English version - Mesa de Conversaciones

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ # 77 Havana, Cuba, June 25, 2016 Within the framework of the “Agreement regarding the dismissal of minors under 15 years old from the camps of the FARC – EP and the commitment to prepare a road map for the release of all other minors and a special, comprehensive program for their care”, the Dialogue Table held the second meeting with the Technical Table, in compliance with the agreed timeline. During the working sessions held this Friday and Saturday, the Technical Table presented a proposal to the delegations of the National Government and the FARC – EP regarding the creation of a special, comprehensive program for all minors who leave the guerrilla camps, with the purpose of ensuring the restitution of their rights, and the protocol for the dismissal of the boys, girls and adolescents under 15 years old was reviewed. The Technical Table, led by the Ombudsman’s Office (Defensoría del Pueblo) and the Advisory Council on Human Rights of the Presidency of the Republic (Consejería de Derechos Humanos de la Presidencia de la República), includes the participation of the ICRC, UNICEF, IOM and the following social or specialized organizations: Communities building peace in the territories (Comunidades construyendo paz en los territorios – CONPAZ), the National Association of Peasant Reserve Zones (Asociación Nacional de Zonas de Reserva Campesina – ANZORC), and the Coalition Against the Affiliation of Boys, Girls and Youngsters to the Armed Conflict in Colombia (Coalición contra la Vinculación de Niños, Niñas y Jóvenes al Conflicto Armado en Colombia – COALICO). The Dialogue Table reiterates its commitment to start up this trust-­‐building measure, in order to ensure that the minors are promptly released from the camps of the FARC – EP, and the beginning of the process for the restoration of their rights. We will meet again this coming July 2 in order to finalize the details and set the release protocol in motion.