed forces: 8. Any travel that members of the national, regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism undertake in the performance of their duties shall be reported to and coordinated with the members of the Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and of ELN, using the mean and channels of communication of the respective protection systems.
10. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall coordinate with the Armed Forces to take preventive measures and establish security measures in the places where the members of the Mechanism must be present.
11. Any travels of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall be planned in advance with the Armed Forces in order to identify the safest route and consider the information provided by the members and communications liaisons of ELN regarding, among other issues, routes that may be contaminated with conventional and non-conventional explosive devices or other hazards that may pose a risk to the safety of the members of the Mechanism.
13. The Armed Forces and the Police shall adopt the comprehensive security measures that are needed to protect and facilitate the movement and work of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism throughout the national territory.
14. The Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and ELN shall provide information to the members of the Mechanism on possible risks, threats and vulnerabilities that may affect their safety, with a view to mitigating or neutralizing dangerous situations.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: The National Protection Unit shall be responsible for the protection of individual ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and other members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who request it.
3. When travelling ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who are carrying out activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols shall be accompanied by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and/or the Episcopal Conference of Colombia.
When requested by ELN its members shall also be accompanied by representatives of the guarantor countries subject to their availability.
4. Security for the lodging facilities of the ELN members of the national body of the Mechanism including the necessary technical support shall be provided by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding in coordination with the National Protection Unit.
6. The national body of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall agree on a procedure or protocol governing the travel of the ELN members of the Mechanism when they are performing activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols outside the city where the national body has its base.
The Government of Colombia shall establish a specific procedure to ensure that the members of ELN on the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism receive emergency health care, which will be available once the Mechanism becomes operational.
8. Any travel that members of the national, regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism undertake in the performance of their duties shall be reported to and coordinated with the members of the Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and of ELN, using the mean and channels of communication of the respective protection systems.
9. The group of accompanying, support and cooperation countries (GPAAC) shall be requested to provide the necessary resources for the operation of the ELN component of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in accordance with the terms of reference, the operating manual and the budget submitted by ELN.
The Government of Colombia shall provide the budget necessary for the participation of the State officials tasked with providing security and protection services for the members of ELN on the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.
11. Any travels of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall be planned in advance with the Armed Forces in order to identify the safest route and consider the information provided by the members and communications liaisons of ELN regarding, among other issues, routes that may be contaminated with conventional and non-conventional explosive devices or other hazards that may pose a risk to the safety of the members of the Mechanism.
14. The Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and ELN shall provide information to the members of the Mechanism on possible risks, threats and vulnerabilities that may affect their safety, with a view to mitigating or neutralizing dangerous situations.
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: (Signed) Angela Bargellini, Delegate of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Colombia
Other international signatory: (Signed) Laura Berdine Santos Delamonica, Federative Republic of Brazil
(Signed) Patricia Esquenazi Marín, Republic of Chile
(Signed) Eugenio Martínez Enríquez, Republic of Cuba
(Signed) Roberto de León Huerta, United Mexican States
(Signed) Peder Østebø, Kingdom of Norway
(Signed) Gen. Carlos Martínez Mendoza, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: 3. When travelling ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who are carrying out activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols shall be accompanied by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and/or the Episcopal Conference of Colombia.
In the event that any members require specialized, continuous or prolonged treatment that renders them incapacitated, a request shall be made for them to be treated in one of the guarantor countries, if they so desire.
9. The group of accompanying, support and cooperation countries (GPAAC) shall be requested to provide the necessary resources for the operation of the ELN component of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in accordance with the terms of reference, the operating manual and the budget submitted by ELN.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: No specific mention.

Protocol on security and protection for the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism under the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN)

Pursuant to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) signed on 9 June 2023 the present Protocol establishes measures for the security and protection of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism with a view to preventing and reducing risks and threats that might affect them during the implementation of the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols.

1. The National Police through the protection group of the Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall be responsible for the protection of the bases and members of the national regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.

The National Protection Unit shall be responsible for the protection of individual ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and other members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who request it.

2. The National Police through the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall make recommendations on security protection and self-protection to the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who upon following those recommendations shall also bear responsibility for their security and protection.

3. When travelling ELN members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism who are carrying out activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols shall be accompanied by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and/or the Episcopal Conference of Colombia.

This is in addition to the protection provided by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit as appropriate.

When requested by ELN its members shall also be accompanied by representatives of the guarantor countries subject to their availability.

4. Security for the lodging facilities of the ELN members of the national body of the Mechanism including the necessary technical support shall be provided by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding in coordination with the National Protection Unit.

The Catholic Church shall provide communication tools logistical support and assistance at said lodging facilities.

5. The security systems for the protection of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism when travelling shall be established according to the characteristics of the relevant locations and the specific risks identified.

6. The national body of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall agree on a procedure or protocol governing the travel of the ELN members of the Mechanism when they are performing activities related to the Agreement on a temporary bilateral national ceasefire and its Protocols outside the city where the national body has its base.

