Notre Dame News | Notre Dame News | News

Navigating the waters of peace: Researchers address challenges, opportunities in implementation of Colombia's Peace Agreement

2025-06-19T10:54:00-04:00

Nearly half of the commitments outlined in Colombia's historic peace accord face significant challenges and may not happen in time unless policymakers make several key interventions, warns a new report from the University of Notre Dame.

The report offers a blueprint to salvage an accord that has lagged behind its implementation deadlines, putting its legacy at risk. It highlights timely fixes that can strengthen the agreement.

The report was produced by the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), part of the Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 within Notre Dame's Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs. PAM is responsible for monitoring and verifying the implementation of the accord.

This is the first time a university-based research center has played such a direct role in supporting the implementation of a peace agreement, and the first time researchers have measured the implementation of a peace accord in real time.

鈥淭he peace process is moving forward, but progress is uneven and fragile in some areas,鈥� said Josefina Echavarr铆a 脕lvarez, director of PAM. 鈥淭he next few years will be critical.鈥�

The report highlights major contextual and security challenges, including the fragmentation of armed groups involved in the ongoing 鈥淭otal Peace鈥� negotiations and persistent violence in implementation-priority regions like Catatumbo, northern Cauca and San Juan (Choc贸). According to Colombia鈥檚 Ombudsman鈥檚 Office, 71 percent of municipalities remained under early warning alerts due to armed group activity.

鈥淲hile we鈥檝e seen progress in some areas, particularly related to political participation, the disparity in implementation levels underscores the need for a more holistic and integrated approach,鈥� said 脕ngela Mar铆a Ram铆rez Rinc贸n, executive director of the Barometer Initiative in Colombia.

Key opportunities

In its evaluation, PAM found several key opportunities that could significantly strengthen Colombia鈥檚 peace process. One major recommendation is the creation of a high-level presidential office to coordinate peace efforts across government agencies, which would bring much-needed leadership and accountability. Strengthening local development plans to better reflect the priorities of communities, especially in areas most affected by conflict, would help ensure peace efforts are grounded in real needs.

The report also calls for more focused support for gender and ethnic inclusion, noting that targeted investments in these areas can drive meaningful change for historically marginalized groups. Increased international assistance directed at the most critical gaps can also help maintain momentum and ensure that peacebuilding efforts are sustainable and centered on the people most impacted.

Despite limited advances, the implementation of gender and ethnic provisions continues to lag. Of the 130 gender-focused commitments, just 13 percent were completed, with 17 percent not yet started. Similarly, of the 80 commitments with an ethnic focus, 13 percent had been fulfilled and 60 percent remained in a minimal state, showing no progress in full implementation indicators for the past two years.

While these figures point to persistent gaps, the report also acknowledges that some groundwork has been laid, and there are opportunities to build on existing efforts to close these implementation gaps. The report notes progress in areas such as women's economic reintegration and the work of ethnic institutions like the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Unit for the Search of Disappeared Persons, but also documents structural limitations in consultation processes and resource allocation.

The Kroc Institute鈥檚 analysis also includes insights into territorial implementation trends across the country鈥檚 16 Development Programs with a Territorial Focus (PDET) subregions. Although some regional projects like 鈥淭ogether for the Territory鈥� and 鈥淭erritorial Pacts鈥� show promise, security issues, bureaucratic delays and financial gaps hinder their full execution.

鈥淭he coming year presents a critical opportunity to consolidate gains and address implementation gaps,鈥� said Echavarr铆a 脕lvarez. 鈥淧olitical will, sustained investment and strengthened inter-institutional coordination will be essential to ensuring a durable peace.鈥�

Since 2016, the Kroc Institute has monitored the agreement at the request of the signatories and continues to serve as a global reference for implementation tracking through the Peace Accords Matrix, the world鈥檚 most comprehensive database on peace accord implementation. The ninth comprehensive report analyzes the state of implementation from December 2023 to November 2024.

Additional resources

Alongside the full Spanish report, the Kroc Institute produced a handout in English highlighting key points of the report and has released all of its original data for other scholars to utilize in their work.

The Kroc Institute has released eight prior reports on the status of overall implementation, as well as four reports on implementation of gender provisions, three reports on implementation of ethnic provisions, a special report on the implementation of the Final Agreement from the perspective of victims鈥� rights, and a special report on the environmental challenges.

Review all reports here.

Originally published by Jena O'Brien at kroc.nd.edu on June 11.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

PAM-M partners with civil society in baseline report, shedding light on Bangsamoro peace process in the Philippines

2025-02-04T13:20:00-05:00

The Peace Accords Matrix-Mindanao (PAM-M) project, part of the Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 within the Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, released a civil society baseline report detailing progress and challenges in the Bangsamoro peace process in the Philippines. This is a noteworthy milestone as the implementation of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro celebrated its 10-year anniversary in March 2024.

