Lots of Mines, Few Owners, and Mutual Favors
In October 2013, there were 9,703 active mining titles in all of Colombia, spread among 5,797 natural and legal persons.
Read MoreThe Power of Transparency
In order to make transparency a reality, we not only need the government’s political will but also citizens’ demand and pressure.
Read MoreArticulating through Disassemblage
The unfortunate process of the justice reform from two years ago leaves us with a fundamental lesson: if a reform proposal seeks to change many parts of the Constitution but lacks a clear unifying principle, it creates an institutionally risky situation, at least for the following three reasons.
Read MorePlanetary Life
We as human beings are raised with the idea of being intellectually and morally superior to the rest of living beings.
Read MoreProgressiveness and Gradualness: The Convoluted Principles of Restitution
The Law 1488 of 2011 contains two important and closely related principles that refer to the law’s implementation.
Read MoreThe Ministry for Gender Equality that Never Materialized
With the restructuring of the presidential cabinet, Santos once again shows little compromise with gender equality issues.
Read MoreThe Ebola Outbreak: Beyond the Direct Victims
The speed of the spread of Ebola and the catastrophic effects that it is leaving in West Africa are evidence of the tardy and weak response of the international community
Read MoreSchizophrenic Environmentalism
Seeing President Santos in one screen promising “historic” actions against climate change at the UN, en in another his Environmental Minister promising to dismantle environmental controls through the creation of “express” licenses, I remembered García Márquez’s speech about Colombian contradictions when he presented the Sabios Mission report.
Read MoreA Reform without Direction
The so-called reform for the rebalancing of powers, advanced by the Santos administration, is a macro-reform, as it seeks to modify many aspects of the Constitution, but it lacks a clear direction.
Read MoreDrafts of Promises
Reading the pre-agreements between the government and the FARC, which were published this week, I had the impression of having seen the government plans of the past few presidents of Colombia.
Read MoreColombia’s challenges as a mining country
Determining if the mining boom will be a tragedy or an opportunity will depend on the way Colombia deals with the challenges it poses.
Read MoreA certificate of prison availability?
The government presented two weeks ago a bill on public safety that increases penalties and limits the possibility of release from prison.
Read MorePrior consultation and the little eggs of Santos
Santos wants to push the bill of victims and land restitution. However, the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court states that any measure which could potentially affect the communities and peoples must be consulted beforehand. How to adopt laws without ignoring the requirements of the Court?
Read MoreWhat is missing in Santos’ glass case?
In order for the glass case, launched by President Santos last October 6, to operate it needs to be filled with content.
Read MoreThe debate on legalizing drugs.
The Chancellor’s declaration last Sunday October 10th is very important. In her opinion, it is absurd that while some developed nations decriminalize and legalize certain consumption, we continue “incarcerating the farmer who has half a hectare of coca.”
Read MoreDejusticia and the International Drug Policy Consortium
Since mid-October Dejusticia is part of the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC).
Read MoreThe colombian paradox: legalism and violence
Colombia is a legalist country where many social and political discussions have an inevitable legal component. In turn, many legal debates have considerable political impact.
Read MoreRoyalties: a citizen debate
Many citizens are not interested in discussions on public finances, such as the one on mining and petroleum royalties, because they seem boring and technical.
Read MoreReelection and democracy
The Constitutional Court rendered a great service to Colombian democracy by preventing the second immediate presidential reelection.
Read MoreSuccess and silences of the health reform
LAST WEEK, WHILE the media chased the judicial new of the moment, the Government proposed the most important health reform in 17 years, which maintains the model of Law 100 of 1993 but makes key adjustments.
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