A/HRC/55/7 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its forty-fourth session from 6 to 17 November 2023. The review of Colombia was held at the 4th meeting, on 7 November 2023. The delegation of Colombia was headed by the Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Elizabeth Inés Taylor Jay. At its 10th meeting, held on 10 November 2023, the Working Group adopted the report on Colombia. 2. On 11 January 2023, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Colombia: Mexico, South Africa and Viet Nam. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Colombia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a);1 (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b); 2 (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c). 3 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Panama, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Colombia through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of the delegation reiterated the commitment of Colombia to its international human rights obligations; it was one of the cornerstones of the national Government’s policies. She noted the challenges faced in the implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace signed with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP), but also noted the country’s conviction in adopting significant steps to consolidate “total peace”. 6. The creation of the Unit for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement and the Framework Plan for Implementation of the Peace Agreement, and the progress in implementing the “total peace” policy through the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, were highlighted. In that connection, the delegation highlighted dialogue and bilateral ceasefires, particularly the process under way with the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) through Decree No. 1117 of 2023, supported by resolution 2694 (2023) of the Security Council. 7. Colombia had promoted the adoption of Human Rights Council resolution 53/22 on the enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights in Colombia to implement the recommendations of the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition. With a view to strengthening peacebuilding, Colombia had taken action in several areas: the implementation of a public policy to dismantle criminal organizations; the implementation of initiatives to humanize prisons; the formulation of the national anti-drug policy “Sembrando vida, desterramos el narcotráfico” (By sowing life, we eradicate drug trafficking); the presentation of bill 276 of 2023 to Congress to initiate the process of ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against 1 2 3 2 A/HRC/WG.6/44/COL/1. A/HRC/WG.6/44/COL/2. A/HRC/WG.6/44/COL/3. GE.23-25026