PAM-M is a partnership between the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM) and Catholic Relief Services鈥揚hilippines to aid the peace process in Mindanao emerging from the 2014 peace agreement between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. PAM-M supports the peace process using a specific methodology to measure progress related to the Annex on Normalization in the peace agreement, which focuses on pathways for transforming armed struggle to peaceful political participation, citizenship and livelihood.

PAM-M and civil society partners jointly developed indicators to measure advancement related to the 鈥渘ormalization track,鈥� which is showcased in the baseline report. This report is the result of a long standing collaboration with civil society organizations based in the Bangsamoro region, and establishes a baseline of implementation data on selected normalization-specific stipulations from the community level.

The report presents initial assessment scores on key commitments including transitional justice, security and transitional components, socio-economic programs, the decommissioning of combatants from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and confidence-building measures. It also provides initial findings on the implementation status of stipulations under the Women Peace and Security category, acknowledging the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

The report's findings highlight the resilience of the peace process, the necessity of mobilizing resources and addressing community-level needs, and the importance of ongoing dialogue between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to discuss implementation challenges and to share community feedback. The findings offer valuable insight regarding strides made, obstacles that remain, and opportunities that transformed the Bangsamoro struggle into peaceful political participation and livelihood. Continuous community-level monitoring by civil society can ensure transparency and equitable implementation, contributing to the overall success of the peace process.

Throughout this work, the Kroc Institute, PAM and Catholic Relief Services鈥揚hilippines continue to work in close proximity with civil society organizations, the signatory parties, peace process stakeholders and the community to build awareness, engagement and trust.

Originally published by Jena O'Brien at kroc.nd.edu on Jan. 24.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

Kroc Institute releases third report on Colombian Peace Agreement implementation of ethnic approach

2024-11-01T17:23:00-04:00

Colombia is at the halfway point with the implementation of its聽2016 peace accord, and data indicate there are serious challenges to achieving goals established to guarantee the rights of ethnic communities in the peace process.

A new report from the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), part of the聽Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 in the Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, outlines the limitations and weaknesses, as well as progress and successes, of implementing ethnic commitments within the Colombian context. 鈥�A Call to Action: Third Special Report on the Implementation Status of the Colombian Final Peace Accord鈥檚 Ethnic Approach鈥� was officially released at events held Sept. 10 in Cali, Colombia, and Sept. 17 in Washington, D.C. At both gatherings, speakers presented an overview of the report鈥檚 findings and facilitated discussions on lessons learned and best practices for fostering inclusive peacebuilding.

The Third Special Report,聽published by the Peace Accords Matrix.

鈥淟asting peace in Colombia requires understanding and addressing the different and disproportionate impacts of the armed conflict on ethnic groups,鈥� said 脕ngela Mar铆a Ram铆rez Rinc贸n, executive director of PAM鈥檚 Barometer Initiative in Colombia, at the Sept. 17 launch event.

鈥淲e鈥檝e found a significant gap between general implementation of the accord and implementation of the ethnic chapter and ethnic approach. Obviously, this is of great concern 鈥� but as the report highlights, there are action steps offered to close this gap. This gives us hope,鈥� she said.

The report offers both quantitative and qualitative analysis, with recommendations to guide the second half of the implementation period for the ethnic approach and to achieve higher rates of implementation. The value of its findings and recommendations enabled PAM staff to present to the Department of State and offer briefings to congressional staffers during their time in Washington, D.C., last month.

Obstacles include a lack of effective mainstreaming in planning and programmatic efforts, slow implementation of security guarantees for ethnic communities and a failure to apply prior consultation processes for ethnic groups. A legacy of state neglect, combined with suffering caused by prolonged conflict and violence against these communities, calls for sustained efforts to rebuild trust and address grievances.

鈥淚mplementation of the Final Accord鈥檚 ethnic commitments provides a historic opportunity to recognize and guarantee the rights of ethnic communities in Colombia who have experienced disproportionate and identity-specific impacts of the armed conflict,鈥� said Josefina Echavarr铆a 脕lvarez, PAM鈥檚 director.

She noted that the United States and Mexico have declared their commitment and support since fall 2022.

鈥淏oth countries have pledged technical and financial resources to bring the promises of ethnic equality and authentic development to the Indigenous, Afro and Roma peoples in Colombia,鈥� Echavarr铆a 脕lvarez said. 鈥淲e hope this support translates into considerable gains, such as better coordination and the incorporation of ethnic lenses in all plans, programs, projects and forums created by the accord.鈥�

PAM researchers found the need to strengthen protection of ethnic communities, especially among women leaders, and to implement landmine removal in the territories. The report emphasizes the importance of justice and reparations for these communities through participation in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and culturally sensitive searches for missing persons. In addition, it encourages international and governmental support to provide financial and technical resources for restorative justice projects, and to ensure ethnic communities actively contribute to peacebuilding efforts.

