Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao’s Visit to London Highlights Colombia’s Humanitarian Crisis and what the UK government can do to continue supporting efforts for sustainable peace

On 7 and 8 July, ABColombia had the pleasure of welcoming Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao to London for a series of meetings with parliamentarians, government officials, and think tank representatives. The visit aimed to shed light on the current humanitarian crisis in Colombia and offer practical recommendations for how UK authorities and civil society can further support peace building efforts.

Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao is widely recognised as one of the most respected voices of the Catholic Church on peace issues in Colombia. As the delegate for Church-State relations for the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, he has played a significant role in supporting various peace negotiations over the years. In his own words, one of the Church’s primary responsibilities is to “establish bridges between the parties involved in the conflict.”  He has had considerable experience, with many different and varied peace processes in Colombia over the years and therefore has clear insights into the complex and multi-layered dynamics of Colombia’s internal armed conflict.

During his visit, Monsignor Henao spoke at a Parliamentary event on 8 July 2025, organised by ABColombia and the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group, to discuss the Peace Process and the likely impacts of pending presidential elections in May 2026. The event was chaired by Brendan O’Hara MP. Catherine O’Neill, Deputy Head of the Americas and Head of Latin America at the FCDO, spoke at the event alongside Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao and Louise Winstanley, the Programme and Advocacy Manager at ABColombia. Monsignor Henao described the humanitarian situation in Colombia as critical, highlighting the events in Catatumbo, Norte de Santander, in January. According to OCHA, at least 91,879 people have been affected by the escalation of clashes between non-state armed groups and acts of violence against the civilian population. This situation has led to the mass displacement of at least 56,091 people, constituting one of the largest humanitarian crises due to displacement in recent years.

Monsignor Hector Fabio pointed out that there are nine armed groups engaged in dialogue with the Colombian Government. The nature of the conflict has also changed, in addition to the fragmentation, the illegal armed groups are not engaged in a conflict with the army but with one another for control of territory, trafficking routes, and illicit economies such as drug trafficking and illegal gold mining. This has left communities highly vulnerable and trapped in ongoing cycles of violence.

He also expressed concern over potential political violence in the lead-up to Colombia’s presidential elections in May 2026. He cited the recent attempted assassination of presidential candidate Senator Miguel Uribe, who remains in critical condition after sustaining two gunshot wounds to the head. The attack was carried out by a 15-year-old, highlighting the growing vulnerability of children and young people to forced recruitment by armed groups. Monsignor Henao stressed the importance of political actors avoiding incendiary rhetoric that could incite violence and urged a focus on policy-based electoral debate.[1] Most importantly, he called for renewed commitment to the full implementation of the 2016 Peace Accord by all political actors.

The 2016 Peace Accord remains a milestone worth celebrating. While many peace agreements fail within five years, Colombia’s has lasted for eight years and is still going strong—an achievement in itself. However, implementation remains limited. For peace to be sustainable, Monsignor Henao emphasised the need to focus on the structural issues addressed in the agreement, particularly land reform and the substitution of illicit crops.[2] He also underscored the importance of placing victims at the centre of the peace process, recognising their rights and restoring their dignity. Continued support for the Transitional Justice System is essential, as is the strengthening of local and regional participation mechanisms—such as the Peace and Reconciliation Councils, established under the Accord. These bodies serve as key platforms for citizen engagement, advising local authorities on peace building initiatives at the regional and community levels.

So, what can the UK government do to support sustainable peace in Colombia? Monsignor Henao’s message was clear: the UK has played a crucial role in Colombia’s peace efforts, particularly through its role as the UN Security Council Penholder on Colombia. As Brendan O’Hara MP highlighted, it is vital that the UK continues its support, especially by backing the renewal of the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia this October—an essential element in the country’s ongoing peace process.

Louise Winstanley highlighted the need for UK funding to reach grassroots communities for peacebuilding initiatives, emphasizing that despite cuts to the International Aid budget, it was important to safeguard these grants. For peace to be sustainable, it has to be built from the grassroots—by communities that understand what is needed and are committed to ensuring its sustainability. In addition to tackling the transnational criminal networks engaged in drug trafficking and illicit gold mining—both of which are driving violence in rural areas, environmental degradation, and corruption at the local level—it is essential to track the financial flows of these illicit economies in order to identify those who are making the real money from these crimes.

In response, Catherine O’Neill stressed the continued support of the UK government to peace efforts through multilateral and bilateral means – engaging with several actors, including civil society. Importantly, she stressed its commitment to working with the UN Security Council in the renewal of the Verification Mission’s mandate.  She also said that her department are focussed on safeguarding money to support Colombia’s peace building efforts and noted the points raised on the impacts of transnational crime and the need to follow the financial flows.


[1] https://elcatolicismo.com.co/iglesia-hoy/colombia/petro-e-iglesia-se-citaron-en-bogota-para-buscar-salidas-tension-institucional

[2] Colombia’s plan to implement a Rapid Response Plan, committed to accelerate implementation and deliver real change in PDET areas – rural territories most affected by the conflict – is one that if implemented in an integral manner will enable the poorest in the most conflicted areas in Colombia to move away from illicit economies, gain access to land, to housing, and to basic services, thus helping to tackle the root causes of the conflict. See: https://www.abcolombia.org.uk/uk-urge-colombia-to-fully-implement-the-2016-peace-accord/