Secretary-General Welcomes Agreement on Separating Minors from Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army Camps

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP), in Havana on Sunday, of an agreement on the separation of minors under 15 years of age from FARC-EP camps, on the parties’ commitment to develop a road map to complete the separation of all minors, and on a special comprehensive programme focused on these children.

This agreement, achieved with the good offices of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, heralds the end of the conflict for its youngest participants, recognized as victims in the agreement.

The Secretary-General congratulates the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP, and calls upon their negotiators to achieve promptly a final agreement that will allow all Colombians to enjoy the benefits of a lasting peace.