Human rights central to Colombia's peace process, UN official stresses during visit
Human rights central to Colombia's peace process, UN official stresses during visit
20 July 2013 – Respect for human rights will be critical as Colombia transitions from conflict to peace, a top United Nations official stressed, noting in particular that the rights of victims must be at the centre of the Government's negotiations with rebel groups.
“It will not be easy to create a society that respects each other's rights after years of conflict,” High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said yesterday at a news conference in the capital, Bogotá, at the end of her mission.
The Government estimates that 600,000 people have died since the conflict between the country's authorities and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) began in the 1960s. Recently, the two sides have been engaged in negotiations on various issues in an effort to put an end to the long-running conflict.
“Today, I am visiting a Colombia that still faces many human rights challenges, but is beginning to look to the future with optimism,” said Ms. Pillay, who last visited the country five years ago.
This week she met with President Juan Manuel Santos, who reaffirmed his commitment to transform the human rights situation and to achieve peace, as well as other senior Government officials and representatives of civil society, human rights defenders, victims, the Church and the private sector.
More:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45463&Cr=Colombia&Cr1=#.UerY2eoo7_Q