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StatementofColumbia:NinthOpenDebateontheProtectionofCiviliansinArmedConflict:7July2010

Ms.Blum(Colombia)(spokeinSpanish):

Allowmetocongratulateyou,MadamPresident,foryourworkasPresidentoftheSecurityCouncilforthismonth,aswellastoexpressourappreciationfortheconveningofthisdebate.WearegratefulforthebriefingsmadebytheUnder-Secretary-GeneralforHumanitarianAffairsandtheHighCommissionerforHumanRights.MydelegationwouldalsoliketoexpressspecialappreciationtoUnder-Secretary-GeneralJohnHolmesupontheendofhistenuretostrengthenthehumanitarianworkoftheUnitedNations.Theestablishmentofmoreconcreteconditionsfortheprotectionofciviliansandtheenjoymentoftheirsrightsinthefaceoftheviolencecommittedbyillegalarmed

groupsisapriorityforColombia.TheGovernmentofmycountryhasconcentrateditseffortsinreinforcingandensuringtheruleoflawthroughoutourterritorybyimplementingourdemocraticsecuritypolicy.Aftereightyearsofimplementationofthatpolicy,wecanassertthatwehavehelpedtoreducethegapbetweentheformalrecognitionofrightsandtheireffectiveimplementation.StrengtheningdemocraticauthorityandStatecontroloveritsterritoryhaveresultedinadramaticreductionofallactsofviolenceandcrimethatdeprivecitizensoftheenjoymentoftheirrights.Inadditiontothoseefforts,wehaveputinplaceacomprehensivepolicyonhumanrightsandinternationalhumanitarianlaw,whichincludeseffectivepreventivemeasuresandensuresappropriatepenaltiesin

caseofpossibleviolations,includingthoseinvolvingmembersofthepublicsecurityforces.AnessentialcomponentofthateffortbytheColombianGovernmenthasbeenthecollectiveandindividualdemobilizationof51,407membersofillegalarmedgroupssince2002.Thatprocess,embodiedinspeciallegislation,hasallowedfortheimplementationofprinciplesofjustice,truthandredressforvictims.AssistancetodisplacedpersonscontinuestobeoneoftheareasrequiringgreaterattentionfromtheColombianState,anditposesongoingchallenges.Toaddressthemadequately,wehavealegalandinstitutionalframeworkandacomprehensivecarepolicyfordisplacedpersons,includinghumanitarianapproachestorightsandsocialandeconomicintegration.Theallocationofresourcestothispolicy

significantlyincreasedfrom2007to2010,reachingannualaveragesofover$500millionfromthenationalbudget.Thisframeworkhasbeenstrengthenedrecently,giventheneedsonthegroundanditsestablishedobjectives.Tothisend,modificationsweremadetothepolicycomponentsofpreventionandprotection;comprehensiveassistance;truth,justiceandredress;andthereturnorresettlementofdisplacedpersons.Theimplementationofpublicpoliciesinthisareatakesdueaccountofthedifferent

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needsofpeopleaccordingtogender,ethnicity,ageordisability.Wehavealsodesignedmechanismstoensuretheeffectiveparticipationofthedisplacedpopulationthroughtheadjustment,restatementorenhancementofpublicpolicies.Additionally,effortshavebeenmadetocoordinateprogrammesdefinedatthenationallevelwiththosecarriedoutbyregionalauthoritiesatthelocallevel,

seekingtoensurethattheregionsadoptandcoordinatethenecessarymeasuresintermsofbudgetandinstitutionalcapacitytoassistthedisplacedpopulation.ColombiareaffirmsitscommitmenttotheCartagenaActionPlanadoptedatthesecondReviewConferenceoftheStatesPartiestotheConventionontheProhibitionoftheUse,Stockpiling,ProductionandTransferofAnti-personnelMinesandonTheirDestructioninDecember2009.Mycountryhasundertakenahigh-levelpresidentialprogrammethatcoordinatesandsupervisestheactivitiesoftheinstitutionsresponsibleforimplementingtheOttawaConvention.TheColombianpopulationhasexperiencedthedireconsequencesofanti-personnel

minesplantedbyillegalarmedgroups.TheGovernmentisworkingintensivelyonpreventionandhumanitariandemining.Italsosupportstheaffectedcommunitiesthroughtherecoveryofproductivelands,thereturnoftheirinhabitants,thereconstructionofthepublicservicesnetwork,andphysicalandpsychologicalrehabilitationaimedatfacilitatingthefullsocialandeconomicreintegrationofthevictims.Colombiareaffirmsitssupportforeffortstoprotectciviliansandensuretheirrights,inconformitywiththeCharteroftheUnitedNationsandinternationallegalnorms.TheactivitiesoftheGovernmentofColombiaareguidedbytheessentialpremisethattheprimaryresponsibilityfortheprotectionofciviliansrestswitheachState.

Consequently,eachStatemayturntointernationalsupportwhennecessary.Inthiscontext,theUnitedNationsandtheinternationalcommunityingeneralhaveasupportingroletoplayinthestrengtheningofnationalprotectionefforts.Mydelegationwishestostresstheimportanceforthehumanitariansystem,inobservingtheprinciplesthatgovernitsactions,toavoidcircumstancesthatcouldcompromisetheneutrality,impartialityandindependenceofitswork.Theseprinciplesareofparticularsignificanceinthecaseofpossiblecontactofhumanitarianactorswithillegalarmedgroups.Therecommendationsconcerningsuchcontactmusttakenationalcontextsintoaccountwhentheirviabilityisassessedonacasebycasebasis,takingfullyintoaccountthedecisionsofthe

democraticallyestablishedauthorities.TheGovernmentofColombiareiteratesthecommitmentofitsdemocraticinstitutionsinconsolidatingtheprotectionofthepopulationagainsttheactionsofillegalarmedgroups.WereiterateourcallontheinternationalcommunitytovigorouslycondemnthecrimescommittedbytheseviolentgroupsagainstColombians.

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Source:S/PV.6354