鈥淭hough implementation of the Final Accord鈥檚 ethnic stipulations are not where they should be at this time, the Kroc Institute has outlined several actions that could, in the short and medium term, expedite and enhance implementation,鈥� Ram铆rez Rinc贸n said. 鈥淎dvancing these commitments would empower ethnic communities to realize their full potential and contribute to a more equitable and just peace, allowing society as a whole to prosper.鈥�

Alongside the full report, the Kroc Institute has also produced a policy brief highlighting key points of the report. The institute has released eight prior reports on the status of overall implementation, as well as four reports on implementation of gender provisions, two reports on implementation of ethnic provisions, a special report on the implementation of the Final Agreement from the perspective of victims鈥� rights, and a special report on the environmental challenges.聽All of PAM鈥檚 reports are available here.

Originally published by Jena O'Brien at kroc.nd.edu on Oct. 24.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

Peace Accords Matrix expands to the Philippines

2024-07-01T14:06:07-04:00

Building on its international success and reputation in peace accords monitoring, the Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频, part of the Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs, and its聽Peace Accords Matrix (PAM) program have launched their next global project: PAM Mindanao (PAM-M) in the Philippines.

PAM-M is a partnership between PAM and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines to aid the peace process in Mindanao, stemming from a 2014 agreement between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. As a partner on the project, PAM provides monitoring methodology and technical assistance to measure progress of the agreement鈥檚 stipulations.

PAM is the world鈥檚 leading academic center for measuring the implementation progress of peace agreements on a systematic comparative basis. It is recognized internationally for its Barometer Initiative project in Colombia, with responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the 2016 Colombian Final Accord, a major turning point in ending the country鈥檚 52-year armed conflict.

PAM-M aims to replicate this success in the Philippines and build on PAM鈥檚 longstanding presence there.

鈥淭he PAM team has supported Mindanao peace efforts by engaging with the negotiating聽parties since 2011,鈥� said Madhav Joshi, associate director of PAM. 鈥淥ur efforts are bolstered by our relationship with Catholic Relief Services Philippines, which has played an instrumental role in peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao.鈥�

This next chapter calls for the Kroc Institute, PAM and CRS to provide technical accompaniment to monitor the implementation of the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Signed on March 27, 2014, the CAB concluded 17 years of negotiations that began with a ceasefire agreement in 1997. Joshi and others from the PAM-M team in South Bend, Indiana, will travel to Mindanao in July to host a peace panel with the signatory parties.

Using PAM鈥檚 Comprehensive Peace Agreements verification and monitoring methodology, PAM-M developed indicators 鈥� agreed upon by both sides 鈥� to measure progress of the agreement鈥檚 stipulations and their implementation. Throughout this work, the Kroc Institute, PAM and CRS will continue to work in close proximity with civil society organizations, the signatory parties and peace process stakeholders, hosting a series of capacity-building workshops to build awareness, engagement and trust in the process.

鈥淢eaningful involvement of all stakeholders makes the process run smoothly and provides stability,鈥� said Myla Leguro, technical advisor for Social Cohesion and Church Engagement at CRS.

PAM director Josefina Echavarr铆a Alvarez added, 鈥淭his latest project is a renewed expression of trust in PAM鈥檚 work overall. We are honored and feel fortunate to have received this mandate to support and accompany the people of the Philippines in their peacebuilding process.鈥�

Originally published by Jena O'Brien at kroc.nd.edu on June 27.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

Kroc Institute releases eighth report on Colombian Peace Agreement implementation

2024-05-08T10:43:00-04:00

At the end of its seventh year, implementation of the 2016 Colombian Peace Accord is at a crucial moment, marking the halfway point toward realizing the envisioned transformation and lasting peace for the country.

A new report from the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), part of the Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs鈥� Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 at the University of Notre Dame, outlines the current status of peace accord implementation and identifies key advances and challenges facing the peace process as it enters the second half of its 15-year implementation plan.

The institute鈥檚 eighth comprehensive report, 鈥�Seven Years of Final Accord Implementation: Perspectives to Strengthen Peacebuilding at the Halfway Point,鈥� offers a year-long analysis, from December 2022 to November 2023, which is supported by quantitative and qualitative data on the implementation of all 578 stipulations within the text of the agreement.

This reporting period was marked by various political, economic and social events that shaped its course. First, a significant part of the national government鈥檚 agenda was geared toward implementing the Total Peace policy, which seeks to establish new dialogues and negotiations with illegal armed actors operating within Colombia to bring comprehensive and sustainable peace to the country. Second, regional elections in October 2023 and the adoption of the 2022-26 National Development Plan, 鈥�Colombia: A World Power for Life,鈥� aimed at strengthening Final Accord implementation, also influenced the reporting period.

At the end of the seventh year, data show that 10 percent of stipulations have not yet begun implementation, 39 percent are minimally implemented, 19 percent have reached an intermediate state and 32 percent have been completed.