7. The Government of Colombia shall coordinate and implement among the State institutions the necessary measures to respond to medical contingencies and emergencies affecting the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism or their protection escorts in the national territory.

The Government of Colombia shall establish a specific procedure to ensure that the members of ELN on the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism receive emergency health care, which will be available once the Mechanism becomes operational.

In the event that any members require specialized, continuous or prolonged treatment that renders them incapacitated, a request shall be made for them to be treated in one of the guarantor countries, if they so desire.

8. Any travel that members of the national, regional and local bodies of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism undertake in the performance of their duties shall be reported to and coordinated with the members of the Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and of ELN, using the mean and channels of communication of the respective protection systems.

9. The group of accompanying, support and cooperation countries (GPAAC) shall be requested to provide the necessary resources for the operation of the ELN component of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in accordance with the terms of reference, the operating manual and the budget submitted by ELN.

The Government of Colombia shall provide the budget necessary for the participation of the State officials tasked with providing security and protection services for the members of ELN on the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.

The Government of Colombia shall inform the national body of the Mechanism of the appointment of those officials.

10. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding shall coordinate with the Armed Forces to take preventive measures and establish security measures in the places where the members of the Mechanism must be present.

The components of the Monitoring and Verification Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall agree on procedures or protocols to protect the members of the Mechanism in the places where their presence is required in accordance with the mandate of the Mechanism.

11. Any travels of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism shall be planned in advance with the Armed Forces in order to identify the safest route and consider the information provided by the members and communications liaisons of ELN regarding, among other issues, routes that may be contaminated with conventional and non-conventional explosive devices or other hazards that may pose a risk to the safety of the members of the Mechanism.

12. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall put in place a contingency plan to address risks to the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, in order to ensure that they are able to respond rapidly and effectively by coordinating and consolidating their capacities.

13. The Armed Forces and the Police shall adopt the comprehensive security measures that are needed to protect and facilitate the movement and work of the members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism throughout the national territory.

14. The Armed Forces of the Government of Colombia and ELN shall provide information to the members of the Mechanism on possible risks, threats and vulnerabilities that may affect their safety, with a view to mitigating or neutralizing dangerous situations.

15. The members of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism on the various bodies shall follow the security and protection measures and recommendations proposed by the Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit.

In highly complex situations of which the Mechanism is aware, the necessary security measures shall be adopted to ensure that the members of the Mechanism are present in the places where they are required to be.

16. The Police Unit for Peacebuilding and the National Protection Unit shall take a differential and gender-sensitive approach to the provision of security and protection for members of the Mechanism.

In addition, the members of the Mechanism shall take ethnic considerations into account in their interactions with the authorities of Indigenous Peoples and Black, Afro-Colombian and Palenquero communities when they visit the territories of those communities.

Havana, Cuba, 13 July 2023.

Delegation of the Government of the Republic of Colombia:

(Signed) José Otty Patiño Hormaza, Head of delegation

(Signed) Iván Danilo Rueda Rodríguez, High Commissioner for Peace

(Signed) Iván Cepeda Castro

(Signed) Orlando Romero Reyes

(Signed) Horacio Guerrero García

(Signed) Olga Lilia Silva López

(Signed) Rosmery Quintero Castro

(Signed) Carlos Alfonso Rosero

(Signed) Adelaida Jiménez Cortés

(Signed) Rodrigo Botero García

(Signed) Dayana Paola Urzola Domicó

(Signed) José Félix Lafaurie Rivera

(Signed) Nigeria Rentería Lozano

(Signed) Álvaro Matallana Eslava

(Signed) María José Pizarro Rodríguez

Delegation of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional – ELN:

(Signed) Pablo Beltrán, Head of delegation

(Signed) Aureliano Carbonell

(Signed) Bernardo Téllez

(Signed) Manuel Gustavo Martínez

(Signed) María Consuelo Tapias

(Signed) Isabel Torres

(Signed) Simón Pabón

(Signed) Mauricio Iguarán

As observers for the Armed Forces:

(Signed) Brig.

Gen. William Oswaldo Rincón Zambrano

(Signed) Maj.

Gen. Hugo Alejandro López Barreto

As witnesses and depositaries (Guarantor countries):

(Signed) Laura Berdine Santos Delamonica, Federative Republic of Brazil

(Signed) Patricia Esquenazi Marín, Republic of Chile

(Signed) Eugenio Martínez Enríquez, Republic of Cuba

(Signed) Roberto de León Huerta, United Mexican States

(Signed) Peder Østebø, Kingdom of Norway

(Signed) Gen. Carlos Martínez Mendoza, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Permanent accompanying partners:

(Signed) Angela Bargellini, Delegate of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Colombia

(Signed) Msgr.

Héctor Fabio Henao Gaviria, Delegate for Church-State Relations, Episcopal Conference of Colombia