The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Mr. Oscar Lizcano, Mr. Jorge Eduardo Gechen Turbay, Mr. Luis Eladio Pérez Bonilla, Mr. Orlando Beltrán Cuéllar, Ms. Gloria Polanco de Lozada and Ms. Consuelo González de Perdomo, all former members of the Colombian Congress, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/177/11(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 176^th session (April 2005),

Recalling that these six persons were kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) between 5 August 2000 and 23 February 2002, and are still in their hands,

Recalling that, according to information provided by the President of the Colombian Congress in June 2004, the Colombian Congress in August 2003, in the interests of providing security and monitoring reconciliation with FARC, set up a special committee on the question of a humanitarian agreement, and that it is composed of Senators Francisco Murgueitio Restrepo, José Renán Trujillo García, Dilia Francisca Toro, Samuel Moreno Rojas and Jairo Clopatofski; considering nevertheless that, despite repeated requests, no information has been forthcoming on the work and results of this committee,

Recalling that, in her report of February 2005 to the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/2005/10), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged that negotiations be opened as soon as possible between the Government and the unlawful armed groups to end hostilities and achieve lasting peace,

Considering the recent signals of a renewed effort to move towards talks between the Government and FARC,

1. Remains deeply concerned at the continuing captivity of the six parliamentarians, some for more than five years, and the absence of any information on their current state of health, which, when last reported, was said to be critical in the case of Mr. Lizcano and Mr. Pérez;

2. Recalls that the taking of hostages among persons playing no active part in hostilities is explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law; and that therefore FARC is under an obligation to release the civilian hostages forthwith;

3. Strongly encourages the Colombian Government and FARC to act with the necessary resolve to achieve a humanitarian agreement as soon as possible, as a first step towards wider negotiations to overcome armed conflict in Colombia;

4. Deeply regrets the prolonged lack of any information on action taken by the Colombian Congress in this case; and reaffirms its conviction that the Congress has a crucial role to play in promoting the conclusion of an agreement and in monitoring any consultations to this end; and calls on the Congress to ensure that a parliamentary body is in place for this purpose and able to count on the necessary political will and resources;

5. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the competent authorities, the sources and other interested parties;

6. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held during the 114^th IPU Assembly (May 2006).

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