With the exception of Point 4 of the Final Agreement, on the Problem of Illicit Drugs, all points experienced changes in their implementation levels. Point 1 on Integral Rural Reform and Point 6 on Verification and Monitoring Mechanisms were especially dynamic, with changes in all levels of implementation. Nevertheless, Point 1 remains one of the least implemented points in the peace agreement.

While implementation has not stopped in the past seven years, the Kroc Institute has documented limited changes in implementation levels since 2019. This trend reversed slightly in 2023: Two percent of stipulations initiated implementation, an increase over the 1 percent change documented in 2022.

Comprehensive peace agreements that achieve the highest levels of implementation are typically those that maintain momentum, especially in the early- to mid-term phases of the implementation process. Though the Colombian Final Accord hasn鈥檛 stagnated, there is lack of evidence showing feasible completion of the remaining 49 percent of commitments within the 15-year deadline. It is imperative that implementation levels progress to reach implementation goals set out in the peace agreement.

The Kroc Institute found that while the disparity in implementation levels may be attributed to sequencing the complex reforms established by the accord, the disparity could also be attributed to implementation not occurring as effectively or comprehensively as the accord intended, especially when integrating the transversal gender, ethnic and territorial approaches.

The eighth comprehensive report concludes with some priorities specifically aimed at strengthening the implementation process of the Final Accord. Priorities include a transparent, effective and timely execution of the National Development Plan, convening the Peace Cabinet created by the Total Peace Law and reviewing the Framework Plan for Implementation to assess and recommend necessary adjustments.

Alongside the full Spanish report, the Kroc Institute has produced a policy brief, in English, highlighting key points of the report. The Kroc Institute will also hold a live virtual launch event at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday (May 8). Click here to register to attend.

The Kroc Institute has released seven prior reports on the status of overall implementation, as well as four reports on implementation of gender provisions, two reports on implementation of ethnic provisions, a special report on the implementation of the Final Agreement from the perspective of victims鈥� rights, and a special report on the environmental challenges. Review all reports here.聽

Access the policy brief in English here.

Access the full report in Spanish here.

Originally published by Jena O鈥橞rien at kroc.nd.edu on May 7.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

Kroc Institute releases seventh report on Colombian Peace Agreement implementation

2023-06-27T10:27:00-04:00

A new report from the University of Notre Dame鈥檚聽Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 and its Peace Accords Matrix聽Barometer Initiative in Colombia presents the status of peace accord implementation as of November. The sixth year of implementation of the Colombian Final Accord was marked by minor variations in implementation levels.

The Kroc Institute鈥檚 seventh comprehensive report, 鈥淪ix Years of Implementation of the Final Accord: Challenges and Opportunities in the New Political Phase,鈥� analyzes the period between December 2021 and November 2022. Based on the monitoring of the 578 commitments contained in the Final Accord, the report includes a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the implementation of the accord and its gender and ethnic approaches. The report also presents a comparative analysis of the implementation of Comprehensive Peace Agreements and includes elements to consider in the development of the 鈥淭otal Peace鈥� policy proposed by the current Colombian government.

This report examines a year of institutional transition in the country after the elections of the Congress of the Republic and President Gustavo Petro Urrego and Vice President Francia M谩rquez Mina. These circumstances reflect a new political administration and phase, in which the implementation of the Final Accord will play a fundamental role. In addition, during this new phase, the eighth year of implementation will be reached, which marks the halfway point of the foreseen term for its 15-year implementation.

While there has been a linear upward trajectory in implementation since the signing of the accord, the pace of implementation has slowed down considerably since 2019. This change in pace has presented an opportunity for the national government to leave a tangible legacy at the end of its mandate. Therefore, in order for the successful implementation of the 2016 accord to occur on time, careful attention must be maintained on fixing and reinvigorating stalled implementation processes so that the next presidential administration is able to finish what was promised in the peace accord.

Six years after the signing of the Final Accord, the status of aggregate implementation shows that 31 percent of the stipulations are complete, 20 percent are at an intermediate level, 37 percent are at a minimum level and 13 percent have not yet begun.

The Kroc Institute found that the main challenge for implementation of the Final Accord is the low percentage of commitments at an intermediate state of implementation (20 percent) compared to the high percentage of minimum and uninitiated commitments (37 percent and 13 percent, respectively). The report also identifies that the points with lower levels of implementation, such as Point 1 and Point 2, registered an increase in the levels of implementation. Alongside Point 5, these points experienced the most significant changes in implementation levels between 2021 and 2022. The points with higher levels of implementation, such as Point 3 and Point 6, registered lower levels of coding changes during the analysis period. Point 4 is close to the average of the general status of the implementation and experienced minimal changes in implementation levels during 2022.聽

The report also highlights significant advances and additional challenges for each of the six points of the Final Accord, as well as for the gender and ethnic approaches. Advances include the presentation of the Final Report of the Truth Commission, the international accompaniment by the United States and Mexico for the Ethnic Chapter of the Final Accord and the election of the first 16 congressional seats for victims鈥� representatives.

