Colombia: UN chief welcomes agreement to separate children from FARC

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the announcement by the Colombian Government and a long-time opposition group Sunday of an agreement to separate and reintegrate children associated with the insurgent force.

“The Secretary-General congratulates the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army] and calls upon their negotiators to achieve promptly a final agreement that will allow all Colombians to enjoy the benefits of a lasting peace,” said Mr. Ban’s spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric.

The two sides agreed to separate minors under 15 years of age from FARC-EP camps, develop a roadmap to complete the separation of all minors, and create a special comprehensive program 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 spokesman said.