Transitional Justice: Moving from Conflict to Peace

Case Study: Colombia

� Facts on Colombia

� History of conflict

� Concept of transitional justice

� Colombian model

� Reflections

� Local initiatives

Overview

Colombia: Basic Facts

� Population:46.219.699

� Language: Spanish

� Politics: Democratic republic

� Economy: Free market

� Religion: 97% Catholic

� Ethnic groups:

� Indigenous-European (Mestizo) 58%

� European (Criollo) 20%

� African-European (Mulatto) 14%

� African 4%

� Indigenous-African (Sambo) 3%

� Indigenous 1%

Conflict Actors

1. State

2. Guerrillas: FARC, ELN, EPL, M19

3. Paramilitaries: AUC

4. Drug traffickers1

243

Conflict Timeline

1948 Liberals vs.

Conservatives

1957 Political

power-sharing pact

1959 Guerrillas

1980s Drug

trafficking

1990s paramilitary

groups – AUC

Peace processesPeace processesPeace processesPeace processes

1989 Guerrillas M191991 Guerrillas EPL2003 Paramilitaries AUC

Context

• Inequality and poverty• Political corruption

2003 2003 2003 2003 peace peace peace peace processprocessprocessprocess

Violence Levels

Illegal armed groups

� Paramilitaries: AUC: 31,600 +

� Guerrillas: FARC: 15-18,000 est. ELN: 3-5,000 est.

State forces

� Military: 145,000

� Police: 105,000

Victims

� Homicides: 107,000 apx. (02-06)

� Disappearances: 15,600 apx.

� Kidnappings: 23,666 apx. (96-07)

� Displaced: 3,800,000 apx. (fr 00)

Transitional Justice

Objectives:

� Balance competing needs and resources

� Address human rights abuses

� Accountability

� Political transition

� Rebuild a fractured society

Deeper, richer, broader notion of justice

�Context determined�Temporary mechanisms

Criminal vs. Transitional Justice

Criminal Transitional

RestorativeRestorative

Past-present-futurePast-present-future

Collective harmCollective harm

Moral + Political truthMoral + Political truth

RetributiveRetributive

Focus on pastFocus on past

Individual wrongIndividual wrong

Legal truthLegal truth

Survey on victims' perceptions and expectations

� Nearly 90% in favour of reparation

� 79% right to truth� 74% in favour of

reconciliation� 63% in favour of

prosecutionsICTJ-Fundacion Social 2006

Survey on victims' perceptions and expectations

� Nearly 90% in favour of reparation

� 79% right to truth� 74% in favour of

reconciliation� 63% in favour of

prosecutionsICTJ-Fundacion Social 2006

Colombian Model

Justice

Truth

Reconciliation

Reparation

Reconciliation

� Negotiated with AUC 2005

� Based on internationally recognisedprinciples

� Adapted to Colombian context

� Negotiated with AUC 2005

� Based on internationally recognisedprinciples

� Adapted to Colombian context

JusticeJustic

e

Truth

Recon

ciliati

on Reparati

on

For middle and lower ranking paramilitaries:

� Amnesty � Disarmament,

Demobilisation & Reintegration programs

For higher ranking paramilitaries:

� Justice & Peace Law 2005� Reduced sentences

For middle and lower ranking paramilitaries:

� Amnesty � Disarmament,

Demobilisation & Reintegration programs

For higher ranking paramilitaries:

� Justice & Peace Law 2005� Reduced sentences

High

Middle

Lower

ReparationJustic

e

Truth

Recon

ciliati

on Reparati

on

National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation:

� Reparation Fund

Justice & Peace Law:

� AUC Assets

National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation:

� Reparation Fund

Justice & Peace Law:

� AUC Assets

TruthJustic

e

Truth

Recon

ciliati

on Reparati

on Prosecutor’s office:

� Public “free version” by paramilitaries

� Private collection of

victims’ testimonies for reparation claims

� Investigations of claims

National Commission for Reparation & Reconciliation:

� Historical memory project

Prosecutor’s office:

� Public “free version” by paramilitaries

� Private collection of

victims’ testimonies for reparation claims

� Investigations of claims

National Commission for Reparation & Reconciliation:

� Historical memory project

ReconciliationJustic

e

Truth

Recon

ciliati

on Reparati

onNational Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation:

� Undertaking education campaigns on reconciliation

� Designing reconciliation initiatives

� Supporting local Initiatives

National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation:

� Undertaking education campaigns on reconciliation

� Designing reconciliation initiatives

� Supporting local Initiatives

Reflections

� AUC no longer principal actor

� Reduced violence

� Increased confidence

� Exposed ‘Parapolitics’scandal

� Recognition of and reparation to victims

� Underlying issues not addressed

� Drug trade

� Partial peace process

� Ongoing conflict - mutated

� Not victim-centered

BenefitsBenefitsBenefitsBenefits DisadvantagesDisadvantagesDisadvantagesDisadvantages

� Challenges for societies seeking to move from conflict to stability and peace

� Transitional justice

� Colombian model

� Way forward

Concluding remarks

Medellin City Government

Local Initiatives

Victims

Excombatants

Community

Reconciliation

Peace and Reconciliation Program

4,130 Excombatants:

� Psychosocial assistance

� Legal advice

� Education

� Health

� Income generation assistance

Social Investigation and Resolution of Conflicts

Excombatants

2400+ Victims:

� Psychosocial assistance

� Legal advice

� Education

Making victims visible

Healing ceremonies

Historical memory

Victims of Armed Conflict Project

Victims

250 Excombatants and Victims:

� Technical education scholarships

� Job seeking assistance

Education for Reintegration

Reconciliation: Victims & ExcombatantsRestorative Justice Study Group

� Study reconciliation

� Design reconciliation meetings between victims and excombatants based on restorative justice principles

� 4 community districts

� Community leaders, excombatants and victims design reconciliation activities

� Pedagogic workshops

� 120+ artistic, musical and sporting activities

� 4500+ citizens participated

Coming Together for Reconciliation

Reconciliation: CommunityVictims & Excombatants

THANK YOU!