Resolution Expressing Support for the Peace Process in Colombia

F:\M I4\GALLAZ\GALLAZ 026.X]N4L

"n1H,'sT$13" H. RES.

Supporting the peace' pl'ocess iu Colornltitr.

IN TIIE IIOIISE OF REPRESENTATITES

Ur.. Ll-u,t tir+o sultrnittr.d the firllowirrg resolution; rvhiclt rvtrs rcf'elrecl to tlie(lorrunittce on

RESOLUTIONSupporting the peace process in Colombia.

Vtrhereas the Republic of Colombia is one of the United

States' strongest allies in the Western Hemisphere;

\\Ihereas the peoples of the United States and Colombia share

a history of friendship and a common commitment to

peace and democratic values;

Whereas peace negotiations between the Colombian Govern-

ment and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

(FARC) are advancing, affording an opportunity to end

the most enduring conflict in our hemisphere;

Vtrhereas according to Colombia's National Center of Histor-

ical Memory, over 6,000,000 people have been internally

f:WHLC\121515\'121515.096.xm1 (61990612)

December 15, 2015 (2:01 p.m.)

(Oligintrl Sigrr:rttu'e of llenrber)

F:\M 1 4\GALLAZ\GALLAZ 026.X]N4L

2

displaced and more lhan 220,000 killed over the course

of the conflict, 80 percent of them civilians;

\\rhereas Colombians of all walks of life have suffered as a

result of the violence, which has included massaeres,

kidnappings, assassinations, sexual violence, extrajudicial

executions, use of landmines, recruitment of child sol-

diers, forced disappearances, and forced displacement;

\\rhereas minority groups, including the Afro-Colombian, in-

digenous and rural communities, as well as women, have

been disproportionately harmed by the conflict; and

\\rhereas suceessfully negotiating an end to the Colombian

conflict will positively contribute to regional stability and

promote Ilnited States policy goals in the Western Hemi-

sphere by strengthening the rule of law, democracy, and

human rights in Colombia: Now, therefore, be it

1

2

J

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

f:VHLC\1 21 51 5\1 2151 5.096.xm1 (61 990612)

December 15, 2015 (2:01 p.m.)

Resolt,ecl, Tliat the House of Rcpresettttrtivt's-

(1) recognizes the iurportarlce of thc ongoiiig

ncgotitrtions bctrvee'n the Colotnbizirl govel'nlnetlt ancl

thc F.\R(l;

(2) enrmnencls (-'olotnbiau l'resident Jnan

]Ianucl Strntos, u'ho hirs rlernonstrtttetcl r.isiort ttncl

ieaclership in eff'ectiverll- seeking a trtlgotiatercl settle-

ment to cnd tlie cortflict zltd 1a1' tlie fcmnclations tbr

tr sustainttble peiice;

(3) ctrlls on the negotiating ptrrtics to fuII1- ticl-

clrcss tlie just tlenrtruds of rictinis of violence f'or

truth, justice, tnetrniugfuI relparatious atrd guzrrau-

F:\M I4\GALLAZ\GALLAZ 026.X}IIL

1

2

J

4

5

6

f:VHLC\1 21 51 5\121 51 5.096.xm1 (61 990612)December'15, 2015 (2:01 p.m.)

3

teres that the riolencc of the past will lrot be re-

pcatecl; antl

(4) urges Presitlent Btrrtrck Obamn and his .\t1-

rninistrtrtion to continue to riplorously s.rrrort therse

negotiations ancl to cler-elo1) plalis to su.pport the L'lo-

Iombian people in building a just artcl lzrsting peace.