Joint Communiqué #53, Havana

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Joint Communiqué #53, Havana
Date: 27 Mar 2015
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: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Colombia V - Santos
Parties: The National Government; the FACR – EP
Third parties: -
Description: This short agreement reports on several issues from cycle 34 of the dialogues and how they will be implemented, including de-mining operations, consultations on peace processes, and the on-going gender sub-commission.

Agreement document: CO_150327_Joint Communiqué #53, Havana.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 1, Point 4
The gender sub-commission, thanks to the support of the guarantor countries, received experts Magalys Arocha, Mireia Cano and Hilde Salvesen, who presented their recommendations in order to ensure a gender approach in the agreements already achieved.

Women, girls and gender

Participation: No specific mention.
Equality: No specific mention.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: New institutions→Infrastructure (general)
Page 1, Point 4
The gender sub-commission, thanks to the support of the guarantor countries, received experts Magalys Arocha, Mireia Cano and Hilde Salvesen, who presented their recommendations in order to ensure a gender approach in the agreements already achieved.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: Implementation→Other
Page 1, Point 4
The gender sub-commission, thanks to the support of the guarantor countries, received experts Magalys Arocha, Mireia Cano and Hilde Salvesen, who presented their recommendations in order to ensure a gender approach in the agreements already achieved.
Other: No specific mention.

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ # 53.

HAVANA, MARCH 27, 2015

The National Government and the FACR – EP, upon concluding cycle 34 of the dialogues, hereby inform that:

1. During the meeting of the technical group for the coordination of the first cleaning and decontamination operation of Anti-Personnel Mines (APMs), Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs) or Explosive Remnants of War (ERWs), we received the visit of the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and agreed the following:

 To start the pilot plan in Antioquia and Meta in 3 sites to be defined.

 To hold a workshop in the next cycle in Havana to move forward in the implementation plan;

and

 To create three formal structures to initiate the job:

Reference Group, comprised by General Óscar Naranjo, delegate of the National Government, Carlos Antonio Lozada, delegate of the FARC - EP, two delegates from the guarantor countries, Cuba and Norway, and one delegate of NPA.

Lead Group, in charge of coordinating the implementation of the pilot Project from Havana.

Its members are:

on behalf of the National Government, Admiral (r) Rafael Colón, Head of the Directorate for Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines (Dirección para la Acción Integral Contra Minas Antipersonal) - DAICMA, the Commander of the Army’s De-mining Battalion (Batallón de Desminado del Ejército) - BIDES, or a delegate from the General Command of the Military Forces.

On behalf of the FARC – EP, commanders Matías Aldecoa and Edilson Romaña.

On behalf of NPA, the program’s delegate in Colombia, Vanesa Finsson.

Project Management Group, in charge of the direct on-site coordination.

2. The technical sub-commission for the End of the Conflict received the visit of three experts on the peace process that was held in El Salvador, General Mauricio Vargas (Ret.),

José Luis Merino, former guerrilla commander, and Colonel Prudencio García (Ret.).

We agreed that experts from Sudan and Nepal will be received during the next cycle.

3. At the Table, we continued exchanging our views on the sub-item of Truth, within the discussions of item 5:

“Victims”.

4. The gender sub-commission, thanks to the support of the guarantor countries, received experts Magalys Arocha, Mireia Cano and Hilde Salvesen, who presented their recommendations in order to ensure a gender approach in the agreements already achieved.

Both delegations will meet again this coming April 10 for a new dialogue round.