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The Colombian Peace process

The aim of this paper is to provide background information on Colombia’s armed conflict with a view to better understand its origins.

By analysing its key players, the path that led to the historic peace deal and, finally, the unexpected defeat in the recently-held referendum, this report attempts to explain the nature of these events by placing them in a clear, though complex, context.  

This study focuses on the scope of the crimes committed, together with their consequences and impact on civilians. It examines what has transpired from the mostly secret negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC, and the details of the peace process that purporting to end to one of the world’s oldest conflicts.

The objective is to evaluate the progress made so far and, most importantly, to analyse the main challenges that lie ahead. Notwithstanding the vote’s outcome, that threatens the future of the deal and the observance of exceptionally low levels of violence, several major constraints could have prevented the deal from materializing and many circumstances could have curbed its success: this report inquiries into those elements as well. Finally this paper looks at the reasons behind the vote’s results, its implications and the future prospect of the peace deal.

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