• Country/entity

  Colombia
  

• Region

  Americas
  

• Agreement name

  Participacíon política: Apertura democrática para construir la paz

• Date

  6 Nov 2013

• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed

• Interim arrangement

  Yes

• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Colombian Conflict (1964 - ) )

• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial

• Conflict nature

  Government

• Peace process

  Colombia V - Santos

• Parties

  The National Government; the FARC - EP.

• Third parties

  -

• Description

  Joint draft on political participation, sub-heading 2. An agreement on political participation, deepending of democracy, encouraging new political forces (pluralism of parties and political movements) and spaces for participation, porhibition of the use of violence for political means, and an end to the destabilisation of democracy. Also addresses public money for partis and poltical movements, more transparency for the electoral process, electoral revision and reform, protection of the rights or political oppositions, special representation in Congress of regions most affected by the conflict, and under development, and conditions and guarantees so that armed organisations transform themselves into parties and political movements and take part in the exercise of power and present their projects and proposal as alternatives.

• Agreement document

  CO_131106_ParticipacionPolitica - tr.pdf | Download PDF

• Agreement document (original language)

  CO_130611_ParticipacionPolitica.pdf | Download PDF

• Main category

  Page 11, 2. Political Participation: Democratic Opening to build peace, 2.2. Democratic mechanisms for citizen participation, including direct participation of different levels and various topics, 2.2.4. Guarantees for reconciliation, coexistence, tolerance and non-stigmatisation, especially for political and social action in the framework of the civility.
  …
  With this objective, the Government will create a National Council for Reconciliation and Coexistence, which shall be composed of representatives of the Government, the Public Prosecutor, assigned political parties and movements, the new movement arising from the transition of the FARC – EP (to integrate the legal political activity),
  social organisations and movements, including (among others) groups of women, peasants, trade unions, ethnic minorities, religious and educational sectors. The role of the Council is to advise and assist the Government in the implementation of mechanisms and actions that include:
  …
  
  Page 14, 2. Political Participation: Democratic Opening to build peace, 2.2. Democratic mechanisms for citizen participation, including direct participation of different levels and various topics, 2.2.6 . Policy for the strengthening of the democratic and participatory planning
  a. Review the functions and the formation of Territorial Planning councils, in order to:
  …
  - Promote the participation of women in the Territorial Councils
  
  Page 18, 2. Political Participation: Democratic Opening to build peace, 2.3 Effective Measures to promote greater participation in national, regional and local policy, in all sectors, and including the most vulnerable population on an equal footing with security guarantees, 2.3.5 . Promotion of a democratic and participatory political culture
  …
  Program for the promotion of women's participation and leadership in Politics,
  
  Page 18, 2. Political Participation: Democratic Opening to build peace, 2.3 Effective Measures to promote greater participation in national, regional and local policy, in all sectors, and including the most vulnerable population on an equal footing with security guarantees, 2.3.6. Promotion of political representation of populations and areas particularly affected by the conflict and abandonment:
  …
  The candidates must be persons that live permanently in these territories or persons who have been displaced and are in the process to return. The candidates can be enrolled through significant groups of citizens or through organisations of the circumscription, such as organisations of farmers, victims (including displaced persons), women and social sectors that work toward peace building and the improvement of social conditions in the region, among others.
  
  Page 19, 2. Political Participation: Democratic Opening to build peace, 2.3 Effective Measures to promote greater participation in national, regional and local policy, in all sectors, and including the most vulnerable population on an equal footing with security guarantees,
  2.3.7. Promotion of the political and civic participation of women in the framework of this Agreement
  
  The National Government and the FARC-EP recognises the important role that women play in conflict prevention, resolution and peace-building. They also acknowledge the need to promote and strengthen the participation of women in the political life, particularly in the context of the end of the conflict, where their leadership and equal participation in public decision-making processes, such as formulation, implementation, evaluation and control of the government policies. Women’s leadership and participation are necessary and essential to achieve a stable and lasting peace.
  
  The National Government and the FARC-EP reject any form of discrimination against women and reaffirm that women’s contribution as political subjects in public life is vital to strengthening democracy and for peace-keeping and peacebuilding. In the implementation of what had been agreed upon in the point 2 of this Agreement*, a gender approach is guaranteed. Necessary positive measures will be designed and adopted to strengthen the participation and leadership of women, and generally promote the implementation of the aforementioned purposes. This gender-approach should be implemented without prejudice to the strengthening implementation of international commitments and national standards on this matter.
  
  
  (p.11) 2.2.4. Garantías para la reconciliación, la convivencia, la tolerancia y la no estigmatización especialmente por razón de la acción política y social en el marco de la civilidad
  ….
  
  Con ese objetivo el Gobierno creará un Consejo Nacional para la Reconciliación y la Convivencia, el cual estará integrado por representantes del Gobierno, el Ministerio Público, los que designen los partidos y movimientos políticos, incluido el que surja del tránsito de las FARC-EP a la actividad política legal, organizaciones y movimientos sociales, en particular de mujeres, campesinos, gremios, minorías étnicas, las iglesias, el sector educativo, entre otros. El Consejo tendrá como función asesorar y acompañar al Gobierno en la puesta en marcha de mecanismos y acciones que incluyen:
  ….
  
