Peace in Colombia: What Are the Challenges?

Challenges to achieving peace in Colombia
Colombia is a middle-income country in South America which has experienced relatively steady economic growth and human development. But alongside this development, over 50 years of internal conflict has had devastating effects on the country: claiming more than 220,000, mostly civilian lives, and victimising more than 7.9 million people (Oficina del Alto Comisionado para la Paz, 2016). The conflict has mainly had an impact on poor rural regions where left-wing guerrilla groups, right-wing paramilitaries, and the Colombian state army “fight a war with class dimensions” (Cockburn, 2007: 13).This conflict has been attributed to many problems and challenges, for example:- Extreme levels of wealth disparity
- A very high concentration of landownership
- Competition for control of natural resources
- A weak and corrupt state
The peace accords
After four years of negotiations, which began in 2012, the Colombian peace accords were signed in November 2016. A first version was narrowly defeated in a national referendum the month previously. This final second version of the accords was published after consultation with opposition and other groups, and was ratified through the Colombian National Congress.The Colombian peace accords have been praised for their inclusive language and various approaches to, and conception of, peace. The agreement will attempt to correct many of the injustices at the root cause of the conflict rather than only focusing on stopping direct violence. For example:- A land restitution programme, which considers the millions of internally displaced people in Colombia
- New approaches to combating the issue of illegal drugs
- Extensive promises of rural development to end the extreme poverty and inequality seen in the Colombian countryside
- Increased political, social, and economic participation of the country’s most marginalised people (Herbolzheimer, 2016)
Reintegrating FARC-EP members into societal and political life
A key part of the peace process is reintegrating FARC-EP members into society. Today, there are approximately 7,000 FARC-EP members in 26 “Transitory Standardization Zones” (ZVTN) throughout the country. Here, FARC-EP members are preparing for reintegration back into civilian life.

Transitional justice
An important part of the peace process is what is known as transitional justice. This is a term used to talk about how countries emerging from conflict address human rights abuses. In Colombia, transitional justice is generally viewed as having three key elements: truth, justice, and reparation. The peace agreement creates an innovative transitional justice framework which includes two mechanisms: a Justice Tribunal and a Truth Commission.- The Justice Tribunal will investigate, try, and sentence those involved in the conflict.
- The Truth Commission will seek to explain the conflict and ensure non-repetition.
The challenge of unjust institutions
Colombia already has strong legislation in place to protect the rights of victims, women, minority groups, and indeed all citizens.There is however, a clear gap between policy and implementation.
- Delays in the construction of the demobilisation camps
- The lack of a detailed roadmap on collective reintegration
- Ongoing violence against community leaders
- Power vacuums not being adequately filled by the state in areas where FARC-EP have withdrawn, but other non-state armed actors seek new territory
The future for peace in Colombia
But a real commitment to justice for victims, the successful reintegration of FARC-EP, as well as the sustained political and social will to ensure the successful implementation of all aspects of the peace accords are needed. Only then will the aspirations of SDG 16 be realised in Colombia.For peace and therefore sustainable development to flourish in Colombia, certain societal structural inequalities must be addressed, and it is positive that the accords acknowledge this.
- What other SDGs do you think are challenged by the transitional peace process in Colombia? You can take a look at this download to remind you of the 17 SDGs.
Chiara Mizzoni is a PhD Researcher in the Irish School of Ecumenics at Trinity College Dublin. As part of her research she is exploring Colombia’s DDR (Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration) programmes from a gender perspective.
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