Madam President,
We thank the United Kingdom for the constructive leadership in bringing this resolution forward. By voting in favour of the renewal of the Mission’s mandate, Latvia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to peace, stability, sustainable development and reconciliation in Colombia.
We welcome Colombia’s commitment to upholding its constitutional obligations in relation to the peace process and the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement. The Agreement continues to offer a unique opportunity to consolidate peace, strengthen security and deliver tangible results for all Colombians. Realizing this potential requires preserving the Agreement’s core principles while effectively addressing existing implementation gaps.
Although we note that verification of rural reform will no longer form part of the Mission’s mandate, we encourage the Government of Colombia to sustain its efforts to address regional development and longstanding inequalities in rural areas, which remain among the structural factors fueling violence.
We recognize the progress made in implementation of the Final Peace Agreement since 2016 but also acknowledge evolving conflict dynamics and persistent challenges related to increased violence by illegal armed groups and organized crime. These challenges include ongoing sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls, disproportionate levels of violence affecting Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities, and the alarming recruitment of children by illegal armed groups in conflict-affected areas of Colombia.
Going forward, this Council should remain focused on how best to support Colombia’s efforts to consolidate peace. Latvia remains committed to that objective. We firmly believe that the UN Verification Mission’s extensive territorial presence, sustained engagement with local communities and considerable field experience are essential to supporting Colombian stakeholders in addressing implementation challenges and translating the principles of the Final Peace Agreement into tangible progress towards a just and lasting peace.
I thank you.