UK urges focused UN Verification Mission in Colombia

Teaching or revising Colombia's peace process this week? Here is the short version: the UK told the UN Security Council that the 2016 Peace Agreement still needs steady, practical support and that the UN Verification Mission remains central to making the promises real in daily life. The statement, published by the UK Government, reaffirms 'unwavering support' for the accord.

Over the past decade, the UN Verification Mission has helped former fighters reintegrate and communities reconcile. Think of it as an independent set of eyes and hands: it checks what has been delivered, reports gaps, and supports the people doing the slow work of building trust.

The UK argues the Mission's mandate should evolve with conditions on the ground so it can keep monitoring implementation effectively. In practice, that means focusing its tasks on the drivers of violence that still unsettle parts of Colombia while continuing to push for full implementation of the Peace Agreement.

Transitional justice is a clear priority in the statement. What it means: transitional justice is the set of tools societies use after long conflict - truth, accountability, and repair - so people can live together safely. The UK says this work is vital for reconciliation and a peace that lasts.

The UK highlights its backing for the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), the tribunal created by the Peace Agreement to address serious conflict-related crimes. London notes the SJP's recent landmark sentences and welcomes progress on justice and accountability for victims.

Another thread is inclusion. The UK says peace efforts must involve Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, whose knowledge of their territories, cultures, and conflict dynamics can shape practical solutions. Why it matters: participation is not a courtesy; it is often what makes security gains stick.

There is also process to watch. A Security Council resolution sets the Mission's legal tasks - its mandate - and the UK is encouraging other members to vote in favour and to continue the Council's longstanding partnership with the Colombian people. Media literacy tip: a country's statement signals its position; the binding details live in the adopted resolution and the Mission's mandate letter.

For classrooms and study groups, we suggest mapping the chain of responsibility. Local communities report needs; Colombian institutions implement the Peace Agreement; the UN Mission verifies and supports; the Security Council adjusts the mandate; and Member States, like the UK, fund and advise. Following that chain helps you track who can fix what.

Keep an eye on language. Words like 'reconciliation', 'reintegration', and 'drivers of conflict' carry practical questions: whose security, whose livelihoods, which regions, and what protections for victims and social leaders. Building peace is administrative as much as it is symbolic, and both are present in this statement.

Quick glossary for learners. Peace Agreement (2016): the deal that ended decades of conflict with commitments on rural reform, political participation, and justice. UN Verification Mission: a UN team that monitors how the agreement is carried out. Transitional justice: measures to deliver truth, accountability, and repair for victims. SJP: Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace, a tribunal focused on conflict-related crimes. Mandate: the list of tasks the Security Council authorises the Mission to do. Resolution: the formal decision that updates those tasks.