  2.2.6. Política para el fortalecimiento de la planeación democrática y participativa
  a. Revisar las funciones y la conformación de los Consejos Territoriales de Planeación, con fin de:
  ….
  (p.13) - Promover la participación de la mujer en los Consejos Territoriales
  
  2.3.5. Promoción de una cultura política democrática y participativa
  ….
  
  (p.18) - Programa para la promoción de la participación y Liderazgo de la mujer en la política.
  
  2.3.6. Promoción de la representación política de poblaciones y zonas especialmente afectadas por el conflicto y el abandono
  …
  Los candidatos en todo caso deberán ser personas que habiten regularmente en estos territorios o que hayan sido desplazadas de ellos y estén en proceso de retorno. Los candidatos podrán ser inscritos por grupos significativos de ciudadanos u organizaciones de la Circunscripci6n, tales como organizaciones de campesinos, victimas (incluyendo desplazados), mujeres y sectores sociales que trabajen en pro de la construcci6n de la paz y el mejoramiento de las condiciones sociales en la
  regi6n, entre otros.
  …
  2.3.7. Promoción de la participación política y ciudadana de la mujer en el marco del presente Acuerdo
  (p.19) El Gobierno Nacional y las FARC-EP reconocen el Importante papel que desempeñan las mujeres en la prevención y solución de los conflictos y en la consolidación de la paz, y la necesidad de promover y fortalecer la participación en la vida política de las mujeres, aún más en el marco del fin del conflicto, donde su liderazgo y participación en pie de igualdad en los procesos de toma de decisiones públicas, y en la formulación, ejecución, evaluación y control de las políticas gubernamentales son necesarias y esenciales para alcanzar una paz estable y duradera.
  
  El Gobierno Nacional y las FARC-EP rechazan cualquier forma de discriminación contra la mujer y reafirman que el aporte de las mujeres como sujetos políticos en la vida pública es vital para el fortalecimiento de la democracia y para el mantenimiento y el fomento de la paz. En la implementación de todo lo acordado en el punto 2 del presente Acuerdo* se garantizará el enfoque de género, y se diseñarán y adoptarán las medidas afirmativas necesarias para fortalecer la participación y liderazgo de la mujer, y en general para promover el cumplimiento de los anteriores propósitos, Lo anterior sin perjuicio de fortalecer el cumplimiento de los compromisos internacionales y las normas nacionales sobre el particular.

Women, girls and gender

2. Political participation:

opening up democracy to build peace

The national government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejercito Popular, FARC–EP) agree:

The construction and consolidation of peace in an end-of-conflict scenario requires the expansion of democracy to allow the emergence of new forces in the political sphere to enrich debate and deliberations on major national problems and hence strengthen pluralism and the representation of the different visions and interests of society, accompanied by the appropriate guarantees for political participation and inclusion.

It is important to expand and develop democracy as a condition for laying solid foundations for the creation of peace.

The construction of peace is a matter for society as a whole and requires the participation of all its members, without distinction.

As such, it is necessary to encourage the participation and resolve of Colombian society as a whole in building peace.

This is both a right and mandatory duty and represents the basis to set Colombia on the path to peace with social justice and reconciliation, responding to the demand for peace among the population.

It involves strengthening organisations and social movements and making participation spaces more robust to ensure the impact and effectiveness of citizen participation and to invigorate and complement democracy.

The signing and implementation of the final agreement will contribute to expanding and deepening democracy insofar as it implies the surrender of arms and the prohibition of violence as a means for political action for all Colombians in order to move toward a situation in which democracy prevails, with full guarantees for those involved in political activities and thus opening up new spaces for participation.

To consolidate peace, it is necessary to guarantee pluralism by facilitating the establishment of new political parties and movements that contribute to the democratic debate and process, have sufficient guarantees for exercising opposition and represent genuine alternatives for power.

In an end-of-conflict scenario, democracy requires the strengthening of guarantees for political participation.

The consolidation of peace also requires the promotion of coexistence and tolerance and the prevention of stigma to ensure respect for democratic values and thus promote respect for political opposition.

These guarantees entail a more equitable distribution of public resources for political parties and movements and increased transparency in the electoral process.

This requires a series of immediate measures, particularly in regions where risks and threats persist, and a comprehensive review of both the electoral regime and the formation and functions of electoral authorities.

There must also be stronger guarantees for exercising political opposition.

The review and modernisation of the organisation and regime for elections must increase citizen participation in the electoral process.

Increased electoral participation also requires inclusive measures to facilitate exercising this right, particularly in zones that are isolated, have been affected by the conflict or have been neglected.

The construction of peace also requires citizen mobilisation and participation in matters of public interest, particularly in the implementation of this agreement.

This means strengthening guarantees and capacities for citizens who are members of different social and political organisations and movements to allow them to carry out their activities and thus contribute to expressing the interests of a pluralist and multicultural society through various channels, including social protest.

It also involves ensuring that citizen participation in the discussion of development plans, public policy and in general matters that concern the community has an effective impact on the decisions of the corresponding public authorities and corporations.

This will ensure that citizen participation is both complementary and acts as a control mechanism for the system of political representation and public administration.

The promotion of political pluralism, social organisations and movements, and democratic debate in general requires new communication spaces to provide parties, organisations and communities who participate in building peace access to spaces on national, regional and local channels and broadcasters.

Building peace also requires a transitional phase in which the territories most affected by the conflict and neglect have increased representation in the Congress of the Republic to ensure the political inclusion of these territories and their populations and the representation of their interests.

