The Colombian Government and the FARC reach an agreement on demining

The Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) reached an agreement on the problem of illegal drugs last 16 May. This agreement includes the implementation of a demining programme to follow the signing of the final peace agreement.

In a joint statement, the two parties stated that “In order to protect the communities and guarantee the right to life and well-being of the rural population, demining has to be carried out (…).

Therefore, the national Government (…) will implement a mine clearance program in those areas of the country that might have been affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance. The Government and FARC will contribute to this common purpose (…) including the provision of information under the terms established by the Final Agreement.”

Geneva Call is in regular dialogue with the FARC on the anti-personnel ban, child protection and gender issues and has encouraged the armed group to address these topics in the on-going peace negotiations.

The day before the agreement on demining was made, Geneva Call met with Ivan Marquez, FARC’s chief negotiator, and other members of FARC delegation in la Havana, Cuba, to discuss these issues.  Geneva Call welcomes this agreement and will continue to promote the implementation of humanitarian demining even before the signing of a final peace agreement, for the benefit of the affected populations.

Colombia is currently one of the most mine -affected countries in the world, with more than 10,000 recorded deaths and injuries from landmines and unexploded ordnance since 1990.