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 MoreCésar Rodríguez Garavito at the Constitutional Court’s Constitutional Conference on Lands
Talk “The New Frontiers of Constitutional Justice,” in the Participation and Environment panel.
Read MoreWater and the Inspector General’s Office
What was the Inspector General’s Office doing while the water supply was running out in Casanare? It wasn’t investigating the officers who let the “morichales” (wetlands) dry or who approved the licenses to exploit patroleum near water sources.
Read MoreDemocracy or plutocracy?
Is the United States becoming aplutocracy? This is a legitimate question, since the influence of money in elections in that country is already overwhelming, and it may continue to increase due to a recent US Supreme Court decision (the McCutcheon case).
Read MoreWill Santos be the Savior of Land Restitution?
In his most recent opinion piece called “President Santos, Please Save Land Restitution”, columnist León Valencia strongly criticizes some of the main policies of the Santos administration.
Read MoreDid Petro´s Legal Novel Finally End?
One of the most popular arguments used to defend the national government´s position on the situation in Bogota, in particular the legal battle of Mayor Petro, is that the City was tired and needed an end to all the uncertainty.
Read MoreIrrelevant political rights?
Colombia is far from being a country protective of political rights. But now, it not only fails to protect them it also openly disparages them.
Read MoreA Navigation Chart for the Bogotá River
As the Judge of the Council of State who authored the decontamination of the Bogota river order said, the decision is a “navigation chart” for Colombia´s environmental policy.
Read MoreA leftist ICHR?
Some of those who criticized the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR) for granting the precautionary measures in favor of Bogota Mayor Petro have suggested that this occured because the ICHR has a leftist bias.
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 More