It is also necessary to create conditions and provide guarantees to allow organisations that have taken up arms to transform into political parties or movements that actively participate in the formation, exercise and control of political power to allow their proposals and projects to constitute an alternative power.

The necessary institutional revisions and changes will be made to ensure compliance with all the above and full political and citizen participation of all political and social sectors and thus tackle the challenges of building peace.

2. Full rights and guarantees for exercising political opposition in general and specifically for the new movements arising from signing the final agreement.

Access to the media.

2.2.1 Rights and guarantees for exercising political opposition in general

Political activity is not solely limited to participation in the political and electoral system.

As such, the creation of spaces for democracy and pluralism in Colombia requires the recognition of both the opposition exercised by political parties and movements and the forms of action of social and people’s organisations and movements that may exercise opposition against the policies of the national government and departmental and municipal authorities.

In this respect, the definition of guarantees for opposition requires a distinction between the political opposition exercised within the political system for representation and the activities of social and public organisations and movements that may exercise forms of opposition to the policies of the national government and departmental and municipal authorities.

In the case of the former, guarantees for political parties and movements that declare themselves in opposition will be enshrined in a statute for exercising them.

In the case of the latter, social and public organisations and movements require not only a guarantee of the full exercising of rights and freedoms, including opposition, but also the promotion and facilitation of spaces for expressing their demands.

2.1.1.1 Statute of guarantees for exercising political opposition

Exercising political opposition is fundamental for building a broad democracy, peace with social justice and national reconciliation, even more so after signing a final agreement that will open up spaces for new political parties and movements whose political activities will require full guarantees.

After signing the final agreement*, the legally established political parties and movements will be convened in a commission to define the guidelines for the statute of guarantees for opposition political parties and movements.

Other political groups that represent the opposition will also be invited to this forum, as agreed by the parties.

The commission will hold an event that will include the participation of spokespeople for the most representative social organisations and movements, experts and academics, among others.

The national government will use these guidelines to draw up a bill, supported by representatives of the commission of political parties and movements.

* The timeline and control measures for implementing what is agreed will be defined in the discussion of point 6 of the agenda.

2.1.2 Security guarantees for political activity

The national government will establish a new Integrated Security System for Political Activity as part of a modern and qualitatively new concept of security, which, in the end-of-conflict scenario, is founded on the respect for human dignity, the promotion of and respect for human rights and the defence of democratic values, particularly the protection of the rights and freedoms of people who engage in political activity, especially those who, after the end of the armed conflict, form part of the political opposition and thus must be recognised and treated as such.

In light of the end of the conflict, the maximum possible guarantees must be established for involvement in political activity, ensuring that the resolution of differences and conflicts is channelled through democratic means, decisively contributing to creating a climate of coexistence and reconciliation.

The Integrated Security System is conceived in the context of guarantees of rights and freedoms and seeks to ensure the promotion and protection of people, respect for life and the freedom of thought and opinion in order to strengthen and deepen democracy.

The new Integrated Security System for Political Activity must contribute to creating and guaranteeing a culture of coexistence, tolerance and solidarity, dignifying political activity and providing guarantees to prevent any form of stigma and persecution of leaders on account of their political activities, free opinion or opposition.

Measures will be adopted to prevent any conceptions of security that jeopardise the system’s aims of protecting the life of those involved in political activity and preventing stigma based on political ideas and activities.

The new Integrated Security System will promote a culture of respect for differences and the prevention of violence against those involved in political activities in state institutions, political parties and movements, social organisations and movements, and communities in general.

The new Integrated Security System for Political Activity will have a robust internal control mechanism to guarantee the suitability of officials and make it possible to prevent and, where applicable, punish any behaviour against the rights of those it protects.

The Integrated Security System for Political Activity will be structured around a people-centric concept of security based on the principles of the sovereignty, non-intervention and free determination of peoples.

The system will allow for the coordination of security measures with the measures for individual and collective development and well-being included in this agreement.

The government will also strengthen, concentrate and deploy its full institutional capacity to prevent, dismantle and neutralise, with a multidimensional approach, any possible source of violence against those who partake in political activity.

It will also take the necessary measures to ensure that paramilitary groups are not re-established (see point 3).

*The guarantees of the Integrated Security System will be complemented and fully defined in the development of point 3.

2.1.2.1 Integrated Security System for Political Activity

In light of the above, the national government will implement an Integrated Security System for Political Activity.

Security is understood as a democratic value and under a humanist perspective, which should inspire the activity of the state.

The system must effectively guarantee the rights and freedoms of people taking part in political activity in the context of democratic rules.

The system will have the following elements:

Regulatory and institutional suitability:

Creation of a high-level authority that will:

Put in place an Integrated Security System for Political Activity and that guarantees its coordination, operation and supervision.

Report to the Office of the President of the Republic and establish mechanisms for permanent dialogue with political parties and movements, especially those that form part of the opposition and the new movement arising from the transition of FARC–EP to legal political activity.

The mechanisms will include a planning, information and monitoring system and a monitoring and evaluation commission (see item d).

Supervise the operation of the system and facilitate coordination with other state institutions, such as the Ombudsperson, the Attorney General and the Office of the Inspector General of Colombia.

Review of the regulatory framework to increase punishments for crimes against those who partake in political activity.