The main challenges for each point of the Final Accord and the transversal approaches include insufficient access to land through adjudication to the campesino population without land. Another challenge identified is the requirement of the national government to address and comply with the requirements adopted by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Constitutional Court regarding the protection of the signatories of the Final Accord and the implementation of Point 3.

In its analysis of the cross-cutting approaches of the Final Accord, the report identified a persistent gap in comparison to overall implementation, as well as limited progress and multiple challenges. Overall implementation of the Final Accord had an increase of 1 percentage point in the number of completed stipulations since 2021; however, the gender and ethnic approaches did not have changes for these stipulations, which remained at 12 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

The report concludes with general opportunities to strengthen the implementation process of the Final Accord, including the need for the Commission for Monitoring, Promoting and Verifying the Implementation of the Final Agreement to define the parameters for the annual review of the Framework Plan for Implementation and recommend any necessary adjustments. With the upcoming elections in October for new territorial authorities, the Kroc Institute emphasizes that it is important for territorial authorities to incorporate peace accord implementation priorities into their local plans, programs and projects.

The seventh comprehensive report concludes with recommendations specifically aimed at the international community to help support the implementation of the Final Accord. Continuing political and financial support will be fundamental in increasing the levels of implementation.

Access the policy brief in English here .

Access the full report in Spanish here.

Contact:聽Tracy DeStazio, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or聽tdestazi@nd.edu

Originally published by Jena O'Brien at kroc.nd.edu on June 27.

Kroc Institute releases special report on implementation status of gender approach within Colombian Peace Agreement

2023-04-26T10:35:00-04:00

The Peace Accords Matrix聽at the University of Notre Dame鈥檚 Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 has released a new special report outlining the current implementation status of the gender approach within the 2016 Colombian Peace Accord. The implementation of the gender approach has been fundamental to guaranteeing the protection and promotion of the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people. However, this process has been fraught with obstacles due to limited institutional understanding, capacity and ownership of implementing the gender approach while integrating territorial and intersectional perspectives. Furthermore, significant structural and social changes are involved in this process, which also makes its implementation challenging.

The Kroc Institute鈥檚 fourth special report, 鈥�Time is Running Out to Implement the Gender Approach in Colombia鈥檚 Peace Accord,鈥� covers implementation of the gender approach from December 2021 through November 2022. The report analyzes implementation in four thematic areas: rural transformation, participation guarantees and final accord implementation mechanisms, security guarantees and reincorporation, and victims鈥� rights.

During this period, the Kroc Institute found that the implementation of gender commitments in the Colombian Peace Accord continues to lag behind general commitment implementation due to limited institutional ownership of the gender approach, and the fact that institutional programs, plans, actions and mandates inadequately consider women and LGBTQ+ people, particularly in rural areas and with an intersectional perspective.

The Kroc Institute has identified 130 stipulations in the Peace Agreement that are used to monitor the gender approach. Since the last reporting period, there was a mere 2 percent change in non-initiated gender commitments. Completed gender commitments stayed steady at 12 percent聽for the entire year, and more than 50 percent聽of gender commitments remain at a minimum level of implementation.

The implementation of the gender approach faces many obstacles. Unlike other areas of the Peace Agreement, implementation of the gender approach is in need of clear leadership for the effort, as well as adequate funding. Although the High-Level Government Body for the Implementation of the Gender-Based Approach was created with this purpose 鈥� and charged with coordinating, promoting and monitoring the implementation and mainstreaming of the gender perspective 鈥� the group has not held a formal meeting since July 2022.聽

The report also outlined how the lack of implementation has hindered communication and implementation between the two transversal approaches of the peace accord. Gender and ethnic concerns must be approached in an intersectional way that considers specific measures for Indigenous and Afro-descendent women. A more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between gender and ethnic-racial identity 鈥� and their combined effect on the discrimination and violence faced by Indigenous, Afro-Colombian, Black, Raizal, Palenqueras and Roma women 鈥� needs to be addressed in both ethnic and gender implementation to be effective.

This lack of progress in gender commitments, in the past reporting period and in the six years since the signing of the accord, reduces the likelihood of successful gender implementation within the 15-year timeline in the framework plan for implementation. Based on the projection of this data, the accord鈥檚 gender approach will not reach full, or even intermediate, implementation聽without reinvigorated planning and concerted mainstreaming efforts.

A translated version of the special report will be made available in English in May. In addition, the Kroc Institute has provided a policy brief, in English, highlighting key points of the special report.聽

The Kroc Institute will release its seventh comprehensive report on overall peace accord implementation in Colombia in June.聽

The Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频聽is part of the Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs聽at the University of Notre Dame and is one of the leading peace research and study centers in the world. One of its main programs is the Peace Accords Matrix, which created the most comprehensive database regarding the implementation of 34 peace agreements around the world.

By mandate of the government of Colombia and the former FARC-EP, signatory parties of the Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace, the Kroc Institute is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the agreement. The Kroc Institute has released six prior reports on the status of overall implementation, as well as three reports on implementation of gender provisions and two reports on implementation of ethnic provisions.

