Bogota - Some 500 youths from several countries are mobilizing as of today to defend peace in Colombia, nearly three years after the signing of the agreement between the former guerrilla FARC-EP and the State.

Jhonny Marin, the coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Federation of Democratic Youth, said that the mobilization in the region of Catatumbo (east) shows the solidarity with the Colombian people.

'They are youths who see the need to get out of war... and understand that peace in Colombia is peace in the continent,' said Marin, who was quoted by Contagio Radio.

In the framework of the 3rd International Youth Brigade for Peace in Colombia, this mobilization until July 21 in Catatumbo aims to demand that the national government respect the implementation of the peace agreement and the guarantees for the Territorial Space for Training and Reinsertion there.

It also aims to insist on dialogue with other armed stakeholders present in the region.

According to statistics in the latest report from the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, 123 former combatants have been assassinated, 10 are missing and 17 have been victims of attempted homicides since the peace agreement was signed in 2016.

In addition, the Alternative Revolutionary Force of the Common (FARC) party informed that including the latest cases, 140 ex-combatants have been assassinated.