Colombia: UN chief welcomes agreement to separate children from FARC
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 17 May 2016 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Colombia: UN chief welcomes agreement to separate children from FARC, 17 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573c245f40c.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
17 May 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the announcement by the Colombian Government and a long-time opposition group Sunday of an agreement to separate and reintegrate children associated with the insurgent force.
"The Secretary-General congratulates the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army] and calls upon their negotiators to achieve promptly a final agreement that will allow all Colombians to enjoy the benefits of a lasting peace," said Mr. Ban's spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric.
The two sides agreed to separate minors under 15 years of age from FARC-EP camps, develop a roadmap to complete the separation of all minors, and create a special comprehensive program focused on these children.
"This agreement, achieved with the good offices of the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, heralds the end of the conflict for its youngest participants, recognized as victims in the agreement," the spokesman said.
