The United Nations’ human rights office on Wednesday praised the Colombian government’s decision to extend the organization’s mandate in the country for three more years.
The Colombia office for the U.N. has been in the country by invitation of the government since 1997 and its original term, which was set to come to an end in 2013, has now been extended until October of 2016.
The announcement was made by the government on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland at Colombia’s most recent Universal Periodic Review.
“The extension of the office’s mandate and the work of Colombia’s government with the UN demonstrate the county’s interest in cooperating with the international community and reaffirm the commitment expressed by President Juan Manuel Santos,” said Todd Howland, the human rights representative in Colombia for the UN. “We are here to collaborate and help to overcome the challenges of human rights in this country, alongside the Colombian people,” added the official.
The United Nations report concluded that they will continue to work towards changing the human rights situation in Colombia from their eight bases around the country.