Colombia at a Critical Juncture for Peace: A Conversation with Members of the Peace Commission of Colombia’s House of Representatives

May 3 2019

A celebration in Bolivar Square of the signing of a peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in Bogota, Sept. 26, 2016. In a moment that generations of Colombians yearned to see, the state and Marxist insurgents confirmed an accord to end a 52-year-old conflict, the last major war in the Americas. (Federico Rios Escobar/The New York Times)

Open to the Public

Speakers

Michael Camilleri

United States Institute of Peace
2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

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Registration
8:30am – 9:00am

Panel Discussion
9:00am – 11:00am

The United Nations Security Council recently acknowledged that peace in Colombia is at a “critical juncture,” as the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is facing significant uncertainty and the peace process with the National Liberation Army (ELN) has been suspended in the aftermath of their January terrorist attack in Bogotá.

Under President Iván Duque’s administration, Colombia has made progress implementing the FARC peace accord. But noteworthy challenges remain, including the upcoming closure of the ex-combatant reintegration sites and the limited advancements in coca crop substitution and rural land reform.

Though the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) has continued to investigate FARC kidnappings and military extrajudicial killings, among other things, its neutrality has been questioned and congressional debates linger over the court’s legal framework. Meanwhile, the killing of social leaders, the crisis in neighboring Venezuela, and the imminent decision regarding the extradition of former FARC negotiator Jesús Santrich loom heavily. For its part, the ELN has yet to embrace the unilateral concessions demanded of it by the government to reconsider future peace talks.

Following a December visit from Colombia’s Senate Peace Commission, please join the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Inter-American Dialogue and the Woodrow Wilson Center for a public conversation with five prominent members of the country’s House of Representatives Peace Commission. The ad hoc legislative bodies provide unique fora to foster political consensus around peace.

Follow this event on Twitter at @USIP and @The_Dialogue.

OPENING REMARKS

Steve Hege

Senior Expert, Colombia Peace Process, United States Institute of Peace (USIP) (@stevehege)

SPEAKERS

Juanita Goebertus

Congresswoman, Alianza Verde (@JuanitaGoe)

David Pulido

Congressman, Cambio Radical (@DavidPulidoNov)

David Racero

Congressman, Decentes (@DavidRacero)

Gabriel Santos

Congressman, Centro Democrático (@GabrielSantosCD)

Carlos Ardila

Congressman, Partido Liberal (@CARLOSARDILA10)

John Jairo Hoyos

Congressman, Partido de la U (@jjhoyos107)

MODERATOR

Cynthia Arnson

Director, Latin America Program, Woodrow Wilson Center (@CindyArnson)

Watch full event recording here:

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