JUSTICE AND TRUTH: KEYS TO THE PEACE PROCESS IN COLOMBIA
The German-Colombian Peace Institute – CAPAZ and the Centre for the Study of Latin American Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure (CEDPAL) at the University of Göttingen are pleased to report that they have obtained funding of more than 365,000 euros from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The funds will be used to support the process of justice and truth in the context of peacebuilding in Colombia, in collaboration with the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) and the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth (CEV).
The focus will be on the circulation of knowledge through seminars with judges and members of the academic staff of the JEP and the CEV, as well as the academic exchange between Germany and Colombia on issues relevant to the peace process. The project for the stabilization of the Colombian peace process through transitional justice and truth will be run between July 2019 and the end of 2020.
German Minister Heiko Maas (o.t.l.) and Prof. Dr. Peters (CAPAZ), during the signing of the cooperation agreement with the JEP in April 2019. Luis Enrique Sierra/CAPAZ
Thanks to the support of the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Minister Heiko Maas, CAPAZ and CEDPAL will have the funds to develop initiatives that involve sustained collaboration with both institutions, created after the signing in 2016 of the Final Agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC-EP guerrilla.
CAPAZ Academic Director and Professor of Peace Studies at Justus Liebig University Giessen, Prof. Dr. Stefan Peters stressed the importance of the project for the construction of a lasting peace: “Tackling the past is a painful but necessary process for building peace. The JEP and the CEV are two key instruments for the successful implementation of peace in Colombia. We are very happy to be able to work with them to strengthen peace in Colombia”.
Prof. Kai Ambos, CEDPAL Director Foto: JEP.
From CEDPAL, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Kai Ambos added, “Colombia’s transitional justice system is a model for the world. It is an honour and a challenge for CEDPAL to be able to collaborate with the JEP as its judicial component and CEV as its integral truth component. We hope to be able to contribute, at least modestly, to your best performance”.
Cooperation with peace institutions
In April 2019, CAPAZ and CEDPAL formalized a cooperation agreement with the JEP and in June of the same year cooperation with the CEV was formalized. With both agreements, the German institutions reiterate their intention to support the two important components of the Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition (Sistema Integral de Verdad, Justicia, Reparación y No Repetición).
You may also like: Kooperationsabkommen zwischen CAPAZ, CEDPAL und JEP in Anwesenheit des Bundesaussenministers Heiko Maas (in German)
You may also like: Letter of Understanding between CAPAZ and the Truth Commission (CEV) in Colombia
CEDPAL, headed by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Kai Ambos was appointed advisor (amicus curiae) to the JEP in December 2017. The research centre is attached to the University of Göttingen, a founding member of the CAPAZ Institute.
(Text: Claudia Maya. English version: Tiziana Laudato)
For more information: www.instituto-capaz.org / https://cedpal.uni-goettingen.de
Contact: Juliette Vargas (CAPAZ/CEDPAL): juliette.vargas@www.instituto-capaz.org