The debate in Congress for the motion of no confidence against the Minister of Defense, Guillermo Botero, was held on 10 June.  Botero has been accused of not fulfilling his duty to protect human rights and the integrity of life after former FARC-EP combatant Dimar Torres was killed by the Armed Forces in Norte de Santander in April. Following his death, members of the Armed Forces attempted to hide Torres’s corpse, which Botero first denied and subsequently changed his position.  The case occurred precisely around the time of the New York Times report that commanders- specifically General Nicacio de Jesús Martínez- had ordered their troops to double the number of criminals and guerrillas killed or captured,² a scandal which has become known as “false positives 2.0”.  Shortly afterwards, President Duque, with the support of Minister Botero, approved the rise in rank of General Martínez after a Senate debate.³  The Minister defended himself in the motion debate, claiming that he and the Armed Forces are working for the protection and promotion of human rights within the framework of international humanitarian law.  Congress is expected to vote on the motion later this week.⁴

The House Accreditation Committee of the Congress has accepted the documents presented by Jesús Santrich, allowing the former leader of the FARC-EP to take possession of his seat in the Congress. President Duque, signaling Santrich as “mafioso”, called on the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to impede his possession of office as his capture by the Supreme Court of Justice had been previously requested by the AGO.⁵

UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteurs have sent a communiqué strongly criticizing the GOC for inciting violence against the demobilized FARC-EP -specifically in relation to the case of Dimar Torres- and urging immediate actions to implement the Peace Accord. The High Counselor for Stabilization and Consolidation, Emilio Archila, responded to the remarks rejecting the accusations and stating that, on the contrary, the GOC is implementing the Accord and that it provides protection guarantees for demobilized combatants.⁶

The Investigation and Accusation Unit (IAU) of the JEP is committed to recognizing the environment as a silent victim of the conflict and seeking mechanisms for its effective reparation, with the aim to guarantee non-repetition. IAU prosecutors are working with institutions that are part of the National Environmental System of the Ministry of Environment and other social organizations to compile data on the environmental impact of the armed conflict.⁷

The Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization, in articulation with the National Learning Service, is implementing a community initiative entitled “Converse to take action” ('Conversar para emprender)' in La Paz, Cesar. The initiative has two key objectives: to generate spaces for dialogue, peacebuilding, and reconciliation in the region, as the community lies adjacent to Territorial Space for Training and Reincorporation San José de Oriente; and to develop skills in handicrafts. Thus far, 30 members of the community and former combatants have joined.⁸