Strengthen the investigatory and legal capacities for bringing to account those who threaten people involved in political activities.

A specialisation process will be implemented for the investigation and accusation stage to build institutional capacity to combat impunity.

Prevention:

Early Warning System

The system must have a territorial and differentiated approach.

The state will make sufficient funding available for the proper and comprehensive operation of the Early Warning System.

Preventive deployment of security:

Comprehensive territorial control concept that includes links with citizens in regions to support the protection of those involved in political activity in the context of building peace.

Inclusive and auditable coordination system.

Protection:

Specialised protection programme for members of the new political movement arising from the transition of FARC–EP to legal political activity, as agreed between FARC–EP and the national government.

Specialised protection based on a risk assessment for people who have been democratically elected, people who declare themselves to be political opposition and leaders of political parties and movements, with a differentiated approach and national and regional presence.

The assessment of risks will be defined promptly and will be the responsibility of an authority within the system, which will provide inputs to allow the government to take the corresponding measures.

The authority will have regional and local capacities and will have representation of the new political movement arising from the transition of FARC–EP to legal political activity, with which decisions and actions will be coordinated.

The government will have the necessary resources to protect the integrity of leaders that participate in political activity.

Monitoring and evaluation:

An interinstitutional planning, information and monitoring system will be created, with representatives of the political parties and movements, making it possible to evaluate performance and results and thus adjust the strategy and procedures to guarantee security for political activity.

The system will have permanent support from the international humanitarian organisations that are agreed with the new parties or movements arising after signing the final agreement, in addition to any other political parties and movements that wish to participate.

Reporting through public reports by the high-level authority.

A commission will be created for the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the integrated protection system and progress in dismantling criminal organisations and all those that threaten political activity.

The commission will include the representation of political movements and parties.

A committee will be formed and tasked with promote investigations into crimes against those who participate in political activities, particularly those who threaten the opposition.

2.1.2.2 Security guarantees for leaders of social and human rights organisations and movements

Adaptation of laws and institutions:

Legislative review to increase punishments for crimes against leaders of social and human rights organisations and movements.

Building investigative and judicial capacities to deal with those who threaten leaders of social and human rights organisations and movements.

Guarantees for mobilisation and social protest, including the review of legislation.

Prevention:

Early warning system.

Preventive deployment of security.

Coordination system.

Increasing the visibility of the work of leaders of social and human rights organisations and movements.

Protection:

Strengthen the individual protection programme for leaders of social and human rights organisations and movements who are at risk.

Monitoring and evaluation:

An interinstitutional information and monitoring system for evaluating performance and results, adjusting the strategy and procedures to guarantee security conditions for leaders of social and human rights organisations and movements.

Reporting through public reports, a monitoring commission and a special auditor.

A committee to promote investigations into crimes against the leaders of social and human rights organisations and movements.

2.2 Democratic mechanisms for citizen participation, including direct participation, for the various levels and issues

2.2.1 Guarantees for social movements and organisations

In light of the right of all people to form different types of social organisations, to join such organisations and promote their platforms, to freedom of expression and disagreement, to pluralism and tolerance, to political or social activity through protest and mobilisation, and taking into account the need for a political culture to ensure the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the obligation of the state to guarantee deliberative and public dialogue, measures will be adopted to guarantee the recognition, strengthening and empowerment of all social movements and organisations, in line with their repertoires and platforms for social action.

The government will guarantee the political rights of citizens who, as political actors, are organised in social movements and organisations.

Citizen participation in matters of public interest by forming and strengthening various organisations and movements is a fundamental part of the construction and sound operation of democracy.

A democratic and organised society is a necessary condition for building stable and long-lasting peace, particularly in the context of the implementation of this agreement.

As such, it is important to adopt actions to strengthen social organisations and movements, particularly providing guarantees for their participation and dialogue with the authorities, respecting the differentiated approach, notwithstanding the universal nature of such guarantees.

All social organisations and movements, including those arising after this agreement has been signed, are called to exercise the rights and fulfil the duties of citizen participation set out in the agreement.

For this purpose, the national government will produce a bill on the guarantees and promotion of citizen participation and other activities that may be undertaken by social organisations and movements based on the following guidelines, which will be discussed at a national forum with the participation of the spokespeople for the most representative social organisations and movements:

* The timeline and control measures for implementing what is agreed will be defined in the discussion of point 6 of the agenda.

Guarantee the right to prompt and free access to official information under the constitution and the law. ( *

and the legislative changes deriving from the agreement), the phrase in parenthesis is pending.

Regulation of the right of reply and rectification for the most representative social organisations and movements with respect to false or aggravating declarations made by the national government.

Profile and register formal and informal social organisations, jointly with social organisations and movements, with periodic updates to identify, notwithstanding their nature, autonomy, capacities and needs and the existence of networks and partnerships as the basis for developing or modifying public policy.

Provide legal and technical support for the creation and strengthening of social organisations and movements.

The principle of equality notwithstanding, the most vulnerable will be supported by extraordinary measures.

Upon request by the social organisations and movements, expedite the systematisation and exchange of successful experiences in strengthening them, and provide training to develop the objectives of their missions, with the support of other organisations and movements of a similar nature, as applicable.

Strengthen the funding mechanisms for the initiatives and projects of social organisations through public and transparent tenders with public oversight.