You can review all reports here: https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/barometer/colombia-reports.

The main partners of the Kroc Institute in Colombia are the National Secretariat of Pastoral Social C谩ritas Colombiana and the National Network of Regional Peace and Development Programs.

Access the policy brief in English here.

Access the full report in Spanish here.
聽

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or聽tdestazi@nd.edu

聽

Originally published by Jena O'Brien at kroc.nd.edu on April 26

Kroc Institute hosts Colombian digital archive at Notre Dame

2023-01-31T13:28:00-05:00

The Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 at the University of Notre Dame has launched the Legacy Project, a new initiative to migrate a digital archive of more than 200,000 audiovisual and textual materials from the Colombian Truth Commission to the University鈥檚 servers and to develop a global platform.

In collaboration with the Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society, the Clingen Family Center for the Study of Modern Ireland, the Kellogg Institute for International 91视频 and the Colombian Truth Commission, a myriad of narratives and memories related to Colombia鈥檚 52-year armed conflict will be translated into English and made accessible to the world in perpetuity.

The collection will be a rich resource for researchers, educators, scholars, policymakers, peacebuilders, artists and creators to advance transitional justice, human rights and the centrality of victims, across their respective fields. By making this national heritage globally accessible, the Legacy Project will inform and shape peacebuilding and policymaking around the world.

鈥淭his is a project that has been in the making for many years,鈥� said Josefina Echavarr铆a Alvarez, director of the Peace Accords Matrix聽and the lead for the Legacy Project. 鈥淗ere at the University of Notre Dame, we want to safeguard all these wonderful digital files and further develop and explore them together.

鈥淟ooking to the decades to come, we are aiming to build this project on four pillars: research, policy, practice and teaching. With the help of our partner institutes from the Keough 91视频 and across the University, we know the potential of this project for peacebuilding and research is boundless.鈥�

Notre Dame was selected as the host of this archive because of the relationship between the Colombian Truth Commission and the Kroc Institute鈥檚 Barometer Initiative, which oversees the technical verification and monitoring of the implementation of the 2016 Colombian Peace Agreement.

鈥淭he Kroc Institute has always been engaged with Colombia and our work,鈥� said Maria Paula Prada, adviser to the presidency of the Colombian Truth Commission. 鈥�Its engagement with building peace around the world is inspiring. Because they are an important ally for us, we feel secure in allowing them to preserve our archive online and therefore guarantee its access to any individual around the world.鈥�

With the Legacy Project, the University of Notre Dame advances a commitment to integral human development after violent conflict and contributes to lessons about peace processes, reconciliation, clarification and preservation of the truth.聽

In support of this project, the Kellogg Institute for International 91视频 and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish 91视频 have developed grant opportunities to encourage academics and researchers to use materials from the Legacy Project and the Colombian Truth Commission within their work.聽

Learn more about the Legacy Project at kroc.nd.edu/legacyproject.

Originally published by Jena O'Brien at kroc.nd.edu on Jan. 31.

Five Years After the Signing of the Colombian Final Agreement: Reflections from Implementation Monitoring

2022-06-07T14:59:43-04:00

Five years after the signing of the 2016 Final Agreement between the Colombian government and the former FARC-EP, implementation has not stopped, despite facing numerous obstacles. A new report from the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM) Barometer Initiative at the Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 at the University of Notre Dame presents the current status of peace accord implementation.

The institute鈥檚 sixth comprehensive report, 鈥�Five Years After the Signing of the Colombian Final Agreement: Reflections from Implementation Monitoring,鈥� analyzes the period between December 2020 and November 2021 and includes both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the implementation of all 578 stipulations within the text of the agreement. It also identifies key advances and challenges facing the peace process as it enters its sixth year.

Completing the fifth year of accord implementation is a key milestone for Colombia. International experience demonstrates that after an agreement is signed, the first five-year period lays the foundation for peacebuilding processes and for significant transformations to occur over the next five-year period.

Five years after the signing of the Final Agreement, the status of overall implementation shows 30 percent of provisions complete, 19 percent in intermediate status, 37 percent in minimal implementation status and 15 percent uninitiated. The report highlights the need to increase the pace of implementation in order to complete all commitments from the Final Agreement by 2031, 15 years after the accord鈥檚 signing. Some percentages in the report's quantitative analysis reach a total of 101 percent, due to the fact that some of the quantities are approximated.

During this study period, the Kroc Institute observed a 2 percent change in completed stipulations. As of November 2021, the main challenge facing implementation was the low percentage of stipulations at an intermediate stage of implementation, as well as a high percentage at minimal and uninitiated levels (especially those provisions related to Comprehensive Rural Reform and Democratic Political Participation).

