I have visited Arauca, Montes de Maria, Cauca and Valle, Cali and Sumapaz. I have traveled to Colombia many times over the past 22 years.

But there is plenty to suggest that his government is in fact trying to respond to the root causes of the violence and poverty that have plagued Colombia, while embracing and respecting human rights.

Gustavo Petro has not yet completed a year in office. The appropriate lens, therefore, for assessing the policies of a foreign government is whether those policies protect the rights of its citizens and improve their quality of life. leaders have insisted that, in the long run, the best way to respond to the migration issue is by addressing the “root causes” so that people will not need to flee, but instead can remain in their countries of origin and contribute to the development of their societies. The United States is the destination of choice for tens of thousands of people fleeing the endemic violence and extreme poverty that characterize many Latin American countries. I want to thank Chairwoman Salazar and Ranking Member Castro for the privilege of submitting this statement into the Record of this hearing. Since children are at the heart of the mandate, their voices and messages are also central to this study and have been included through focus group discussions and consultations facilitated by the Dallaire Institute, Defence for Children International, and the International Rescue Committee.House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western HemisphereĬolombia’s Descent to Socialism: Assessing Gustavo Petro’s Presidency Thursday, J– 2:30 p.m. The study examines the current situation of my mandate and opens the window to a strengthened way forward by highlighting some collective recommendations to inspire the next 25 years, to ensure a better protection of children in situations of armed conflict worldwide. This study takes stock of the challenges and achievements of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate based on 25 years of existence and suggests a renewed way forward to invigorate the protection of children affected by armed conflict based on prevention, collaboration, reintegration, and a strengthened monitoring mechanism.It is the first comprehensive study to analyse in a holistic manner the challenges, opportunities, and successes in delivering the United Nations CAAC mandate since its creation in 1996.

Children and armed conflict mandate