Promote the creation of networks of social organisations and movements that make leaders visible and guarantee their capacity for full dialogue with the public authorities.

Access to communication mechanisms to make visible the work and opinion of social organisations and movements, including spaces on public interest channels and broadcasters.

The representativeness of social organisations and movements, citizen control and dialogue with local, municipal, departmental and national authorities will be expanded and guaranteed in forums for citizen participation.

Design methods that contribute to the effectiveness and impact of forums for participation and dialogue, including those established in line with their nature (formal or informal) and specificity.

These methods will ensure monitoring and reporting mechanisms for agreements arising from forums for participation involving social organisations and movements.

Put in place monitoring and verification mechanisms to ensure the authorities comply with the obligations, commitments and guarantees for the establishment, operation and effectiveness of spaces for citizen participation, particularly those for dialogue with social organisations and movements.

Create a tool to evaluate, make visible and incentivise the management of public authorities with respect to the participation of social organisations and movements.

The exchange of successful citizen participation experiences between social organisations and local and regional authorities will be guaranteed, taking into account the specific circumstances of different territories.

Promote the development of local, municipal, departmental and national work agendas, as applicable, which make it possible to pay early attention to petitions and proposals from the various sectors made via the social organisations and movements.

The local authorities must deal with petitions and proposals in a timely manner and channel them as applicable to ensure they are dealt with quickly and effectively.

The national government will consider and evaluate the feasibility of proposals for additional guarantees arising in the context of the national participation space in a Dialogue Commission with spokespeople from the most representative social organisations and movements, chosen via a mechanism defined by the organisers.

The mechanism must be participative and guarantee a plural and balanced representation in the commission.

The national government and FARC–EP will agree the organisers, criteria and guidelines for developing this national participation space in order to guarantee a plural and balanced representation.

2.2.2 Guarantees for mobilisation and protest

In a democracy, mobilisation and protest, as forms of political action, are legitimate manifestations of the freedoms of assembly, movement, expression, thought and opposition.

They enrich political inclusion and foster a critical public open to social dialogue and collective efforts to build the country.

In an end-of-conflict scenario, different spaces must be guaranteed to channel citizen demands, including full guarantees for mobilisation, protest and peaceful coexistence.

The rights of demonstrators and other citizens must also be guaranteed alongside the rights of mobilisation and protest.

The processes for political and social democratisation to increase social and citizen participation will entail the structural transformation of the political culture and contribute to restoring the value of politics.

To guarantee these rights are fully exercised, the government will define the required legislative measures and changes based on the criteria set out below and any others agreed by a special commission with functions similar to those in 2.2.1 and with the participation of spokespeople from the Commission for Dialogue and representatives of other stakeholders.

The special commission will discuss the inputs from the national participation space described above and those proposed by other sectors:

Full guarantees for mobilisation and protest as part of the constitutional right to freedom of expression, assembly and opposition, privileging dialogue and civil relations in the handling of these activities.

Guarantees for the rights of demonstrators and other citizens.

Guarantees required for exercising the right to freedom of information during mobilisation and protest.

Reviewing and, where necessary, changing the laws that apply to social mobilisation and protest.

Guarantees for the application of and respect for human rights in general, ensuring disturbances are handled in a civil manner.

Strengthening the surveillance and control of the action of the authorities and the measures they use for dealing with these activities.

Guarantees that the state will respond with dialogue to mobilisation and protest, establishing dialogue mechanisms and spaces for participation, and, as necessary, reaching agreements, ensuring the democratic treatment of mobilisation and protest, together with mechanisms to monitor compliance with agreements.

Decisions will always be made in the common good.

Support from the Public Prosecution Service for mobilisations and protests as guarantor of the respect for democratic freedoms, as applicable or upon request by demonstrators or those who are affected.

In the context of the public policy to strengthen, promote and guarantee the participation of social movements and organisations, the government will strengthen and expand citizen participation forums for dialogue and the production of local, municipal, departmental and national work agendas, as applicable, to allow early consideration of requests and proposals from the various social sectors and organisations.

2.2.3 Citizen participation through community, institutional and regional media

Community, institutional and regional media must contribute to citizen participation, especially the promotion of civic values, different ethnic and cultural identities, political and social inclusion, national integration and, in general, the strengthening of democracy.

Citizen participation in community media also contributes to building a democratic culture based on the principles of freedom, dignity and belonging, as well as strengthening communities via local and mutual collaboration links.

In an end-of-conflict scenario, community, institutional and regional media will also contribute to developing and promoting a culture of participation, peaceful coexistence, peace with social justice and reconciliation.

To make progress in these areas, the national government commits to:

Hold new tenders for the allocation of community radio, with an emphasis on the zones most affected by the conflict, thus promoting the democratisation of information and the use of available radio spectrum.

Promote the technical training of community media staff and the education and training of community communicators and media operators through processes that seek to dignify free expression and opinion.

Open up spaces in institutional and regional broadcasters and channels for communicating the work of social organisations and communities in general, in addition to content related to the rights of vulnerable populations, peace with social justice and reconciliation, and the implementation of the plans and programmes agreed in the context of this agreement.

Fund the production and distribution of content designed to foster a culture of peace with social justice and reconciliation by the public-interest and community media.

The allocation will be made by means of public and transparent tenders with mechanisms for citizen oversight.

