Thank you.
I have just some examples. We had visiting with us the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Adriana Mejía. She gave us some examples of things they have done that really impressed us, and it wasn't just a matter of dealing with their local institutions. I will give you one example with children, children in armed conflicts.
In December 2008, Colombia voluntarily accepted the implementation of the moratorium and reporting mechanism—and I underline, Mr. Chairman, through you—in the UN Security Council Resolution 1612. So they are not just dealing within their own esoteric organizations. I think that proves that they are working with international organizations.
I read an article the other day, Mr. Chairman, that I'd be glad to pass around. We were told by the Minister of International Trade, who was with us last week, that FARC is really engaged now. They are the biggest drug cartel in the world. The other day, coincidentally, I read in the paper, about FARC, that “Colombian rebels kill five soldiers in coca field”:
Colombian FARC rebels killed five soldiers after attacking them with explosives near the border with Ecuador while troops were eradicating illegal coca crops used to make cocaine....
We know that drugs are part of a major problem, and this government, we have been told by various representatives, is trying to eliminate them. So I don't know who FARC is working for.
I'm going to close with this, because I'm going to pass the rest of my time over to my colleague Scott Brison.
When it comes to displaced people, in 2008 there were almost half a million people displaced. They're down to 114,000, if I may say so. Concerning kidnappings, in 2002 there were about 2,900; they're down to 213, Mr. Chairman, for the record. Homicides in 2002 were close to 29,000. They're down to 15,000.
I agree with the statement that was made earlier, that one is one too many. We say in Canada, too, that one homicide is one too many.
I'm going to stop here, sir. But what the statistics show is that they are making a concentrated effort, and I believe that the amendment of the proposal of my colleague, Scott Brison, is one good step toward trying to resolve it.
I'll close with that, sir, and share my time with Mr. Brison.