How cuts under Colombia’s de la Espriella threaten a key human rights court
Summary
Colombia’s government announced plans to cut about 181 billion pesos (roughly $57 million) from the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the court created under the 2016 peace deal with the FARC to investigate and prosecute conflict-era crimes. The cuts and a Senate committee’s move to advance a bill abolishing the court have raised concerns among victims and former fighters that investigations and efforts to locate remains could be disrupted.Key Facts
- The JEP was established in 2016 as part of a peace agreement between Colombia’s government and the FARC.
- The court investigates and prosecutes crimes committed during Colombia’s internal armed conflict.
- The government announced planned JEP budget cuts valued at about 181 billion Colombian pesos, or roughly $57 million.
- A Senate committee advanced a bill that would eliminate the JEP by March 2028 and transfer its work to the general court system.
- Angela Cordon said the JEP helped her learn about her father and uncle’s captivity and the site where they were executed.
- The JEP has worked with former FARC members to try to locate the remains of Cordon’s father and uncle.
- Cordon fears reduced funding will mean fewer field missions and less humanitarian staff, making it harder to find answers and recover remains.
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