The first ruling of the JEP against the former FARC leaders
September 22nd, 2025
The JEP (Special Jurisdiction for Peace), the Colombian tribunal established after the 2016 peace accords, has issued its first judgment against seven former members of the FARC’s military secretariat. The defendants were found guilty of various crimes committed between 1993 and 2012, including the kidnapping of more than 21,000 people, murders, torture, and sexual violence.
Beyond its important symbolic value, the judgment is particularly noteworthy as it is inspired by the principles of restorative justice. The former guerrilla members will be required to engage for eight years—the maximum period provided for under the peace accords—in projects and activities aimed at repairing the harm suffered by the victims: searching for and identifying persons who disappeared during the conflict, environmental restoration works, and initiatives relating to the preservation of collective memory.
For further information and to access the full text of the judgment, please refer to the following link.