The report highlights advances within each of the agreement鈥檚 six points, as well as within the gender and ethnic approaches. Some key advances during this study period include the approval of 16 special seats for victims in Congress through the creation of the Special Transitory Peace Voting Districts with both gender and ethnic approaches, and the Security Council鈥檚 expansion of the U.N. Verification Mission鈥檚 mandate in order to include verifying the compliance with and implementation of Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) sanctions.聽

The report also highlights key challenges for each of the six points and transversal approaches within the agreement. These included limited implementation of guarantees for peaceful protest and guarantees to allow organizations and social movements to participate in democratic processes. Another challenge was a failure to approve laws and regulations meant to implement agreed-upon commitments for Comprehensive Rural Reform and the substitution of illicit-use crops, including laws that specify differential treatment for small growers and the creation of an agrarian jurisdiction.

In its review of the cross-cutting approaches within the Final Agreement, the report notes that, while some advances were observed, a gap still persists between implementation of the ethnic and gender approaches and overall implementation levels. By November 2021, overall implementation reached 30 percent of provisions completed, while the gender approach stood at only 12 percent聽complete and the ethnic approach at 13 percent.

The Kroc Institute report also includes comparative findings between the Colombian peace process and other peace accord implementation processes. The Kroc Institute鈥檚 analysis found that all truth commissions derived from comprehensive peace agreements have extended their mandate beyond the time limit specified at their formation. In this way, the seven-month extension of the mandate period for the Commission for the Truth, Coexistence and Non-Recurrence Commission in Colombia to ensure delivery of its final report and a two-month extension for disseminating the report fits this pattern. Similarly, it was also found that other truth commission mandate extensions did not stem from unforeseen circumstances, such as a pandemic, which did have an impact in Colombia.聽

Additionally, the Kroc Institute found that dispute resolution mechanisms and monitoring and verification bodies play an important role in ensuring higher standards and guaranteeing the success of implementation. The Final Agreement included the creation of the Commission for Monitoring, Promoting and Verifying the Implementation of the Final Agreement (CSIVI), which fills this role, but the addition of an impartial third party within this forum could increase implementation levels.

The sixth comprehensive report concludes with recommendations specifically aimed at strengthening commitments to the implementation process in the midst of ongoing congressional and government transitions in Colombia. These recommendations include promoting broad ownership of the truth commission鈥檚 final report (due to be released in June) and building a CSIVI work plan to cover the government transition period that includes a review of the parameters and goals within the Framework Plan for Implementation whose implementation is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.聽

The Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 is part of the Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and is one of the leading peace research and study centers in the world. One of its main programs is the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), which manages the most comprehensive database regarding the implementation of 34 peace accords around the world.

By mandate of the government of Colombia and the former FARC-EP, signatory parties of the Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace, the Kroc Institute is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the agreement. The Kroc Institute has released five prior reports on the status of overall implementation, as well as three reports on implementation of gender provisions and two reports on implementation of ethnic provisions. Review all reports here: https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/barometer/colombia-reports.

The main partner of the Kroc Institute in Colombia is the National Secretariat of Pastoral Social C谩ritas Colombiana, an initiative of the Catholic Church. The organization has extensive experience and has been recognized for its social justice efforts and its support for efforts to consolidate peace in local communities throughout the country.

聽

Access the executive summary in English here.

Access the full report in Spanish here.

Kroc Institute releases special report on ethnic approach within the Colombian Peace Agreement

2022-05-05T08:00:00-04:00

The Peace Accords Matrix (PAM) at the University of Notre Dame鈥檚 Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 has released a new special report outlining the current implementation status of the ethnic approach within the 2016 Colombian Peace Agreement. The ethnic chapter within the agreement is highly innovative and addresses the systemic and disproportionate victimization that ethnic communities suffered during the country鈥檚 armed conflict. It includes commitments meant to safeguard human rights and protections for these communities.

The special second report, 鈥淐hallenges and Opportunities to Incorporate the Ethnic Focus in Territorial Implementation,鈥� covers implementation of the ethnic approach from November 2020 through November 2021. During this period, the institute found that the gap between overall implementation of the peace agreement and implementation of the ethnic approach persisted. This was particularly apparent among completed commitments.

The Kroc Institute has identified 80 stipulations in the peace agreement that are used for monitoring the ethnic approach, including 13 stipulations from the Ethnic Chapter under Point 6. This report analyzed more than 300 implementation events and consulted secondary sources at both the territorial and national levels. During the study period, no stipulations relating to the ethnic focus were completed, although there were slight changes in stipulations at the non-initiated, minimum and intermediate levels.

The report also notes a decrease in ethnic stipulations that hadn鈥檛 begun, moving from 21 percent in 2020 to 15 percent in 2021. This constitutes the greatest change recorded during the period of the report. Ethnic stipulations at a minimum level of implementation changed from 58 percent to 60 percent, and those in an intermediate stage moved from 9 percent in 2020 to 13 percent in 2021. Completed stipulations under the ethnic approach stand at 13 percent. Because no provisions were completed during this period, the gap between implementation of the ethnic approach and overall implementation of the accord has increased 1 percent.

