Disarmament and International Security
Protection of Civilians and Displaced People in Modern Warfare
The Republic of Colombia
Wayland Academy
Emily Luy Tan
The Republic of Colombia has taken great initiatives towards the implementation and
enforcement of Protocols I and II of the Geneva Conventions to ensure the respect of and
protection of civilians and their human rights in the midst of modern warfare. Focusing on the
education of Colombians in the areas of civil rights, peace and democracy and international
humanitarian law standards, the Colombian government further promotes the implication of
international humanitarian law with the Policy for Combating Impunity and the National Plan for
Human Rights Education. These policies require cooperation with the United States of America
in areas such as joint-education conferences.1- Currently, the national Congress of Colombia is
reviewing the 2015-2019 National Development Plan (NDP) of the current President, Juan
Manuel Santos, a required plan to set the administration’s goals and key policies for the
government. Of this 2015-2019 NDP, an entire chapter is dedicated to human rights and
international humanitarian law, hoping to address and establish standards for accountability of
violators of human rights, definitions of violations of human rights, and reparations for those
victims of human rights violations.2
With the evolution of modern warfare producing new enemies such as non-state actors, the
Republic of Colombia recognizes the pressing need to protect innocent civilians who fall victim
to the violent actions of military groups. The Republic of Colombia itself is the home to some of
the world’s most well-known terrorist groups including the National Liberation Army (ELN), the
United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), and the most prominent Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC). Despite Colombian government actions taken against these terrorist
groups, both militarily and legally, the weakened groups still pose a threat to the security of
Colombia’s people; the battle against FARC has lasted over 50 years and has resulted in the
killing of over 220,000 people and the displacement of five million others.3 The Colombian
government is currently engaging in peace talks with these terrorist groups and is “working
towards negotiations on disarmament, victims’ rights, and an eventual peace agreement,” a
colossal step towards elimination of non-state aggressor threats against civilians.4 During such
peace talks, the United Nations is not involved and this lack of UN presence in communications
with terrorist groups does not seem to factor into the peacemaking process. The Republic of
Colombia, recognising the lack of UN contacts with such groups, encourages the establishment
of fact-finding missions and commissions of inquiry to further transparency and communication
between the international community and negotiating terrorist groups.1
In order to promote the respect of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians’
rights and lives, the Republic of Colombia calls for intensified peacekeeping missions mandated
for the protection of civilians in imminent danger. Understanding that peacekeepers must do
more than just pacify and keep peace between two opposing, belligerent parties, the Republic of
Colombia calls for peacekeepers of specifically undertake initiatives to protect the most
vulnerable of civilians: women, children, and displaced peoples. UN placement of peacekeepers
must also be supported by the home country’s government in order to most effectively protect
the rights and lives of innocent civilians while protecting the sovereignty of individual states. In
accordance to the statement made by the Colombian delegate to the 6917th meeting of the
Security Council, Osorio Londoño, the Republic of Colombia further emphasises that “the
promotion of peace processes and respect for human rights and rule of law was of utmost
importance in protecting civilians.”5
1
Report of the Secretary General. Status of the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions
of 1949 and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Armed Conflicts. Rep. N.p.: United
Nations General Assembly, 2012. Print.
2
"National Development Plan 2010-2014 (Colombia) "Prosperity for All"" National
Development Plan 2010-2014 (Colombia) "Prosperity for All" The REDD Desk,
2010. Web.
3
"Profiles: Colombia's Armed Groups." BBC News: Latin America and Caribbean. BBC News,
29 Aug. 2014. Web.
4
"Colombia's Farc Admits Conflict 'impact' on Civilians." BBC News. BBC News, 30 Oct. 2014.
Web.
5
United Nations. Security Council. Security Council Says States Have Primary Responsibility for
Protecting Civilians in Conflict, Reaffirms Peacekeeping Missions Need Protection
Mandate, Resources. United Nations. United Nations, 12 Feb. 2013. Web.