A new path for the International Criminal Court and peace processes?
One of the issues that has generated most debate in international legal circles is whether the justice and accountability component of the Colombian peace accord contradicts the State’s duties in terms of international criminal law.
Peace on display: two advantages
Two important current events are a good example of transparency during the peace process negotiations: the return of recruited minors and the opening to the press of the FARC’s X conference.
Read MoreImpeachment to the impeachment
It is important to insist that although prosecutions against high level officials are by definition “political” and are carried out against politicians, they must guarantee the due process.
Read MoreTo listen to those who say “No”
Those
of us that support the Yes vote in the peace accord plebiscite should carefully
listen to those who are going to vote No so we can initiative a dialogue during
this campaign than can bring benefits beyond October 2nd.
A poorly processed conflict: The Guacamayas case
In the town of Turbo, Antioquia several peasants are victims of attacks by non-identified persons, which is generating displacements.
Read MoreThe question
When the debate was entering the basic question – do we want a reasonable agreement or an irrational war? – it turned again towards the judicial forms, the question about the question of the plebiscite.
Read MorePrison, justice and peace
A recurrent criticism by those who oppose the peace accords is that it would result in peace with impunity given that there would be no jail time for those responsible of crimes against humanity such as kidnappings, forced disappearances, murders, massacres, or rapes, which are technically known as international crimes.
Read MoreA promise in the 1991 Constitution
The Integral Rural Reform proposed in the peace accords reiterates the State’s commitment since the 1991 Constitution.
Read MoreThe joy of voting YES
On October 2nd, I will vote YES with the joy that the end of war makes me feel and the hope to build a conuntry based on agreement, dissent, and dialogue.
Read MoreThe Olympics or the inability to protect rights
While traveling to Brazil, I felt why the Olympics are splendid. However, I confirmed how humanity has not been able to generate any advances in the protection of human rights during the construction of this mega-events.
Read MorePetro’s Constituent Assembly
Gustavo Petro is right to denounce the Inspector General´s Office and the government´s illegal decisions that ended his mandate as mayor before the Inter-American System of Human Rights. However, he is making a mistake in knocking over the board game, so to speak, he unfairly lost and joining the call for a constituent assembly.
Read MoreLegal Chauvinism
None of the arguments made by the government or its lawyers explaining why they will not comply with the precautionary measures of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (ICHR) in Petro´s case are convincing.
Read MoreWhy Santos should Comply with the Precautionary Measures
There are strong legal reasons why Santos should have complied with the ICHR´s precationary measures in Bogota Mayor Petro´s case.
Read MoreThe Culture of Compliments and Street Harassment
Giving compliments on the street is not flattering, it is sexual harassment of women on the street.
Read MoreFrom the Ethical to the Ethnic
How did the political class take over the seats reserved for Afro-Colombians in Congress?
Read MoreDemocracy without a People
Abraham Lincoln, in his famous Gettysburg speech, characterized democracy as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Read MoreWhat is Missing from the Separate Spaces for Women
Parting from the assumption that the separate spaces for women on the Transmilenio public transportation system is just a temporary measure that is attempting to mitigate a particular problem, we cannot ask to much of it.
Read MoreWho Decides When it Comes to Mining?
Contrary to what the Minister of Mining and the newspaper El Tiempo said, referring to the recent decision of the Constitutional Court, citizens can organize consultations to oppose the effects of mining in their territories,
Read MoreBlank Votes: Who Wins?
The blank vote appears to be a strike against political clientelism. But in reality, at least in the congressional elections this Sunday, it is strike against the public itself, since it favors the clientelist machinery.
Read MoreThe Bullying Continues
Based on all the criticism the Inspector General´s Office received (including from those who did not support Petro), some of us thought, mistakenly, that the Inspector General would calm down.
Read More