The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) was pleased to welcome Luis Guillermo Guerrero Guevara, Director General of CINEP/Programa por la Paz to the UK Parliament.

The key points raised by Mr Guerrero Guevara:

• The signing of the latest deal between the government and leftist Farc rebels on issues of justice and reparations was a major step forward, but there are several contentious issues left to discuss. It is hoped that a deal will be signed on 26 March 2016.
• Positive and negative visions of peace in Colombia must be harmonised. Negative peace refers to the absence of violence whereas positive peace suggests a broader concept of restoring relationships and creating more inclusive social systems.
• Civil society space in Colombia must be protected, as these groups play a vital role in monitoring the peace process. Human rights defenders are likely to bear the brunt of any negative reaction to the signing of a peace deal.
• The UK and EU can help to ensure that peace initiatives across Colombia are properly recorded, to highlight best practice and create viable replicable models.
• UK foreign investment must be scrutinised, now and in the future, for any complicity with human rights abuses. In particular, the UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty threatens Colombia’s capacity to carry out land reform, which is a key component the peace process.
• UK Parliamentarians are encouraged to visit Colombia, especially after a peace deal is reached, in order to support the peace process.
• The international community can also support the process through providing technical and legal expertise, monitoring any agreements signed and sharing experience from states which have undergone transitional peace processes.

The PHRG will continue to support and monitor Colombia’s peace process and raise its concerns regarding human rights in the country with relevant interlocutors.