Successful launch of new 'Post-Conflict Justice and Local Ownership' Event Series

15 oktober 2009

With opening lecture on the Transitional Justice Process in Colombia

On 8 October 2009, the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies launched its ‘Post-Conflict Justice and Local Ownership’ Event series, with a two expert lectures on human rights and transitional justice in Colombia, in collaboration with the Embassy of Colombia. This new Event series is designed to enhance dialogue between international and domestic actors on the goals and ‘local’ effects of justice and the empowerment of domestic legal systems.

The opening event featured Prof. Eduardo Pizzaro, the Chairman of the Colombian National Commission on Reparation and Reconciliation, and Mr Carlos Franco, the Director of the Colombian Presidential Program for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, upon invitation of H.E. Ambassador Francisco José Lloreda Mera and Dr. Carsten Stahn, project leader and Programme Director of the Grotius Centre.  

Prof. Pizzaro argued that the Colombia is the first country in Latin America where ‘historical truth’ and ‘judicial truth’ go hand in hand. He pointed put that the reparation regime under the Peace and Justice Law goes new ways by offering victims the possibility to demand reparation through judicial or administrative channels. He argued that reparations may play a crucial role in breaking the cycle of violence by acknowledging suffering and offering access to health, education and social welfare. 

Mr. Carlos Franco noted that the current human rights policies of Colombia are focused on two priorities: (i) ‘zero tolerance’ of human rights violations by officials and (ii) and socio-economic re-integration of displaced persons. He argued that budget to fight impunity had been increased by 75 % and that security had improved as a result of joined efforts by the government and civil society and a decrease in criminality (e.g. murder/manslaughter).

The point was made that that alternative justice may serve as a mechanism to foster ‘forgiveness’, but that it should never be an instrument to ‘forget’ past injustices.    

Read more (conference summary, pdf)  

The lectures were the first in a series of events under the broader umbrella of a research project on the theme of “Post-Conflict Justice and Local Ownership”, which is supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and part of the thematic NWO research on Conflict and Security. More information on the project can be found on www.grotiuscentre.org. If you want to receive automatic invitations for this series, please register at grotiuscentre@campusdenhaag.nl with “PCJ Series” as email topic.

From left to right: Mr Guerrero, Prof Eduardo Pizzaro, Dr Carsten Stahn, Mr Francisco José Lloreda Mera, Mr Carlos Franco and Mr Antonio Dimat