On September 26th, 2016, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and FARC leader Timochenko signed a peace agreement ending 50 years of conflict. The agreement establishes peace and reforms to address land rights, political participation, disarmament, illegal drugs, and victims. It was witnessed by international leaders and creates a verification commission to ensure both sides uphold the agreement. Colombians will vote on October 2nd to ratify the deal and begin post-conflict reconstruction.

1. COLOMBIAPEACEAGREEMENT
September 26th, 2016 has become one of the most important days in Colombia’s
history. President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader“Timochenko” signed a final
agreement that establishes the beginning of a lasting and stable peace for the country.
Fifty years of internal conflict have finally ended and a new era for Colombia has just
begun.
ON
SEPTEMBER 21
President Santos announced to the audience of the UN
General Assembly in an emotive speech “I return to the UN
today, on the International Day of Peace,to announce, with
all the strength of my voice and my heart,that the war in
Colombia has ended”.
It took four years of negotiations to end the longest-running war in the Western
Hemisphere with the oldest guerrilla on the American continent. Presidents from
all around the world along with:
- The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon
- Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, LuisAlmagro
- Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde
- President of the World Bank, JimYong Kim
- President of the Inter-American Development Bank, LuisAlberto Moreno
- United States Secretary of State, John Kerry
- Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope, Cardinal Pietro Parolín
- Former King of Spain Juan Carlos de Borbón
Gathered in Cartagena, Colombia to witness the final agreement being signed.
YEARS OF
NEGOTIATIONS
THE FINALAGREEMENTINCLUDES
SIXESSENTIALITEMS REGARDING
COLOMBIA’S FUTURE:
1.LAND REFORM
It seeks to make a structural change on rural lands seeking
to reduce the gaps between cities and the countryside.
2.POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION
Building a stable and lasting peace requires a democratic
expansion in order to allow several political forces to
debate under the same framework.
3.BILATERALAND
DEFINITIVE CEASEFIRE
AND SURRENDING OF
ARMS
A final cessation of hostilities is one of the key agreements
that seeks to guarantee that violence is no longer a way to
participate in Colombia’s democracy.
4.ILLEGALDRUG’S
SOLUTION
Drug trafficking has historically been part of the internal
conflict and in order to reach a stable and lasting peace
both National Government and FARC have agreed on
looking for a definitive solution.5.VICTIMS
The final agreement creates an Integral System of Truth,
Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition that seeks to
guarantee no impunity for crimes against humanity and
war crimes. In addition, it pretends to clarify the truth and
to implement effective justice.
6.MONITORINGAND
VERIFICATION
MECHANISMS
The agreement contains the creation of a special
commission, supported by the UN,that is in charge of
verifying that all agreements are effectively carried out by
both parties.
The ceremony started with a special acknowledgment for 8 million victims
that left five decades of internal conflict.According to President Santos,
“what we sign today is more than an agreement between the National
Government and the guerilla to end an armed conflict.What we sign today is
a declaration of Colombians saying we are tired of the war”. He added,“I
prefer an imperfect agreement that saves lives over a perfect war”.
The FARC leader assured that “the entire world should be
declared as a peace land.Any form of violence is an attack
to humanity. God bless Colombia,the war is over”.
On October 2nd, 2016 Colombians will vote ‘Yes’ or‘No’ as the final
step to ratify the agreement and officially start the post-conflict
process. Even though internal discrepancies remain regarding the
peace process, polls have shown a favorable trend for the ‘Yes’.
m Public Affairs: Mario Ramirez (mario.ramirez@edelman.com); Nicolás Franco (nicolas.franco@edelman.com) ,Andrea Mariño (andrea.marino@ede
Design by Team Digital: Andrés Bohórquez
Text by Team Public Affairs: Mario Ramirez (mario.ramirez@edelman.com); Nicolás Franco (nicolas.franco@edelman.com); Andrea Mariño (andrea.marino@edelman.com)
Design by Team Digital: Andrés Bohórquez (andres.bohorquez@edelman.com)