Transitional Justice and Victims’ Rights Before the End of a Conflict: The Unusual Case of Colombia
Categories: Statebuilding
Sub-Categories: Political Transitions, Transitional Justice
Country: Colombia
Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
Year: 2010
Citation: Garcia-Godos, Jemima, and Knut Andreas O. Lid. "Transitional Justice and Victims' Rights Before the End of a Conflict: The Unusual Case of Colombia." Journal of Latin American Studies 42, no. 3 (2010): 487-516.
Sub-Categories: Political Transitions, Transitional Justice
Country: Colombia
Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
Year: 2010
Citation: Garcia-Godos, Jemima, and Knut Andreas O. Lid. "Transitional Justice and Victims' Rights Before the End of a Conflict: The Unusual Case of Colombia." Journal of Latin American Studies 42, no. 3 (2010): 487-516.
Executive Summary
In a context of continuing armed conflict, a comprehensive scheme of transitional justice has been developed in Colombia since 2005 through the Law ofJustice and Peace, with the aim of achieving peace with one of the armed actors in the conflict, the paramilitary groups. The clear link between the demobilisation of illegal armed groups and the rights of the victims is the main feature of theColombian process. This article provides a systematic review of the implementation of the law, focusing on the institutions, mechanisms and procedures put in place to fulfill its goals. Emphasis is given to the legal category of ‘victim’, victims’ rights and victim reparation measures.