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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Wednesday voiced serious concern over the lack of security in Colombia as a threat to the country's peace process.

In a press statement, the council members expressed their serious concern over reports of grave security conditions in several of Colombia's departments, and continued threats, attacks, and killings targeting community and social leaders and former members of the now demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

They called for those responsible to be brought to justice, and for effective action to improve security, including through the extension of integrated civilian and security presence of the state to conflict-affected areas.

The council members welcomed the recent meeting of the National Commission on Security Guarantees, and looked forward to its ongoing work toward developing a public policy to dismantle illegal armed groups, including measures to prevent and respond to their recruitment of children.

They welcomed government measures to strengthen the protection of former FARC members, and encouraged the extension of these measures to informal settlements of former FARC members.

The council members stressed the importance of implementing all aspects of the peace agreement between the government and FARC, including rural reform, political participation, countering illicit drugs, and transitional justice.

They welcomed the agreement of a reintegration roadmap and progress in the approval of income-generating projects and the provision of basic services for former FARC members.

They further welcomed the continued commitment of the vast majority of former FARC members to the peace process, and urged acceleration of efforts to secure their full socio-economic, political, and legal reintegration, focusing on outstanding issues of accreditation, land for income-generating projects, and the needs of female former combatants and those living in informal settlements.

The council members welcomed the inclusive and comparatively peaceful local and departmental elections in October 2019, with the participation of the FARC political party.

They underlined the central role of Colombian authorities at all levels and from across the political spectrum in the implementation of the peace agreement, and encouraged the Colombian authorities to continue to promote inclusive development as an important element of stable and lasting peace.

The Colombian government and FARC struck a peace deal in August 2016 after four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba, ending a five-decade-long conflict in the country. The UN Verification Mission in Colombia, authorized by the Security Council, is tasked to verify the reintegration of former FARC fighters.