Abstract
Resolution 2704 (2023)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 9461st meeting, on 30 October 2023
The Security Council,
Reaffirming its full commitment to the peace process in the Republic of Colombia,
Recalling all its resolutions and Presidential and press statements regarding the peace process in Colombia,
Welcoming the progress made towards peace across Colombia since the adoption of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace (the Final Agreement),… [read more] urging the parties, with the support of relevant state institutions and security forces, as well as civil society including youth, to work together to continue building upon this progress and address ongoing challenges, in particular the continued violence in conflict-affected areas, through comprehensive implementation of the Final Agreement, including rural reform, inclusive political participation, its ethnic and gender provisions, and countering illicit drugs including through crop substitution programmes, and recalling the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women and its effects on persons belonging to indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities,
Taking note of the engagement of the Peacebuilding Commission with the Government of Colombia and looking forward to further cooperation, including with the relevant UN agencies, in order to ensure an integrated and coherent approach to the comprehensive implementation of the Final Agreement,
Recalling in particular its resolution 2366 (2017) which established the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (the Verification Mission) to verify implementation by the Government of Colombia and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) of sections 3.2 and 3.4 of the Final Agreement as called for in section 6.3.3 of the Final Agreement, and recalling the positive role played by the Verification Mission in that regard, emphasising the efforts of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to continue to integrate a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue into its planning, verification and reporting, and recognising the importance of other perspectives including development, and ensuring adequate gender expertise as appropriate,
Recalling also its resolution 2574 (2021) which expanded the mandate of the Verification Mission to include the additional task of verifying compliance with and implementation of the sentences to be issued by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), and welcoming the ongoing preparations being made by the Verification Mission, working with the SJP, in this regard,
Noting that, under the terms of the Final Agreement, the sentences of the SJP will have the overall aim of realising the rights of victims and consolidating peace, and will need to have the greatest restorative and reparative function in relation to the harm caused,
Recognising the contribution the Verification Mission could make to building confidence in the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition established under the Final Agreement, which is integral to the success of the peace process and the fulfilment of the rights of the victims of the conflict,
Recalling its resolution 2673 (2023) which expanded the mandate of the Verification Mission to include the additional task of monitoring the implementation of section 1 on comprehensive rural reform and section 6.2 on the Ethnic Chapter of the Final Agreement,
Recalling also its resolution 2694 (2023) which expanded the mandate of the Verification Mission to monitor and verify the implementation of the ceasefire as outlined in the Second Cuba Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN); and expressing its willingness consider mandating the Verification Mission to monitor and verify the implementation of a ceasefire agreement between the Government of Colombia and the armed group that calls itself Estado Mayor Central (EMC) when the Secretary-General confirms a ceasefire including appropriate verification protocols has been reached, and taking into account an update from the Secretary-General on the progress of implementation of resolution 2694 (2023),
1. Decides to extend the mandate of the Verification Mission until 31 October 2024;
2. Expresses its willingness to work with the Government of Colombia on the further extension of the mandate of the Verification Mission on the basis of agreement between the parties. [^]