The Colombian Senate [6] on March 13 approved [7] a transitional justice structure that will attempt to bring reparations to the more than 8 million victims of the decades-long conflict between the Colombia government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia [8] (FARC). The new system will include a Transitional Justice Tribunal, a Truth Commission and a Missing Persons section, all aimed at punishing war crimes and gaining reparations for victims. The vote was 60-2 in the Senate, with all 40 members of the Democratic Center party boycotting the vote. The bill must now be approved by Colombia's Constitutional Court [9] before it can take effect.
From Jurist [10], March 14. Used with permission.
Note: The transitional justice [11] system, formally the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP [12]), was mandated by the Amnesty Law passed late last year, covering combatants not accused of "grave" war crimes. Civil society groups across Colombia are preparing testimony for the Truth Commission [13].
