Statement of Latvia at the UN Security Council briefing on Colombia
New York, 23 January 2026
Thank you, Mr. President.
We thank SRSG Miroslav Jenča for his comprehensive briefing. We welcome Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Colombia, Mr. Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir to this meeting.
Mr. President,
Reflecting on the latest Secretary-General report and developments in Colombia, I would like to make three points:
First, in 2016, Colombia chose the path to peace. Almost ten years ago, approximately thirteen thousand former combatants decided to lay down weapons and enter the peace process backed by the international community. We should never forget the complex circumstances surrounding this historical milestone and what it has meant for Colombia and its people. Today, due to its comprehensive, transformative and inclusive nature, the Peace Agreement continues to serve as the legitimate framework for building long-lasting peace and progress in Colombia.
Throughout the years of implementation, the Peace agreement has generated strong legislative backing and significant normative basis that has enabled the initiation of diverse structural reforms in Colombia, including rural reform, reintegration and promotion of gender equality. Going forward, effective and sustained implementation remains key.
Latvia supports the commitment of the Colombian Government to continue the full implementation of the Peace Agreement and underscores the importance of ensuring continuity of the process, regardless of the complexities of the national political landscape.
Second, while we commend the progress made in the implementation of the Final Agreement, we acknowledge the persistent challenges, including the ongoing violence of armed groups in conflict-affected areas and the alarming surge in the recruitment of children by such groups.
According to UNICEF, the recruitment of children by armed groups has increased by 300% during the past five years. This development is deeply alarming. Such abuse of children constitutes grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The air strike of November 2025, that killed seven children who had been forcibly recruited by armed groups in Colombia, tragically illustrates both, the lethal capacity and technical sophistication of the illegal actors and the scale of coordination required to respond effectively to this challenge.
Therefore, we urge the Colombian Government to strengthen the presence of state institutions and public services in the conflict-affected areas and to protect the civilians from armed group violence and the devastating impact of organized crime in these regions.
Third, as Colombia approaches parliamentary and presidential elections, we commend the planned participation of international election observers. At the same time, to ensure safe and inclusive participation of diverse civic stakeholders in political processes and decision-making, we encourage Colombian Government to provide all the necessary security measures and protection mechanisms for electoral processes and participants, particularly for vulnerable groups in the conflict-related areas; women leaders, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombian communities and former combatants as foreseen in the Peace agreement.
In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like to reaffirm that Latvia will continue to provide its full support to the UN Verification mission in Colombia in its endeavours to implement the mandate in accordance with Security Council’s resolution 2798. We underscore that the mission’s role remains essential to assist Colombia in building lasting peace and reconciliation for all Colombians.
I thank you.