Bogotá, 19 January 2026. In his most recent report on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, covering the period between 27 September and 26 December 2025, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, stressed that Colombia’s Final Peace Agreement “is a comprehensive accord that should be implemented in its entirety if its promise of peace, justice and reconciliation is to be fully realized.” He added that it addresses a legacy of gaps in the social, economic and political obligations of the State, while helping to heal the wounds caused by the conflict.
António Guterres acknowledged the progress made in recent years, particularly the establishment of regulatory and administrative frameworks that, in some cases, received budgetary resources. These efforts resulted in significant progress in land distribution during the current administration. He encouraged the Government to prioritize the consolidation of the announced initiatives.
With regard to the extension of the mandate of the Verification Mission, which took place during the reporting period, the Secretary-General underlined the proactive measures taken to streamline the Mission's structure, in order to continue contributing to peacebuilding, preserve presence in the field and its capacity to effectively implement its mandate.
The Secretary-General also stressed the importance of adopting strong security arrangements to safeguard the upcoming congressional and presidential elections nationwide, as well as abiding by the “Commitment to a Free and Peaceful Electoral Process in Colombia,” led by the Office of the Ombudsperson. “The expansion of electoral participation in historically conflict-affected areas and the strengthening of legal guarantees for political opposition, enabled by the Final Agreement, must be maintained and further consolidated,” he added.
Rural reform, cornerstone for peace
The Secretary-General called upon the Government to maintain momentum in land distribution and formalization, while expanding State presence and access to basic services in rural communities. He recalled that comprehensive rural reform makes it possible to address structural factors of conflict, reduce disparities between rural and urban areas, and combat rural poverty.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, as of November 2025, 291,030 hectares of land had been delivered to landless peasants, victims and rural women since the signing of the Agreement; this represents almost 10 per cent of the three-million-hectare goal set in the Agreement. For its part, formalization of land tenure currently stands at 3,635,349 hectares since the signing of the Agreement, which is over half of the seven-million-hectare goal stipulated in the Agreement.
Despite these advances, significant challenges remain, such as resource allocation, effective institutional coordination and mitigation of security risks. The report notes that Congress has yet to hold a plenary session on the bill regulating the Agrarian Jurisdiction; its creation, under the Peace Agreement, aims to expedite the resolution of conflicts over land tenure and use in rural areas.
Reintegration, essential to consolidate peace and ensure stability
Nine years after the Final Agreement, more than 11,000 former combatants remain engaged in their reintegration process with support from the Agency for Reintegration and Normalization (ARN) and verification by the Mission.
While the normative and policy frameworks required for this process have been established, António Guterres noted that it is now essential to focus attention on concrete actions for their implementation. He stressed the importance of focusing on access to land and housing, as well as the economic sustainability of the productive activities of former combatants as signatories of the Agreement, regardless of where they live. “I call upon the Government to work during its remaining months in office to expedite this process, ensuring that commitments are fulfilled and that former combatants are placed on a more solid foundation for fully integrating into civilian life with dignity and security.”
During the reporting period, progress was made in the provision of land for Territorial Areas for Training and Reintegration (TATRs), contributing to the current administration moving forward in its goal of providing land to all TATRs before the end of its mandate. Although there were advances in access to housing within TATRs, there continued to be few options provided to the 85 per cent of the former combatants residing outside the TATRs for accessing housing and basic services.
Security guarantees, the most pressing challenge
During the reporting period, the report recorded the killing of three former combatants in the Departments of Meta and Valle del Cauca, bringing the total number of verified killings in 2025 to 45, an increase of 36 per cent compared to 2024. The report notes that despite the worsening security situation, effective coordination between national and territorial authorities led to at least 70 emergency evacuations of former combatants facing imminent risks in 2025. The Mission verified and provided support for these operations. Since the signing of the Final Agreement, a total of 487 former combatants have been killed and there have been 168 victims of attempted homicides.
Between 27 September and 30 November 2025, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) received 13 allegations of massacres, with 33 victims registered. During the same period, UN Human Rights received 33 allegations of killings of human rights defenders. With regard to forced mass displacement, (46) the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 6,500 people were affected and 4,400 were confined between 27 September and 26 November.
“Guaranteeing security for vulnerable communities, including social leaders and former combatants, is a pressing priority that should not be deferred,” said António Guterres in view of the situation. He also reiterated his call to the Colombian authorities to make full and effective use of the instruments provided for by the Peace Agreement that can contribute to this objective, such as the public policy to dismantle illegal armed groups and criminal organizations. He stressed the need to achieve a full and sustained State presence throughout the territory, as well as to ensure close coordination of national and local institutions. “I urge the Government to address these matters decisively in order to create the conditions necessary for enduring stability,” he concluded.
The Secretary-General was particularly concerned about the situation of recruitment and use of children by illegal armed actors. He stressed that it constitutes a grave violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. “I strongly condemn this practice, which affects ethnic peoples in particular, I urge all armed groups to cease recruiting and using children, and I call upon the authorities to adopt all the necessary precautionary measures during military actions to safeguard the lives and rights of minors.”
Peace in Colombia, a national aspiration
The Secretary-General welcomed the recent adoption of the executive decree conferring binding status on the national action plan on women and peace and security. He noted, however, that these advances have yet to yield tangible improvements in the daily lives of women and in strengthening their security guarantees, including during electoral processes.
“Peace in Colombia is both a national aspiration and a collective investment in stability that benefits the region and the world. As we look ahead, I urge Member States to match their political commitments with the financial and technical resources required to make a real difference on the ground. Turning words into action by all involved is essential to ensure that the aspiration for peace and security becomes a lasting reality for all Colombians,” concluded the Secretary-General.
The report will be presented in New York on 23 January by Mr. Miroslav Jenča, Special Representative of the Secretary-General & Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.
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