PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Colombia: Paramilitary Forces (28 August 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of commitments in the Colombian peace deal for the Colombian Government to work towards the dismantling of paramilitary successor groups.

Asked by:
Fabian Hamilton (Labour)

We remain concerned about the continued presence and activities of illegal armed groups in Colombia, and the impact?that?their involvement in,?and competition for,?control of illicit economies has on local people. We are aware of reports of the activities of?one such group,?Los?Rastrojos,?which has led?to the deaths?and widespread displacement of civilians near the Colombia-Venezuela border. Our Embassy continues to monitor the situation.

We remain steadfast in our support of the Colombian authorities as they seek to ensure sustainable peace. We regularly raise our concern about the activities of illegal armed groups with the Colombian Government,?and in multilateral fora. Most recently, our Permanent Representative to the UN spoke on this issue at the UN Security Council on 14 July, and we consistently press the Colombian Government to focus on extending the rule of law to all parts of the country.?More widely, long-term security depends on socioeconomic development across Colombia as a whole. Embassy programmes?are working?to help communities develop alternative?livelihoods,?and?tackle the root causes of insecurity?in order?to?build?towards a sustainable and inclusive peace.

Answered by:
Wendy Morton (Conservative)
8 September 2020