United Nations Security Council Resolution 2603 – Identical letters dated 19 January 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council (S/2016/53)

Resolution 2603 (2021)

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its full commitment to the peace process in the Republic of Colombia,

Recalling all its resolutions and statements of its President regarding the peace process in Colombia,

Welcoming the progress made towards peace across Colombia since the adoption of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace (the Final Agreement), noting the upcoming fifth anniversary of its signing, and urging the parties, with the support of relevant state institutions and security forces, as well as civil society, to work together to build upon this progress and address ongoing challenges, in particular the continued violence in conflict-affected areas, through comprehensive implementation of the Final Agreement, including rural reform, inclusive political participation, its ethnic and gender provisions, and countering illicit drugs including through crop substitution programmes,

Recalling in particular its resolution 2366 (2017) which established the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (the Verification Mission) to verify implementation by the Government of Colombia and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) of sections 3.2 and 3.4 of the Final Agreement as called for in section 6.3.3 of the Final Agreement, and recalling the positive role played by the Verification Mission in that regard,

Recalling also its resolution 2574 (2021) which expanded the mandate of the Verification Mission to include the additional task of verifying compliance with and implementation of the sentences to be issued by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), and welcoming the preparations being made by the Verification Mission, working with the SJP, in this regard,

Noting that, under the terms of the Final Agreement, the sentences of the SJP will have the overall aim of realising the rights of victims and consolidating peace, and will need to have the greatest restorative and reparative function in relation to the harm caused,

Recognising the contribution the Verification Mission could make to building confidence in the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition established under the Final Agreement, which is integral to the success of the peace process and the fulfilment of the rights of the victims of the conflict,

Acknowledging the letter of 20 October 2021 from the President of Colombia requesting an extension of the mandate of the Verification Mission on behalf of the Government of Colombia and the party of the former FARC-EP,

1. Decides to extend the mandate of the Verification Mission until 31 October 2022;

2. Expresses its willingness to work with the Government of Colombia on the further extension of the mandate of the Verification Mission on the basis of agreement between the parties.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 8891st meeting, on 29 October 2021