Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace: the restorative & transitional justice model

ALCANCE Y CONTENIDO

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (Span. JEP) is a Transitional justice mechanism created as part of the 2016 peace agreement signed between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) guerrilla group. Colombia’s transitional tribunal was established to investigate, prosecute and sanction those who committed international crimes during the Colombian armed conflict. Its focus has been on achieving truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition. Likewise, the JEP’s objective is also to contribute to the reintegration of offenders. While the use of Restorative justice in the JEP’s cases presents an opportunity to promote a more inclusive and holistic approach to justice, a myriad of questions and challenges also arise, such as: -How will the JEP guarantee victims’ rights and their participation in the restorative process? -Within the framework of restorative justice, which elements seem crucial for the process of reintegration of offenders to be successful? -Which kind of challenges do judges face when they integrate restorative principles in sanctioning war crimes and crimes against humanity? Panelists offered insight on the challenges faced and advances made, while reflecting on practices that can assist future transitional scenarios. This includes the development of local solutions that transform armed conflict and observe International Law standards.