Remarks by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Colombia, Miroslav Jenča, on the Occasion of the 9th Anniversary of the Final Peace Agreement
November 26th, 2025
Good afternoon, everyone. My sincere thanks to El Espectador for inviting the United Nations Verification Mission to take part in this important commemoration of the Final Peace Agreement. I would also like to acknowledge the newspaper’s comprehensive coverage of key issues related to the Agreement, its progress, challenges, and the path forward.
A special greeting to the representatives of the Government.
My regards to Gloria Cuartas, Director of the Unit for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement; members of the diplomatic corps; embassies of the Guarantor and accompanying countries; the Holy See and all other diplomats present today.
Greetings as well to the delegates of the Comunes Party—dear Rodrigo Londoño—and to the members of civil society joining us for this commemoration of the signing of the Peace Agreement.
It is an honor to be with you today as we mark the 9th Anniversary of the Final Peace Agreement reached in Havana—an event that transformed Colombia’s recent history. Today’s gathering is an opportunity to remember that peace is not simply a document signed; it is a living commitment renewed every single day.
Anniversaries of the Peace Agreement are always a moment to celebrate and acknowledge the perseverance and dedication of the parties, of Colombian institutions, and of civil society, all of whom continue to advance the implementation of the 2016 Agreement. They are also a moment to reaffirm the firm support of the United Nations and the international community.
It is important to recall that the historic 2016 Agreement laid out a roadmap for building peace in Colombia—aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict, confronting the factors behind violence in several regions, and laying the foundations for reconciliation.
The tireless work carried out by peace institutions deserves sustained support and recognition. The Mission has worked alongside these efforts to ensure the comprehensive implementation of the Agreement, with a focus on the most vulnerable communities, victims, and territories.
I want to extend my appreciation to every former combatant who chose to lay down arms and commit to democracy. Their perseverance in implementing the Agreement, even in the face of difficulties, is a testament to their courage and conviction.
The processes of economic, social, political, and community reintegration are proof of the commitment of former combatants to reconciliation and civilian transformation.
Over these nine years, we have seen significant progress in the Peace Agreement: the strengthening of democratic spaces that include the active participation of individuals in the reintegration process through the Comunes Party; the presence of victims’ voices from the territories most affected by the armed conflict through the Special Peace Constituencies; the expansion of productive projects; progress in housing and land access for former combatants in the territories; and major advances in land access and formalization for campesinos, victims, and rural women.
I must also acknowledge the challenges that remain: ensuring the security of former combatants is fundamental. We are deeply concerned by the killing of 485 signatories—44 of them just this year, 2025—people who trusted the Agreement as a path to building new lives.
Other challenges relate to accelerating comprehensive implementation and ensuring that the communities most affected by the conflict receive the benefits they were promised. In several regions, we continue to hear calls to strengthen the implementation of rural reform and the substitution of illicit economies; ensure the sustainability of reintegration productive projects; and adopt clear protection policies for communities facing increased violence in some regions of the country.
The United Nations Security Council recently extended the Mission’s mandate—a reflection of the international community’s sustained confidence in Colombia’s peace process.
It has also introduced specific adjustments, which we will fully implement. I wish to reiterate that the Mission remains firmly committed to supporting the implementation of the Agreement, through our offices in the regions, and to contributing to the construction of a stable and lasting peace.
Today, as we commemorate nine years since the signing of the Peace Agreement, I want to emphasise that this process continues to represent a unique opportunity to demonstrate that peace and reconciliation are possible—and that democracy grows stronger when all voices are included, especially those of the victims of the conflict.
The journey has not been easy, and it is not easy. But every step we take together—institutions, former combatants, victims, communities, and international partners—reaffirms that peace is a collective endeavour, one that requires the commitment of every one of us.
Thank you very much.
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