Hasta Que La Vida Nos Alcance: Discussing Restorative Justice Initiatives in Colombia’s TJ Process
Left to Right: Judge Ana Manuela Ochoa, JRR Expert Monica Pinzon, JRR Executive Director Samuel Emonet, Jacqueline Castillo, Neftalina Rosa Romero Guzman, independent film-maker Cesar Angel Rojas, Manuel Salvador Romo Romero, relatives of Ms. Guzman and Mary Diaz Marquez, JRR’s Senior Programme Officer.
Last week, we had the chance to host, in partnership with the Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz (JEP) and the Embassy of Canada to Colombia , the projection of our new short documentary film, Hasta que la vida nos alcance, on the path to justice of survivors of the Colombian armed conflict.
This was an occasion for the justice and human rights community of Bogota to meet with two survivors and advocates, members of the JEP in charge of macro-case 3 addressing the “false positives” scandal – an extrajudicial killing campaign committed by Colombian State agents – and a JRR Expert in psychological support to discuss pathways to justice through a restorative approach and accountability for victims and survivors.
Our audience could learn on how a justice process can be effectively restorative if the participation and agency of victims and survivors is promoted at all stages of a given process. The challenges of adopting such an approach based on the case of Colombia, as well as best practices and lessons learned were also discussed.
JRR wishes to thank Mss Neftalina Rosa Romero Guzmán and Jacqueline Castillo Peña who accepted to share with us their respective story on their quest to justice in the hope of promoting effective victim-centred approach in justice and accountability processes.
We also thank the President of the JEP, Judge Alejandro Ramelli Arteaga, and Judge Ana Manuela Ochoa for their participation in this event. JRR further conveys its thanks to the JEP for hosting us in their headquarters in Bogota.
This project was undertaken with the support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada.
Projection of Hasta que la vida nos alcance at the JEP HQ.
Mss Jacqueline Castillo Pena and Neftalina Romo Romero Guzman, main characters of Hasta que la vida nos alcance, participating at a panel following the projection.
President of the JEP, Judge Alejandro Ramelli Arteaga, presenting welcome remarks.