Laying down arms in Colombia: The International Criminal Court's first test in resolving civil conflict
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Since being enshrined in law in the form of the Rome Statute, the Transitional Justice approach to peacebuilding has been disproportionately prioritised in the resolution of conflicts involving war crimes or crimes against humanity, leaving little room for a Reintegration approach. Using the recently concluded peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC as a case study, this article demonstrates that the Transitional Justice approach, while important, is insufficient to guide a long-term, durable peace. The article begins by deriving a Reintegration framework from the literature, which consists of (i) economic opportunities for ex-combatants, (ii) disarmament and demobilisation, (iii) treatment of injuries including PTSD, and (iv) creating opportunities for civil and political participation. The contributions made by the ICC during the Colombian peace negotiations will be then assessed against this framework, demonstrating the inadequacy of their focus and the need for a broader approach to peacebuilding.
Author: Tess Van Geelen
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2778141505