2.2.4 Guarantees for reconciliation, coexistence, tolerance and preventing stigma, especially due to political and social activity in the context of civil relations

In an end-of-conflict scenario, everyone, including the parties to this agreement, must contribute to making progress in building a culture of reconciliation, coexistence, tolerance and preventing stigma.

This implies respectful and dignified language and behaviour for political activity and social mobilisation, creating the conditions to strengthen the recognition and defence of the rights enshrined in the constitution.

With this objective, the government will establish the National Council for Reconciliation and Coexistence, comprising representatives of the government, the Public Prosecution Service, the political parties and movements (including the party arising from the transition of FARC–EP to legal political activity) and social organisations and movements, particularly women, peasants, unions, ethnic minorities, churches and the educational sector.

The council will be responsible for advising and supporting the government in the implementation of mechanisms and actions, including the following:

Design and execution of a programme for reconciliation, coexistence and preventing stigma with the participation of the territorial bodies.

Promotion of respect for difference, criticism and political opposition.

Promotion of respect for efforts to promote building peace and reconciliation by different political and social movements and organisations.

Promotion of respect for efforts by social and human rights organisations, particularly those enforcing the work of the government and opposition.

Training civil servants and the leaders of social organisations and movements to guarantee the prevention of stigma.

Education related to the final agreement:

promoting education and communication programmes for the appropriation of this agreement, particularly on the designs agreed for political and social participation.

A special communication programme will be created and will be implemented via the public and private education system at all its levels.

Communication of the agreement will be guaranteed at all the levels of the state.

Design and execution of large-scale awareness-raising campaigns for a culture of peace, reconciliation, pluralism and the free debate of ideas in the development of democracy.

Promotion of reconciliation, coexistence and tolerance, especially among the populations most affected by the conflict.

Training for social organisations and movements and civil servants in management roles at the national, departmental and municipal levels in handling and resolving conflicts.

Creation of a chair of political culture for reconciliation and peace.

Councils for reconciliation and coexistence will be established at the territorial levels to advise and support the local authorities in implementing agreements, taking into account the specific circumstances of individual locations.

2.2.5 Citizen control and oversight

Citizen participation and control are essential to ensuring the transparency of public administration and that resources are used correctly.

It is also an important part of making progress in the fight against corruption and the penetration of criminal structures in public institutions.

Citizen control is even more necessary in an end-of-conflict and peace-building scenario, with considerable investment required to fulfil the objectives of this agreement throughout the national territory, especially in the priority zones.

The national government makes the following commitments to promote and strengthen citizens control and the democratisation and increased transparency of public administration:

Establish a plan to support the creation and promotion of citizen oversight bodies and transparency observatories, with particular emphasis on citizen control for the implementation of this agreement.

The plan will be launched with the tender for specialist organisations and higher education institutions, among others, who will provide support and technical assistance.

Guarantee support for the national training plan for monitors that are promoted by the communities.

Create easily accessible local, regional and national information mechanisms to guarantee the communication and transparency of the implementation of this agreement as part of a reporting system for the agreement.

As part of a special programme for eliminating and preventing corruption in the implementation of this agreement, the national government will create a special mechanism for handling, processing and monitoring reports and alerts related to corruption in general from citizens, organisations and movements, with an emphasis on the implementation of this agreement.

Promote a large-scale institutional campaign to raise awareness of citizens’ rights and the obligations and duties of the authorities regarding citizen participation in and control of public administration, in addition to the administrative and legal mechanisms to ensure their effective compliance.

The campaign will also include the communication of all mechanisms for citizen participation and control, details of how citizens can participate in them and their importance to genuine democratic life.

Strengthen accountability mechanisms for all publicly elected civil servants at the national, departmental and municipal levels, in addition to other public entities and businesses that provide public utilities, with a special emphasis on promoting forums for dialogue as part of the corresponding participation spaces.

Create links with public universities through work placements and community intervention projects and large-scale campaigns to promote citizen participation and control.

* The community ombudsperson or similar figures will be strengthened in the regional authorities of the Public Prosecution Service as a means to empower communities (this issue will be discussed under agenda item 5).

2.2.6 Policy for strengthening democratic and participatory planning

The promotion of good practices for participative planning is key to deepening democracy in Colombia, especially for the implementation of this agreement in regions, which will require active and effective citizen mobilisation and participation.

To strengthen the participation in the production, discussion, monitoring of the implementation, and evaluation of planning and budget processes, and promote their impact on administrative decisions, the national government undertakes to carry out the following actions:

Review the functions and formation of the territorial planning councils, in order to:

Expand citizen participation in producing development plans and monitoring their execution and evaluation.

Adopt measures to promote the guarantee of a broad and pluralist representation in the formation of territorial planning councils, supported by existing economic, social, cultural, environmental, educational and community networks, partnerships and organisations, among others.

The latter will be responsible for appointing their representatives on these authorities.

Guarantee the participation of the councils in producing, discussing, monitoring the implementation of plans and their evaluation.

Mechanisms will be established for dialogue with the authorities responsible for approval.

Strengthen the participation of the local administration assemblies in the production of development programmes.

Promote coordination between the various formal and informal forums for participative planning.

Make the legislative changes required to ensure the concepts, rulings and monitoring reports of the participative planning forums receive a response from the public authorities in dialogue spaces and forums.

Ensure the concepts of the territorial planning councils receive priority attention by the public authorities.

