E/C.12/COL/CO/6 (c) No. 1636); (d) The Act establishing the unemployment protection mechanism, of 2013 (Act The Statutory Act on Health, of 2015 (Act No. 1751); (e) Decree No. 4912 of 2012 creating the National Protection Unit to protect human rights defenders and trade unionists, among others; (f) The 2014-2018 National Development Plan. 6. The Committee welcomes the close cooperation between the State party and the country office in Colombia of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. C. Principal areas of concern and recommendations Implementation of the peace agreement 7. While the Committee welcomes the fact that a number of key points of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace represent an opportunity for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly those of victims and of the groups that have been most affected by the conflict, the Committee is concerned at the major challenges to be faced in ensuring their effective implementation. 8. Bearing in mind that the State party is at a critical juncture in the peacebuilding process, the Committee recommends that it take all necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation of the points of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, including through the allocation of the necessary human, technical and financial resources. It also recommends that it ensure that the mechanisms to monitor its implementation, in particular the Commission for the Follow-up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement, function effectively. The Committee encourages the State party to take appropriate steps to guarantee the active, open and transparent participation of society at large in the implementation process, and in particular the participation of the most affected groups and of the victims of the conflict. Human rights defenders 9. While the Committee appreciates the establishment and the work of the National Protection Unit, it remains deeply concerned at the persistence — and indeed the increasing number of cases — of harassment, assault and attempted killings targeting human rights defenders, including defenders of economic, social and cultural rights, such as rural, indigenous and Afro-Colombian leaders, which represents a serious obstacle to the building of a stable peace. 10. The Committee urges the State party to: (a) Thoroughly and effectively investigate all allegations of acts of violence, threats and attacks against the life and physical integrity of human rights defenders, including defenders of economic, social and cultural rights; (b) Continue its efforts to ensure the proper functioning of the National Protection Unit in order to provide effective and timely prevention of acts of violence against any human rights defenders and to provide adequate protection, in accordance with the specific needs and characteristics of the various groups of defenders of economic, social and cultural rights; (c) Carry out information and awareness-raising campaigns on the vital work done by human rights defenders and trade union leaders and members, with a view to ensuring a climate of full respect in which they are free to work without fear and without intimidation, threats or reprisals of any kind. 11. The Committee refers the State party to its 2016 statement on human rights defenders and economic, social and cultural rights. 2 GE.17-18290