December 5, 2011
New York, December 5, 2011. Pastor Elías Murrillo was reelected on november 30th, for a second period of four years to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). This Committee is a body composed of 18 independent experts with recognized expertise in human rights. The Committee reviews the periodic reports of States Parties to the Convention and additionally, has the function to apply mechanisms such as the early-warning procedure, the examination of inter-state complaints and the examination of individual complaints.
Mr. Murillo worked as Deputy Director of Black Communities, Ethnic Minorities and Cultural Rights to the Ministry of Interior and Justice, Director of Community Affairs of the Ministry of Interior Black and worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia.
December 2, 2011
During the debate on Civilian Capacity in the Aftermath of Conflict, that took place on December 2 in the General Assembly, Ambassador Néstor Osorio talked about the areas developed by United Nations in order to support national efforts and demands on the field. In this sense, Colombia referred to the report of the Secretary General and the progress, challenges and recommendations to address more effectively the ownership, partnership, expertise and nimbleness.
November 23, 2011
UN Photo - Rick Bajornas
In his speech during the debate on threats to international peace and security held in the Security Council of the United Nations on November 23, Vice Minister Patti Londoño referred to the responsibilities of this body as defined in the Charter of the United Nations and recalled that the Council has recognized that the consolidation of sustainable peace requires the adoption of an integrated approach to strengthen the coherence between the activities in the political, security, development, human rights and promote the rule of law.
Vice Minister affirmed that the Council should continue its work in two complementary directions. On the one hand, proposed to establish synergies between different agencies and organizations, so that each one develops its primary objectives and provide a proper flow of information between them. On the other hand, Colombia suggested, to reflect on how to strengthen the application of Chapter VI to act on these new challenges within the framework of the principles and purposes set forth in the Charter, and to find effective cooperation mechanisms to restore confidence and dialogue between the Organization and Member States.
Finally, the Vice Minister stressed the importance of the work of the General Assembly, given its universal character, as a forum for discussion and consensus building to address the challenges posed by diverse and complex issues of global agenda. »
November 22, 2011
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in New York and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) launched last 22nd of November the publication The Criminal Justice Response to Support Victims of Acts of Terrorism. Colombia as one of the Member States to cooperate with the UNODC in preparing the document, talked about its financial and technical commitment to the development of tools to provide technical assistance to States in areas such as the fight against terrorism.
Colombia condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and referred to the importance of the commitment of the entire international community to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this regard, Colombia spoke of the country's progress in the protection of human rights and the fight against violence and terrorism, citing the Law of Victims and Restitution of Lands adopted on May 2011, as one of the pillars to ensure access of victims to the truth, freedom justice and to ensure no repetition of violence. »
November 17, 2011
UN Photo - Rick Bajornas
The Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations has the honour to inform the reelection of Mr. Eduardo Valencia Ospina for a second period of five years in the International Law Commission, at elections held today at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Mr. Valencia-Ospina is a distinguished jurist, Member of the International Law Commission since 2006, and currently is a Special Rapporteur on the topic of the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters. He has more than 30 years of experience with the legal service of the United Nations and Registrar of the International Court of Justice-ICJ for 14 years, with rank of Assistant Secretary-General.
The International Law Commission is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly which is responsible for preparing the draft codification and progressive development on the various subjects of international law. Colombia has had only two members in this body Dr. Jesus Maria Yepez in the 50's and Dr. Valencia Ospina.
In the group of Latin America and the Caribbean, consisting of eleven candidates, only six were elected, Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica, Argentina, Costa Rica and Colombia. Among the five remaining candidates were Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Uruguay and Suriname.
November 14, 2011
UN Photo - Devra Berkowitz
Ambassador Nestor Osorio in his speech at the Security Council on November 14, spoke about the activities of the Committees related to the fight against terrorism. Ambassador Osorio referred to the activities of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) and emphasized in their value as essential mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the obligations arising from these instruments. He referred to the importance to continue to strengthen coordination of their activities, in order to consistently monitor their working methods and to reinforce the tools available to provide assistance and cooperation to the Member States.
Ambassador Osorio concluded invited to the launch of the Handbook on the Criminal Justice Response to Support Victims of Acts of Terrorism developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with some States, including Colombia. Colombia hopes that this Handbook will provide the basis for CTED activities aimed at capacity building to ensure that the voice of the victims will be heard in the criminal proceedings. »
October 14, 2011
Members of the Security Council unanimously adopt resolution 2012 (2011), extending the mandate of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until 15 October 2012 and reducing its force capacity by about 2,700 troops and police to reflect new realities on the ground.
October 6, 2011
Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, presents to the Security Council the Secretary-General's report on the situation in Abyei, Sudan. The Council also heard a statement from Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Sudan to the UN.
