Joint Communique #97

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Joint Communique #97
Date: 6 Sep 2016
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: Government of Colombia
FARC-EP
Third parties: -
Description: An agreement providing for implementation modalities for demobilising children from FARC-EP

Agreement document: CO_160906_Joint_communique97.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 1,

The National Government and the FARC – EP, pursuant to joint communiqué # 96 dated

September 2 whereby we agreed to start the departure process of the minors from the camps of the FARC – EP, hereby inform that we have agreed on a departure and transitory shelter protocol for boys, girls and adolescents leaving the FARC – EP camps.

…

Upon conclusion of this stage, the transfer team will deliver the boys, girls and adolescents to the reception team made up with representatives of UNICEF who, with support from the IOM, will operate the transitory reception sites previously determined by UNICEF.

…

On the other hand, a technical support committee will be formed, whose purpose will be to prepare observations and comments directed to the family advocates in charge of restoring the rights of these boys, girls and adolescents.

Page 1-2,

We invite the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflict; the Carter Center, the Geneva Call; the Coalition Against the Association of Boys, Girls and Youngsters to the Armed Conflict in Colombia, (Coalición contra la Vinculación de Niños, Niñas y Jóvenes al Conflicto Armado en Colombia – Coalico); the National Association of Peasant Reserve Zones (Asociación Nacional de Zonas de Reserva Campesina – Anzorc) and Communities Building Peace in the Territories (Comunidades Construyendo Paz en los Territorios – Conpaz), to support, accompany and/or oversee this protocol and the transitory reception plan.

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: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: Institutional reform→DDR, army, parastatal or rebel forces
Page 1,
...The National Government and the FARC – EP, pursuant to joint communiqué # 96 dated September 2 whereby we agreed to start the departure process of the minors from the camps of the FARC – EP, hereby inform that we have agreed on a departure and transitory shelter protocol for boys, girls and adolescents leaving the FARC – EP camps.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ # 97

Havana, September 6, 2016

The National Government and the FARC – EP, pursuant to joint communiqué # 96 dated September 2 whereby we agreed to start the departure process of the minors from the camps of the FARC – EP, hereby inform that we have agreed on a departure and transitory shelter protocol for boys, girls and adolescents leaving the FARC – EP camps.

For that purpose, a transfer team will be formed from the exit point, made up by personnel of the International Committee of the Red Cross – ICRC- who will coordinate the operations, and two delegates of the social organizations that are part of the Technical Table created by means of Communiqué # 70 dated last May 15.

The availability of two family advocates will be contemplated for these transitory locations, in order to solve any unforeseen circumstances that may require their intervention.

At the exit location, the ICRC will conduct a preliminary assessment of the physical and mental health conditions of the minors;

it will verify their identities and their basic personal information, which will be recorded in the departure minutes.

Upon conclusion of this stage, the transfer team will deliver the boys, girls and adolescents to the reception team made up with representatives of UNICEF who, with support from the IOM, will operate the transitory reception sites previously determined by UNICEF.

A second medical and psychological assessment of each boy, girl and adolescent will be carried out there in order to identify any situation which may warrant specialized attention.

Immediately thereafter, the preparatory activities for the reincorporation, comprehensive reparation and social inclusion will begin.

On the other hand, a technical support committee will be formed, whose purpose will be to prepare observations and comments directed to the family advocates in charge of restoring the rights of these boys, girls and adolescents.

The Commission for the Implementation, Follow-up and Verification of the Final Peace Agreement and Conflict Resolution (Comisión de Implementación, Seguimiento, Verificación del Acuerdo Final de Paz y de Resolución de Diferencias), agreed last August 24, will follow up the execution of the actions set forth in the protocol and the transitory reception plan.

We invite the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflict;

the Carter Center, the Geneva Call;

the Coalition Against the Association of Boys, Girls and Youngsters to the Armed Conflict in Colombia, (Coalición contra la Vinculación de Niños, Niñas y Jóvenes al Conflicto Armado en Colombia – Coalico);

the National Association of Peasant Reserve Zones (Asociación Nacional de Zonas de Reserva Campesina – Anzorc) and Communities Building Peace in the Territories (Comunidades Construyendo Paz en los Territorios – Conpaz), to support, accompany and/or oversee this protocol and the transitory reception plan.

The ICRC will be the only spokesperson in charge of publicly informing about the developments in the fulfillment of this protocol, in this first phase of the release of minors from the camps of the FARC – EP.