Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
Proposed budget cuts could hinder Colombia's peace court and search for the disappeared
Proposed budget cuts could weaken Colombia's peace court and make it harder to search for people who disappeared in the country's conflict.
The court and the Search Unit for Disappeared People were created under a 2016 peace deal.
The court investigates and tries former FARC leaders and military personnel for serious abuses, and has nine ongoing cases.
The search unit is working to locate and identify 137,000 people who disappeared during the conflict.
Lawmakers' joint committees have backed a cut of nearly 17% to the court's 2027 funding, but it still needs approval from the full Congress.
The court says less funding could limit rural hearings, support for victims and protections for victims and former combatants.
Congress must decide on the budget by October 20.
Proposed budget cuts could limit Colombia’s transitional justice court and efforts to locate and identify people who disappeared during the conflict.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) and the Search Unit for Disappeared People (UBPD) were created under a 2016 peace deal.
Joint congressional committees have backed cuts that would reduce the JEP’s 2027 funding by nearly 17% from this year’s level.
The JEP says the reductions could compromise victims’ and defendants’ rights and hinder hearings, support services and security measures.
Supporters of the cuts say the court is too costly and has been too slow to deliver convictions.
- Who
- Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace and Search Unit for Disappeared People could be affected by proposed budget cuts.
- What
- Congressional committees have backed cuts to the JEP’s 2027 funding. The agencies say reductions could hinder their work.
- When
- Congress has until October 20 to decide how next year’s budget will be distributed.
- Where
- Colombia.
- Why
- Senator Enrique Gomez says the JEP is too slow on convictions and too expensive. The court says cuts could compromise rights and impede its work.
The JEP and its supporters
Senator Enrique Gomez and supporters of the proposed cuts
Budget
The JEP and its supporters
The JEP says cuts could compromise victims’ and defendants’ rights and impede its work.
Senator Enrique Gomez and supporters of the proposed cuts
Gomez says the court is too expensive to operate as it is and wants funds reassigned to the regular court system.
Performance
The JEP and its supporters
The JEP says restorative justice works and points to crimes acknowledged by accused ex-combatants.
Senator Enrique Gomez and supporters of the proposed cuts
Gomez says the court has been an operational failure and too slow on convictions.
The JEP and UBPD were created under a peace deal.
Gomez criticized the JEP in comments to local Blu Radio.
The JEP, UBPD and advocates warned that proposed cuts could hinder their work.
Congress is due to decide how next year’s budget will be distributed.
- People who disappeared during the conflict
- 137,000
- JEP cases ongoing
- 9
- Proposed JEP funding reduction
- Nearly 17% from this year’s level
- JEP budget requested for 2027
- 821 billion pesos, about $250 million
- JEP operating period
- Through 2033
What people are saying
By every measure, that branch of the transitional justice system has been an operational failure.
It has not fulfilled its purpose, it systematically offends victims and, ultimately, it amounts to a permanent guarantee of impunity, especially for crimes against humanity.
What we do not believe would be fair would be to compromise victims' rights in the years ahead.
We have seen that restorative justice works and bears fruit.
Sources
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