BOGOTÁ, September 26, 2016 — The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) welcomes the historic peace agreement signed today between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) – an essential step toward building lasting peace in the country.
The Peace Agreement envisions the creation of several measures – including the “Victims’ Agreement” – which aims to fulfill victims’ right to justice, truth, reparations and guarantees of non-repetition. These measures are to be put into effect if the agreement is ratified in a national plebiscite, to be held on October 2, 2016.
“As we celebrate this historic moment, we remember, first of all the staggering number of victims of this conflict as well as their families and loved ones and their great suffering through fifty years of conflict. We also acknowledge the enormous effort that went into arriving at this agreement,” said David Tolbert, President of ICTJ. “The agreement is complex and ambitious, and some areas will require development, but it opens the path to peace. Nonetheless, a great deal of hard work lies ahead to make this a sustainable peace.”
Implementing the agreement will require the participation and collaboration of all sectors of society across Colombia, representing the many different interests and demands of victims, affected communities, and stakeholders in Colombia.
“ICTJ will continue our work as Colombia works to implement the peace agreement,” said Maria Camila Moreno, head of ICTJ’s office in Colombia. “To realize the promise that today holds, the agreement must be implemented in a way that responds to the needs and expectations of victims and society and constructs the foundation for peace.”
ICTJ has worked in Colombia for more than 10 years, focusing on strengthening national mechanisms for victims’ rights to truth, justice, and reparations. We are deeply grateful to the government of Sweden for its strong support and partnership since 2008, as well as for significant assistance from the Governments of Norway and The Netherlands and the European Union.
Contact
Marta Martinez, ICTJ Digital Strategist E-mail: mmartinez@ictj.org Tel: +1 917-637-3824
PHOTO: Juan Manuel Santos and Tymoshenko officially sign the peace agreement. (Canal Institucional)
