UN Security Council Adopts Resolution Establishing Political Mission in Colombia (January 25, 2016) [1]
On January 25, 2016, the UN Security Council (Council) adopted a resolution [3] establishing a political mission in Colombia tasked with monitoring and verifying that the government forces and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army (FARC-EP) lay down arms and finalize the peace process laid out by the General Agreement to End the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace signed in Cuba in 2012. The Council noted that both parties “foresee that the Final Peace Agreement will include a tripartite mechanism to monitor and verify the definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities” and decided to “establish a political mission to participate for a period of 12 months, as the international component and coordinator of the above -mentioned tripartite mechanism (the Mission).” It noted that the Mission will “be a political mission of unarmed international observers” and called on the Secretary-General “to initiate preparations now, including on the ground, and to present detailed recommendations to the Security Council for its consideration and approval regarding the size and operational aspects and mandate of the Mission.” Finally, it “request[ed] the Secretary-General . . . to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the Mission’s mandate every 90 days” and “look[ed] forward to the contributions of Member States of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.”