READ UN’s Resolution to support implementation of the Truth Commission’s recommendations
On 28 of June 2023 marked the first year of the publication of the final report of the Colombian Truth Commission. The report was the product of thousands of hours of investigation over a 5-year period that condensed over 14,000 individual and collective interviews, after listening to more than 30,000 victims from different regions and sectors of Colombia and of exiles living abroad.
Colombia’s Truth Commission was established as a result of the 2016 Peace Accord between the Colombian Government and the rebel force, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia FARC- EP. After listening to the thousands of testimonies, studying more than 1,000 reports submitted by groups and organisations, and analysing in depth the vast amount of information available, the Commission presented the results of its work in ten volumes and a “call for a great peace”.
The Commission made a series of proposals in the different volumes, especially in the findings and recommendations, aimed at resolving the conditions that have made the confrontation and its persistence possible, and at laying the foundations for an equitable society, guaranteeing basic needs, giving effect to fundamental rights, and resolving inevitable differences and tensions without violence. Read the executive summary here
Follow up and Monitoring Committee challenges and the role of the International Community
In August 2022 the Follow Up and Monitoring Committee was in place to monitor the progress of the implementation of the list of recommendations made by the Colombian Truth Commission during a 7-year period, from 2022 to 2029.
Truth Commission Setbacks and Achievements
The Truth Commission’s report was published just before a change of government. The new government of President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Márquez, was elected on a manifesto that is committed to the full implement the recommendations of the Truth Commission’s Report and of the Peace Accord. This created a favourable political context for pursuing a sustainable peace in Colombia.
However, this was not without difficulties, Petro/Marquez entered office on 7 August 2022, and inherited a very difficult context. During his first year in power, Petro has struggled to maintain his congressional coalition impacting his ability to fully implement the 2016 Peace Accord and the work of the Truth Commission. Julia Eva Cogollo, member of the Follow-Up Committee, states that one of the major setbacks for the recommendations of the Truth Commission was the non-approval by the National Congress of the article in the National Development Plan (PND)[i] that stablished the competence of State institutions for its fulfilment[ii].
Despite the setbacks, there have been achievements.
The extensive testimonial and documentary material from the report was also aimed to serve as educational tool for Colombia and the world. An important step towards implementing the recommendations is to be widely known by the Colombian population. Working with that goal in mind, the Truth Commission delivered the 10 volume-report to the Colombian General Archive which will make all research fully available to the general public from August 2023. As part of the educational journey, 1200 schools and universities in Colombia have been taking part in the “school embrace the truth campaign” which is focusing on explaining the importance of the Integral System of Peace created after the signing of the 2016 Peace Accord between the Colombian Government and FARC-EP.
[i] PND: Senado elimina artículo sobre la Comisión de la Verdad y el debate continúa | EL ESPECTADOR
[ii] Article 8: “The national entities on which the recommendations of the final report of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth fall will accept them progressively according to their viability, competences and capacities. The Administrative Department for the Presidency of the Republic will define the guidelines, roles and responsibilities of the competent entities. The National Planning Department will provide technical support for the definition of the guidelines and will adapt the Integrated Information System for the Post-Conflict – SIIPO-, as a tool for the follow-up of recommendations”.
Artículo 8: “Las entidades del orden nacional sobre las cuales recaigan recomendaciones del informe final de la Comisión para el Esclarecimiento de la Verdad las acogerán de forma progresiva según su viabilidad, competencias y capacidades. El Departamento Administrativo para la Presidencia de la República definirá los lineamientos, roles y responsabilidades de las entidades competentes. El Departamento Nacional de Planeación brindará apoyo técnico para la definición de los lineamientos y adecuará el Sistema Integrado de Información para el Posconflicto – SIIPO-, como herramienta para el seguimiento de recomendaciones”. https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2023/05/03/senado-voto-negativamente-al-articulo-sobre-las-recomendaciones-de-la-comision-de-la-verdad-en-el-plan-nacional-de-desarrollo/