This year marks the 20th anniversary of Colombia’s Justice and Peace Law, a milestone in the country’s journey toward peace and accountability. As Colombia continues to heal from decades of armed conflict and social division, this anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the law’s origins, its impact over the past two decades, and the challenges that remain. The Justice and Peace Law laid the groundwork for Colombia’s first formal transitional justice mechanism, seeking to balance justice, truth, and reconciliation in a society long scarred by violence.
Enacted in July 2005, Law 975—widely known as the Justice and Peace Law—established a framework for the demobilization of illegal armed groups, particularly the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). It aimed to hold perpetrators accountable for serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law, while also promoting truth telling and reparations for victims. In exchange for their cooperation, perpetrators could receive reduced sentences, marking a new approach to justice that sought both accountability and national healing.
The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) began its work in Colombia in the same year the law was enacted, providing key technical and policy support to strengthen its implementation. ICTJ’s work included advising the Attorney General’s Office, addressing operational challenges, and promoting innovative strategies for prosecution. Central to its approach was the adoption of a “macro-criminal” perspective—analyzing patterns across multiple crimes to identify those most responsible for systemic violence and contextualizing these crimes within broader social and political dynamics. This methodology helped prioritize major cases and strengthened Colombia’s capacity to pursue justice at scale.
Over the years, the Justice and Peace Law has served as a foundation for Colombia’s broader transitional justice framework, influencing key elements such as victim participation, truth seeking, and alternative sentencing. Its principles have informed the work of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, established under the 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP), which continues to apply a macro-criminal approach in addressing war crimes and crimes against humanity. As Colombia negotiates peace with other armed groups, lessons from the Justice and Peace Law continue to shape the design of future mechanisms aimed at ensuring justice and reconciliation.
To commemorate this 20-year milestone, ICTJ is highlighting a range of publications and multimedia projects that examine the Justice and Peace Law’s evolution and legacy. These include a podcast produced with Sillón Estudios that revisits the AUC peace process and its relevance today, as well as an investigative report series with Verdad Abierta exploring the law’s progress and impact. ICTJ has also compiled a comprehensive collection of its publications on Colombia’s transitional justice efforts, offering valuable insights into case prioritization, the macro-criminal approach, acknowledgment of responsibility, and institutional reform. Collectively, these works reflect ICTJ’s enduring commitment to supporting Colombia’s pursuit of truth, justice, and lasting peace.
