Colombian court closes cases for over 1,000 involved in conflict
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In Colombia, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) resolved the legal status of 1,030 people who admitted involvement in crimes during the country’s armed conflict, but were not considered the primary perpetrators.
The JEP determined these individuals would not face criminal prosecution. This decision falls under the Non-Sanctionary Route, a process for those who played a lesser role in planning or carrying out crimes.
JEP President Alejandro Ramelli stated that this process allows families of conflict victims to learn details about what happened, when, and where. The court’s actions aim to provide answers and a path toward healing for those affected by the conflict. Most of those receiving this resolution, 979 out of 1,030, were members of the Public Force. Another 46 were former members of the FARC guerilla group, with the remaining five being state agents, civilian collaborators, and one other civilian.
The decisions, made through 43 rulings between 2024 and 2026, erase criminal records and end related disciplinary, administrative, or fiscal sanctions. These resolved cases involve 377 incidents that directly impacted 643 victims across departments including Antioquia, Boyacá, and Casanare. The JEP emphasizes that avoiding prosecution comes with commitments from those involved, such as truthfully recounting events, assisting in locating victims, and offering symbolic reparations.
One notable example is the meeting between a former combatant and the mother and daughter of a man killed and falsely presented as a guerilla fighter, where they shared an embrace.
