A demonstration in Bogotá, Colombia, last year against the arrest of a former rebel, Jesús Santrich, on charges of drug trafficking. — AFP/VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI — The UN Security Council held an in-person meeting about Colombia on Tuesday during which Việt Nam reaffirmed its support for the implementation of the peace deal in the South American nation.

Carlos Ruiz Massieu, special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Colombia and head of the UN Verification Mission in the country, commended relevant parties for their work within the National Reintegration Council and within the tripartite mechanism on the transition to legality.

He voiced his belief that the constructive dialogue between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will soon lead to agreements to continue promoting the realisation of the peace agreement.

However, he also expressed concern about the violence and killing of social leaders and former combatants of indigenous and Afro-Colombian origin, urging the government and relevant parties to take measures to ensure security for communities and foster the leadership of female former combatants in social, economic and political reintegration.

Massieu also appealed to all concerned to follow the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire to facilitate response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clemencia Carabalí Rodallega, a representative of the Municipal Association of Women in the country’s Cauca Department, voiced her concern over the violence, attack and killing of social leaders, ex-fighters and especially, women and children while condemning illegal armed groups’ expansion of areas under their control.

She asked the UN and the international community to support peace-building in Colombia and urged the government to increase measures to protect women and children and bring culprits to justice.

At the meeting, members of the UN Security Council recognised efforts and measures to curb COVID-19 and carry out the peace agreement in Colombia.

Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of Việt Nam’s permanent mission to the UN, expressed sympathy over difficulties in the implementation of the agreement, as well as impacts of the pandemic.

He showed his support for the Colombian government and parliament’s efforts to discuss bills and constitutional reforms. 

He also expressed concerns about the violence and killing of ex-fighters and social leaders, calling on relevant parties to comply with the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire and take measures to protect civilians, particularly women and children, in conflict-hit areas.

Quý highlighted strides in the reintegration of former combatants via individual and collective socio-economic development programmes and projects.

The Vietnamese diplomat proposed the National Reintegration Council, together with the UN and regional and international organisations, provide financial assistance mechanisms and suggest initiatives to help ex-fighters settle down soon.

The UN Verification Mission in Colombia was established in July 2017 for a period of three years, renewable if necessary. It is tasked with supervising the implementation of a peace deal between the Colombian government and FARC in 2016. Since 2017, the UN Security Council has held meetings every three months to listen to reports on the mission. — VNS