Colombia will present a report to the UN Security Council next Monday regarding the issue of children who are recruited by criminal organizations in the country.
Colombia’s Vice President, Fancisco Santos, will be touring Europe, discussing Colombia’s human rights situation as well as answering questions related to the United Nations ‘Resolution 1612’ – a resolution introduced in 2005 which focuses on the welfare of children in conflict zones across the world.
In addition, Santos will discuss the Free Trade Agreement that Colombia and Peru are negotiating with the European Union.
Colombian media reported Santos admitting that there are sectors of society that are critical of the success of the agreement and call for it to be halted until Colombia has achieved further progress in the field of human rights.
Santos stated that in his opinion, regarding those who have are against the agreement “the issue is not human rights, the issue is an allergy to free trade, to globalization,” and these anti-agreement sectors are using ‘human rights’ as an excuse to slow down the agreement progress.
Santos has also met with the UN Anit-Terrorism Unit, where an accord to extend a partnership between the European Police Office and Colombian police is intended to get under way once the member states give their approval.
With regard to human rights Santos was quoted saying “our relationship…(with the EU) is smooth and honest and both progress and problems are clearly identified.”
Santos is due to meet members of the European Parliment, including the President of the entity over the coming days.
