Former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos defended the special justice for peace mechanism following its recent approval by the Colombian Congress [1].
The endorsement comes as the nation navigates the long-term implementation of its peace process. The legal framework is designed to balance the need for accountability with the requirements for stability after decades of internal conflict.
Santos said that a special justice system is essential to guarantee accountability and sustain the peace process [1, 2]. He said that the mechanism provides a necessary path forward for the country to move past the 2016 agreement [1, 2].
The legislation was approved by the Colombian Congress in Bogotá [1, 2]. This move establishes a specific legal structure to handle crimes committed during the conflict, aiming to provide victims with truth and reparations, and allowing for the reintegration of former combatants.
Santos said that the stability of the peace process depends on the consistent application of these justice mechanisms [1, 2]. He said that without such a specialized system, the goals of the 2016 agreement would be difficult to maintain over time.
The approval of the law marks a significant step in the Colombian government's effort to institutionalize the peace process. By creating a dedicated judicial path, the state intends to address historical grievances without returning to full-scale war [1, 2].
“A special justice system is essential to guarantee accountability and sustain the peace process.”
The support from Juan Manuel Santos, the architect of the 2016 peace deal, signals a strategic effort to protect the legal foundations of Colombia's transition from conflict to peace. By validating the special justice mechanism, Santos is reinforcing the idea that restorative justice—rather than purely punitive justice—is the only viable way to prevent a relapse into civil war.
