Indigenous judges at the special jurisdiction for peace: reimagining the role of transitional justice judges
March 17th, 2025
In the context of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement, Colombia established the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) to address cases related to the armed conflict. For the first time in Colombia’s history, and in the global context of transitional justice, Indigenous judges took a seat on the JEP. With their knowledge of both the dominant Western legal framework and the laws of their respective Indigenous communities, these judges were able to navigate between different worlds and act as intercultural translators.
Drawing on qualitative research conducted with JEP judges and Indigenous representatives of the victims, Nina Bries Silva’s article, published in The International Journal of Human Rights, examines the role of Indigenous judges in facilitating the participation of Indigenous groups in the transitional justice process and strengthening epistemic dialogue, as they navigate a delicate balance between power and opportunity.
The article can be downloaded here.