Columbia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) tribunal recently stated that during Colombia’s armed conflict, at least 35,178 individuals have endured sexual, gender, and reproductive abuse. Under the 2016 Peace Accord, between the state and the now-demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the JEP was inaugurated as the justice element of the Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Non-Repetition. Read More
Pramila Patten, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC), praised the JEP for initiating a specific case on sexual and gender-based violence, reproductive violence, and other gender-based crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity during the armed conflict. In a statement, Patten expressed that:
The official opening of case 11 marks a critical moment for the victims of the Colombian armed conflict’s conflict-related sexual violence and women-led organizations who have advocated undauntedly and tirelessly for justice, truth, recognition, and reparations.
The case is expected to primarily concentrate on three factors: (1) the violence committed by FARC-EP members against civilians; (2) violence perpetrated by state security forces members against civilians; and (3) violence within both the FARC-EP and the state security forces’ ranks.
According to Human Rights Watch, Columbia sees a widespread prevalence of gender-based violence. Women experience difficulties accessing medical services due to inadequate training and ineffective treatment protocols implementation, creating obstacles for women and girls seeking post-violence care and justice. Worryingly, those responsible for violent, gender-based crimes are rarely brought to justice. Judge Lily Rueda, commenting on the opening of case 11 of the JEP, noted:
Acts of gender violence and prejudice occurred during the armed conflict when perpetrators abused the control afforded to them by weapons and the exercise of armed power to select victims and commit crimes.
This initiative’s focus is on restorative justice for individuals who suffered sexual, gender, and reproductive violence amid Colombia’s armed conflict.
You can find more details about the investigation in the original coverage by JURIST here: https://www.jurist.org/news/2023/10/columbia-investigation-reveals-over-35000-cases-of-sexual-and-gender-violence-in-countrys-armed-conflict/