The special report also includes qualitative analysis exploring four thematic areas within the ethnic approach: effective participation of communities and free, prior and informed consultation; territorial transformation in ethnic communities; reincorporation and security guarantees; and ethnic community victims in the Comprehensive System for Peace.

Despite challenges in completing stipulations with an ethnic focus, the Kroc Institute believes progress can continue to be made, and the report highlights key opportunities to strengthen implementation of the ethnic approach. Opportunities include the increase and improvement of effective participation alongside the right to free, prior and informed consultation. This can be achieved through the work of the Office of the Presidential Councilor for Stabilization and Consolidation and its promotion of dialogue between the Special High-Level Forum with Ethnic Peoples and the Commission for Monitoring, Promoting and Verifying the Implementation of the Final Agreement.

Other opportunities highlighted include work by the Reincorporation and Normalization Agency to conclude consultation processes with ethnic communities to advance processes for reincorporation of ex-combatants with an ethnic approach, and focused efforts by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to issue judicial decisions on macro territorial cases where most victims belong to ethnic communities. Continued attention on international agencies actively accompanying and promoting implementation of the ethnic approach will also be important.

The Kroc Institute will release its sixth comprehensive report on overall Peace Agreement implementation in Colombia in June.

The Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频 is part of the Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and is one of the leading peace research and study centers in the world. One of its main programs is the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), which created the most comprehensive database regarding the implementation of 34 peace agreements around the world.

By mandate of the government of Colombia and the former FARC-EP, signatory parties of the Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace, the Kroc Institute is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the agreement. The Kroc Institute has released five prior reports on the status of overall implementation, as well as three reports on implementation of gender provisions and a report on implementation of ethnic provisions. Review all reports here: https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/barometer/colombia-reports.

The main partner of the Kroc Institute in Colombia is the National Secretariat of Pastoral Social聽C谩ritas Colombiana, an initiative of the Catholic Church. The organization has extensive experience and has been recognized for its social justice efforts and its support for efforts to consolidate peace in local communities throughout the country.

Access the full report here (in English).

Access the full report here (in Spanish).

Kroc Institute releases special report on five years of Colombian Peace Agreement implementation

2021-12-07T16:00:00-05:00

Wednesday (Dec. 1) marked the fifth anniversary of implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the former FARC-EP that ended the country鈥檚 deadly 52-year armed conflict.

According to a new special report from the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM) at the University of Notre Dame鈥檚 Kroc Institute for International Peace 91视频, the first five years of implementation of the Colombian Final Agreement have laid a firm foundation for the ongoing peace process through the creation of a powerful institutional infrastructure that will make the agreement feasible in the long-term.

The special report, 鈥淔ive Years of Peace Agreement Implementation in Colombia: Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities to Increase Implementation Levels,鈥� covers implementation from December 2016 through October 2021.

Despite changes in pace, the report notes that Colombia鈥檚 Peace Accord implementation process has never stopped. When compared with other peace processes studied by PAM, this is a great achievement and cause for optimism in Colombia. However, the report also identifies existing challenges as well as opportunities to advance implementation and strengthen the ongoing peace process across the country.

At the five-year mark, the Kroc Institute reports that 30 percent of the 578 provisions within the agreement have been completed, 18 percent are at an intermediate level of implementation, 37 percent are at a minimal stage and the remaining 15 percent have not started implementation. Levels of progress vary across each of the six points of the agreement and within the agreement鈥檚 two cross-cutting approaches focused on gender and ethnic inclusion. After five years, stipulations relating to the cross-cutting ethnic approach show only 13 percent of provisions completed, and the gender approach shows 12 percent complete.

Points 3 and 6 stand out for their high level of completed stipulations, Points 4 and 5 exhibit mid-level implementation and Points 1 and 2 demonstrate low implementation levels.

The report mentions ongoing challenges facing the implementation process, including violence caused by illegal armed actors, political polarization and the devastating social and economic effects of COVID-19.

But despite these challenges, the Kroc Institute highlights many key implementation milestones reached in each point of the agreement, as well as opportunities to increase implementation levels over the next five years. The report emphasizes the importance of targeted efforts to implement commitments that are incomplete and that can have a positive catalytic effect on other stipulations.

In order to build a stable and lasting peace, the report encourages all citizens, territorial agencies, nongovernmental organizations and international community members to recommit to their roles as crucial parts of the implementation system. This cooperation will bring Colombia closer to a reality where the end of conflict strengthens the experience of reconciliation, security and justice for all Colombians.

By mandate of the government of Colombia and the former FARC-EP, signatory parties of the Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace, the Kroc Institute is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the agreement. The Kroc Institute has released five prior reports on the status of overall implementation, as well as three reports on implementation of gender provisions and a report on implementation of ethnic provisions. Review all reports here: https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/barometer/colombia-reports.

Access the full report in Spanish here.

Access the full report in English here