Spotlight - Political participation in post-Peace Accord contexts

Abstract

The Peace Agreement signed between the Revolutionary Armed Forced of Colombia – People's Army (FARC-EP) and the Government of Colombia (GoC) in November 2016 explicitly recognized the necessity of a democratic opening to build sustainable peace in Colombia. An entire chapter dedicated to political participation identified three priority areas: strengthen pluralism, increase citizen participation in politics, and put an end to the use of violence as a means of political action. It also spelled out measures to ensure the inclusion of the former FARC in Colombia's political life. This Spotlight outlines the milestones of the Peace Accord in terms of political inclusion and participation, presents the advances in the implementation of the political participation provisions, and analyzes the challenges to the FARC's participation in politics.