HRW to Colombia: fix flaws in transitional justice law News
HRW to Colombia: fix flaws in transitional justice law

José Miguel Vivanco [profile], director of Human Rights Watch’s Americas division, sent a letter [press release] to several heads of the Colombian government Sunday, urging them to implement legislative proposals of a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas.

A peace agreement [text, PDF] between the two sides was signed on November 12, 2016.

The letter is in regard to the Statutory bill on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace [text, PDF], which is considered to be a crucial part to sustainable peace in the South American nation. Vivanco urged the government to focus on five areas; restrictions on freedoms and rights, suspension of criminal proceedings, command responsibility, victim participation in proceedings, and selectivity.

Colombia has been focused on bringing the nation to peace, seeking arrangements with any rebel groups in the country. In September Colombia’s government signed a peace agreement [JURIST report] with the National Liberation Army, ending hostilities between the two sides.