Acuerdo Número 10: Para el Fortalecimiento de la Democracia en el Territorio

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Acuerdo Número 10: Para el Fortalecimiento de la Democracia en el Territorio
Date: 8 Jun 2025
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Colombian Conflict (1964 - )
The Colombian conflict is really a set of conflicts and the peace agreements reflect both different processes relating to different conflict groups and dyads, and processes taking place at different times in a complex peace process history. The Colombian civil war has its roots in the late 1940s and the violent infighting between liberal and the conservative factions. Emerging from the liberal tradition with a thorough grounding in nationalist communist ideology, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army (FARC) began its armed insurrection against the Colombian government in 1964. Other left-wing guerrillas emerged as well, most notably the socialist/populist M-19, which would later be integrated into the formal political system in the peace process of 1990s; the National Liberation Army (ELN), which has strong roots in liberation theology, and the Maoist Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) (also part of the 1990 process, less successfully). Several stages of peace processes were undertaken by the various sides, which were further complicated by the emergence of right-wing paramilitary ‘self-defence’ forces. The peace agreement between the Colombian government under President Uribe and the main alliance of the paramilitary groups, the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), concluded in 2005 and is still heavily disputed as several remnants are still active, but now subsumed under the heading ‘Bacrim’ (Bandas criminales). In addition, FARC and ELN maintain a military presence, but both demonstrate a strong interest in completing successful peace negotiations with the government, with the most recent agreements being between FARC and the Government.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Colombia VII - Petro Peace Dialogues with Comuneros del Sur (Nariño Regional Process)
Parties: National Government:

Carlos Erazo (Chief of National Government Team)
Andrei Gómez-Suárez (Representative)
Angela María Robledo Gómez (Representative)
Pablo Pardo Velasco (Representative)

Southern Comuneros:

Royer Garzón Alvarado (Representative)
Antonio Ovallos (Representative)
Lorena Sevillano Ortiz (Representative)
Leidy Paola Tapia (Representative)
Jaime Eduardo Álvarez Riascos (Representative)
Third parties: Reina Buijs (Representative Delegate Netherlands)
Edelma Gómez (Delegate Mission to Support the Peace Process of the Organisation of American States - MAPP-OEA)
Padre Paulo Verdugo (Episcopal Conference of Colombia)
Description: This agreement establishes a capacity-building program for democratic participation in 10 prioritized municipalities, implemented by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). The National Government and Southern Comuneros commit to strengthening democratic processes through training in participatory democracy mechanisms, consultation tools, and organizational strengthening. The agreement aims to facilitate the transition of Southern Comuneros members to full citizenship while promoting territorial peace co-construction.

Agreement document: CO_250608_Acuerdo_Número_10_Para_el_Fortalecimiento_de_la_Democracia_en_el_Territorio (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CO_250608_Acuerdo Número 10 Para el Fortalecimiento de la Democracia en el Territorio (opens in new tab)| Download PDF
Source of document: On file with PA-X PI

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Recognising the need expressed by communities and their organisations to have tools that enable them to fully exercise their rights and uphold the Social Rule of Law, this Agreement will contribute to strengthening their capacity to effectively influence democratic processes for the Co-Construction of Territorial Peace.
To this end, the National Government and Southern Comuneros agree that the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) will implement the Capacity Building Programme for leaders and communities in the 10 municipalities prioritised by the Roundtable and for Southern Comuneros, within the framework of the transition to full citizenship of its members.
...
NIMD will design the methodology for holding meetings between civil actors and members of Southern Comuneros so that they can converge in strengthening the democratic process in the territory, within the framework of the process of Co-Construction of Peace.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Recognising the need expressed by communities and their organisations to have tools that enable them to fully exercise their rights and uphold the Social Rule of Law, this Agreement will contribute to strengthening their capacity to effectively influence democratic processes for the Co-Construction of Territorial Peace.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: The process will include training in participatory democracy mechanisms, consultation tools, social dialogue, political incidence and organisational strengthening.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
To this end, the National Government and Southern Comuneros agree that the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) will implement the Capacity Building Programme for leaders and communities in the 10 municipalities prioritised by the Roundtable and for Southern Comuneros, within the framework of the transition to full citizenship of its members.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: To this end, the National Government and Southern Comuneros agree that the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) will implement the Capacity Building Programme for leaders and communities in the 10 municipalities prioritised by the Roundtable and for Southern Comuneros, within the framework of the transition to full citizenship of its members.
...
Southern Comuneros undertakes to select its members to actively participate in the training process.
NIMD will design the methodology for holding meetings between civil actors and members of Southern Comuneros so that they can converge in strengthening the democratic process in the territory, within the framework of the process of Co-Construction of Peace.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: Accompanying parties
Reina Buijs, Representative Delegate Netherlands
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Accompanying parties
...
Edelma Gómez, Delegate Mission to Support the Peace Process of the Organisation of American States (MAPP-OEA)
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.

AGREEMENT NUMBER 10:

FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF DEMOCRACY IN THE TERRITORY

The delegations of the National Government and Southern Comuneros, within the framework of their shared commitment to political and democratic strengthening in the territory, hereby sign the present Agreement with the aim of promoting capacities for dialogue and participation in democratic processes in the 10 municipalities prioritised by the Roundtable.

Recognising the need expressed by communities and their organisations to have tools that enable them to fully exercise their rights and uphold the Social Rule of Law, this Agreement will contribute to strengthening their capacity to effectively influence democratic processes for the Co-Construction of Territorial Peace.

To this end, the National Government and Southern Comuneros agree that the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) will implement the Capacity Building Programme for leaders and communities in the 10 municipalities prioritised by the Roundtable and for Southern Comuneros, within the framework of the transition to full citizenship of its members.

The process will include training in participatory democracy mechanisms, consultation tools, social dialogue, political incidence and organisational strengthening.

The National Government undertakes to facilitate access and coordination with strategic actors and communities in the territory.

Southern Comuneros undertakes to select its members to actively participate in the training process.

NIMD will design the methodology for holding meetings between civil actors and members of Southern Comuneros so that they can converge in strengthening the democratic process in the territory, within the framework of the process of Co-Construction of Peace.

8 June 2025

Signed:

Carlos Erazo

Chief of National Government Team

Royer Garzón Alvarado