Strengthen the spaces for dialogue and reporting between the participative planning authorities and the organisations or sectors they represent to guarantee the processing of public initiatives for planning, among other aspects.

Strengthen the technical capacity of the participative planning authorities.

Promote the participation of women in territorial councils.

Provide technical assistance to the municipal and departmental authorities as required for the participative formulation of the various planning tools.

Conduct a comprehensive and participative review of the system for participation in the planning processes, particularly regarding:

The coordination of the territorial and national planning authorities.

The composition and operation of the National Planning Council in order to guarantee broad and pluralist representation.

The effectiveness of the system.

The national government will make the necessary changes deriving from the review process at all levels of the system for participation in planning processes.

Strengthen the institutional designs and methodology in order to facilitate citizen participation and ensure its effectiveness in the formulation of social public policies, such as health, education, the fight against poverty and inequality, the environment and culture.

In doing so, the national government, with the participation of the stakeholder sectors, will review the forums and processes for sectoral participation and will issue instructions to the respective institutions to ensure they change their rules, organisation and operation.

Strengthen and promote the construction of participative budgets at the local level in order to:

Promote citizen participation in prioritising part of the investment budget, such that it reflects the conclusions of the participative planning exercises.

Create incentives for producing and delivering participative budgets.

Promote monitoring and reporting mechanisms for the delivery of participative budgets.

2.3 Effective measures to promote increased participation of all sectors in national, regional and local politics, including the most vulnerable population, under equal conditions and with guarantees of security

2.3.1 Promotion of political pluralism

To promote political pluralism and the representativeness of the system of parties by expanding the exercising of the right to association for political ends, together with guarantees to ensure equal conditions for the participation of political parties and movements, thus expanding and deepening democracy, the national government will undertake the following:

2.3.1.1 Measures to promote access to the political system

In an end-of-conflict scenario and in order to consolidate peace, obstacles will be removed and institutional changes will be made to allow the political parties and movements to obtain and preserve legal status, in particular to facilitate the transition of social organisations and movements with a political vocation toward their establishment as political parties or movements.

The following measures will be promoted for this purpose:

Separation of obtaining and preserving legal status for political parties and movements from the threshold for congress elections and thus redefine the requirements for their establishment, one of which will be the number of members.

Design a system for the progressive acquisition of rights for political parties and movements, in line with their performance in elections at the municipal, departmental and national levels.

The system will include an eight-year transitional regime, including the funding and dissemination of programmes to promote and stimulate new national political parties and movements entering politics for the first time.

* The following proposal by FARC–EP will be discussed under point 5 (Victims) of the agenda of the general agreement:

measures to repair and restore the rights of parties such as the Patriotic Union (Unión Patriótica, UP), which have been severely affected by violent actions against their membership.

2.3.1.2 Measures to promote equal conditions in political competition

To establish a more equitable distribution of resources, measures will be taken to:

Increase the percentage that is equally distributed among political parties and movements with representation in congress and increase the fund for financing political parties and movements.

Expand the spaces for communicating the political platform of political parties or movements with representation in Congress.

2.3.2 Promotion of electoral participation

The national government, together with the competent authorities, will implement the following measures to promote increased electoral participation:

Promote information, training, education and communication campaigns that stimulate electoral participation at the national and regional levels, with particular emphasis on promoting increased participation among vulnerable populations and territories that are particularly affected by conflict and abandonment.

Undertake a large-scale national ID campaign, prioritising the marginal zones of urban centres and rural zones, particularly those most affected by the conflict and neglect.

Support efforts by the electoral organisation to stimulate and facilitate electoral participation, particularly among the most vulnerable and remote populations (rural, marginalised, displaced and victims), and in particular:

Promote a broadly participative exercise to determine the obstacles faced by these populations in exercising their right to vote and take the corresponding measures.

Adopt mechanisms to facilitate access to voting stations among communities that live in remote and isolated areas.

2.3.3 Promotion of transparency

2.3.3.1 Measures to promote transparency in elections

The national government, supported by the competent authorities, will guarantee the implementation of the following measures to promote increased electoral transparency:

Undertake campaigns to prevent behaviour that threatens the transparency of elections.

Put in place mechanisms to facilitate the reporting of violations by the public and create a system for their monitoring.

Conduct a technical audit of the electoral census, with effective support and participation from citizens and representatives of political parties and movements.

Form a national tribunal for electoral guarantees and special sectional tribunals in the constituencies at greatest risk of electoral fraud.

The constituencies will be defined based on the reports and alerts received by the electoral organisation from the authorities, the public, NGOs specialising in monitoring elections and political parties and movements, as well as other relevant sources.

Build capacity for investigating and punishing crimes, electoral oversights and the criminal infiltration of political activity.

Support the adoption of measures to guarantee the increased transparency of the funding of election campaigns.

Support the implementation of electronic mechanisms for elections, with guarantees of transparency.

Promote the participation of social movements and organisations or any other public organisation involved in monitoring and overseeing elections.

Promote training, education and political communication processes in public affairs.

2.3.3.2 Transparency measures for allocating official advertising

To ensure the transparency of the allocation of official advertising and prevent its use for the purposes of elections, political parties, personal promotion or political projects, particularly during elections, the national government will promote the necessary changes to legislation to ensure official advertising at the national, departmental and municipal levels is allocated in line with transparent, objective and fair criteria, taking into account the local and community media and communication spaces.

