Presented by CIPS, The Fragile States Research Network (FSRN), Just Governance Group, and the Latin America and Caribbean Study Group of the Canadian International Council’s National Capital Branch

The Havana Peace Accords signed by the Government of Colombia and the FARC guerrillas in 2016, offer a basis to redress conflict and unsustainable development in Colombia. As Wade Davis has written: “Rarely in history has a nation-state been given such an opportunity to envision its future, and such a reprieve from the industrial forces that have devastated so much of the world over the past half century”. Some parts of the Accord are being implemented, yet Colombian human rights activists worry that key plans for transitional justice (TJ) -- for the truth about past violations to be recognized, for the accused to be tried, for affected communities to be compensated and for the country to begin the long process of reconciliation – are being blocked. What is the state of peace implementation today, almost five years after the Havana Accords were signed? Where is progress occurring and where is it being blocked, particularly with regard to TJ? Why – given the agendas and power of key national and international stakeholders? What does this all mean for the vision of a new Colombia evoked above?

Panelists

Wade Davis is a Professor of Anthropology and BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk, at the University of British Columbia. He will provide an overview of peace implementation and its prospects in Colombia.

Paola Jiménez is a Bogota-based expert in gender and justice, with the Just Governance Group. She will delve into issues at the intersection of gender, indigenous peoples’ rights and TJ.

Nelson Ovalle Diaz is a professor of law and an Associate of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at uOttawa. He will speak to the Special Jurisdiction and its treatment of exemplary cases.

Chair

Professor Stephen Baranyi, University of Ottawa

Moderator

Kimberley Inksater, Executive Director of Just Governance Group

Our partners for this event, the Canadian International Council Ottawa Branch’s Latin America and Caribbean Study Group invites you to the Slack discussion channel specially created for this event, where you will be able to share articles and reports, and generally discuss Peace and Justice in Colombia. Follow this link to join the CIC Ottawa Latin America Study Group event discussion channel on #peace-and-justice-in-colombia:

https://join.slack.com/share/zt-oq9hqhud-oqzKKmU3kQ1CRe5EEyE1og