Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2025
182. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the support Ireland has provided to the Colombian peace process, with particular reference to Ireland's work in protecting/supporting the five pillars of the peace agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67224/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting the peace process in Colombia, including the full implementation of the 2016 peace agreement, is a priority for Ireland and has been a strong focus of the Irish Embassy in Bogotá since its opening in 2019.
Since the signing of the Agreement in 2016, Ireland has provided €26 million in development funding to Colombia focused on support to peace and dialogue processes, human rights and gender, and achieving peace dividends. This has increased to approximately €5 million per year since 2024 with the establishment of a Colombia development cooperation programme.
My Department channels funding primarily through the UN Multi Partner Trust Fund for Sustaining Peace on Colombia which works to support stabilisation in areas affected by the conflict, reincorporation of former combatants, and to support victims and systems of transitional justice, including by working to strengthen the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. My Department also provides funding directly to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia to support its important work in promoting and protecting human rights, and the Organisation of American States Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia.
Under the Total Peace policy, Ireland has been acting as a guarantor in peace negotiations with the FARC dissident group, EMBF (Estado Mayor de los Bloques y Frente) since 2022. This role involves Irish officials maintaining a continuous presence at the talks, promoting and protecting the dialogue process, supporting the parties to advance in challenging moments, and providing political, financial and technical support and assistance. The main focus of the negotiations is bringing state presence and investment to areas where the group is present, reducing violence, and negotiating issues related to demobilisation, justice, reconciliation and victims.
Ireland strongly advocates for the comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement to address many of the root causes of conflict in Colombia, including respect for the independence and proper functioning of the transitional justice system. Alongside political and financial support, a key pillar of our engagement has involved a Lesson Sharing Programme on the peace process in Northern Ireland. This has included engagement on peace negotiations and implementation, gender equality and Women, Peace and Security, police reform, the role of the private sector and communications in peace. In February of this year, an Irish delegation travelled to Colombia to participate in a lesson-sharing visit on the decommissioning process in Northern Ireland.
My officials in Dublin and Bogotá will continue Ireland's regular engagement with the Colombian government, human rights defenders, multilateral organisations and our EU partners, in support of human rights and the full implementation of the peace agreement in the country.
