Colombia’s government has selected delegates to represent victims of the armed conflict in the Havana peace talks with the country’s biggest rebel group, the FARC.
This follows Saturday’s announcement in which the FARC and the government both recognized their role as victimizers in the armed conflict and announced their decision to invite victims to take part in ongoing peace talks, Caracol Radio reported on Tuesday.
MORE: FARC formally admits responsibility for victims of Colombia conflict
The FARC’s admission of responsibility in human rights violations and violations of fundamental rights of Colombians is historic; never before have the guerrillas explicitly admitted responsibility.
Delegates are being selected based on gender and ethnic group, in accordance with a government directive to ensure that the groups most affected by the conflict are represented.
Also selected are representatives of the National Bureau of Victims, Bogota’s National University and organizations working with victims of the armed conflict, such as Victims’ Land Restitution and the Ministry of Agriculture, according to Caracol Radio.
Head of the government unit for Victim Care and Reparation, Paula Gaviria Betancur, declared this a “starting point to make us see that victims have non-negotiable rights,” adding that she expected results soon and is trying to speed up the peace talk process, reported Bogota Radio La FM.
The final delegation will reportedly be ready in a month’s time.
Sources
- Inicia conformación de grupos de víctimas que estarán en La Habana (Caracol Radio)
- Anuncios de La Habana dignifican a las victimas: Gobierno (Radio La FM)