The legislation must also ensure that information on spending on official advertising is made publicly available through the publication of detailed reports.

2.3.4 Reform of the electoral regime and organisation

To increase the autonomy and independence of the organisation of elections, including the National Electoral Council or the institution that carries out its work, and modernise and improve the transparency of the electoral system to provide increased guarantees for political participation under equal conditions and improve the quality of democracy, a special electoral mission will be created after signing the final agreement.*

The mission will comprise high-level experts chosen based on the mechanism agreed by the parties, which will present its recommendations within six months based on considerations including national and international good practices and the inputs received from the political parties and movements and electoral authorities.

The national government will make the necessary legislative and institutional changes based on these recommendations.

* The timeline and control measures for implementing what is agreed will be defined in the discussion of point 6 of the agenda.

2.3.5 Promotion of a democratic and participative political culture

The strengthening of political and social participation requires the transformation of the country’s political culture.

To expand democracy, make it more robust and thus consolidate peace, it is necessary to promote a participative political culture, founded on respect for democratic values and principles, the acceptance of the contradictions and conflicts inherent to a pluralist democracy, and the recognition of and respect for political opposition.

A democratic and participative political culture must contribute to equality among citizens, humanism, solidarity, social cooperation and transparency in public administration, prohibiting clientelism and corruption.

It must also promote the handling of conflicts through the mechanisms provided by politics, prohibiting violence as a method for political action.

Making progress toward a democratic and participative political culture implies promoting and guaranteeing the value and significance of politics as a vehicle for exercising political, economic, social, environmental and cultural rights.

A democratic and participative political culture must contribute to improving the integration of the most vulnerable sectors, in addition to peasants, indigenous communities, people of African descent and the LGTBI population.

The national government will put in place the following measures to promote a democratic and participative culture:

Promotion of democratic values, political participation and associated mechanisms to guarantee and promote knowledge of them and their effective use, thus strengthening the exercising of constitutionally enshrined rights through campaigns in the media and training workshops.

Specific emphasis will be placed on the most vulnerable populations, in addition to peasants, indigenous communities, people of African descent and the LGTBI population.

Strengthening education programmes for democracy at the various levels of teaching.

Promotion of political and social leadership programmes for members of parties and social organisations.

Programme to promote the participation and leadership of women in politics.

2.3.6 Promotion of the political representation of populations and zones that are particularly affected by the conflict and neglect

In an end-of-conflict scenario and to guarantee increased integration of zones that are particularly affected by the conflict, neglect and a weak institutional presence, alongside the increased political inclusion and representation of these populations and their political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights, and also as a measure for repairing and building peace, the national government undertakes to create a total of X Special Transitional Constituencies for Peace for the election of a total of X representatives to the House of Representatives*, on a temporary basis for X electoral periods.

* An agreement has not been reached on the number of electoral periods.

The constituencies will have special rules for the registration and election of candidates.

Campaigns will also have special funding and access to regional media.

Special support mechanisms will be established to ensure the transparency of the electoral process and the freedom to vote.

All candidates must regularly reside in these territories or have been displaced from them and in the process of returning.

Candidates may be registered by significant groups of citizens or organisations in the constituency, such as organisations of peasants, victims (including people who have been displaced), women and sectors of society that work to build peace and improve of social conditions in the region.

Candidates will be chosen by the citizens of these territories, notwithstanding their right to participate in the election of candidates to the House of Representatives in ordinary elections in their departments.

Parties that are represented in the Congress of the Republic will not be entitled to register candidates for these constituencies.

The electoral organisation will conduct special monitoring of the electoral register and the registration of candidates to ensure they comply with the established rules.

* Exception:

independently of this proposal, FARC–EP maintain their proposal for the formation of territorial houses.

2.3.7 Promotion of political participation and citizenship for women in the context of this agreement

The national government and FARC–EP recognise the important role women play in preventing and resolving conflicts and consolidating peace, in addition to the need to promote and strengthen their participation in political life, especially in an end-of-conflict scenario.

Their leadership and participation as equals in the public decision-making process and the formulation, execution, evaluation and control of government policies are necessary and essential to deliver a stable and long-lasting peace.

The national government and FARC–EP reject any form of discrimination against women and reaffirm that their contribution as political subjects in public life is vital for strengthening democracy and maintaining and promoting peace.

The gender approach will be guaranteed in the implementation of the material agreed in point 2 of this agreement* and the necessary affirmative measures will be designed and adopted to strengthen the participation and leadership of women and promote compliance with the above goals in general, notwithstanding strengthening compliance with international commitments and national laws in this area.

* The location of this point is outstanding:

the government proposes it be inserted as 2.1.4 and FARC–EP propose it be inserted as 2.2.3

Media access

Creation of a new space to provide access to the media for political parties and movements

To complement the provisions agreed in points 2.2 and 2.3 regarding access to the media for social organisations and movements and political parties and movements, respectively, the government undertakes to put in place a closed institutional television channel for the legally established political parties and movements to allow them to communicate their political platforms in the context of respect for ideas and difference.

This channel will also be used for communicating the work of social organisations and movements, promoting a democratic culture of peace and reconciliation and communicating advances in the implementation of the plans and programmes agreed in the context of this agreement.

A commission will be established with representatives of the most representative political parties and movements and social organisations and movements to advise on the scheduling of the channel.