In June 2011, history was made in Colombia as the fledgling Government of President Juan Manuel Santos passed a decree that will permit damages to be paid to the relatives of those killed in the long running conflict in addition to the return of millions of hectares of land stolen from its rightful owners.
In a ceremony attended by the UN Secretary General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Santos was able to announce the unveiling of the Victim’s Law, an “historic” declaration in Colombia and one that would, in his words: “Allow the open wounds of the past to scar over and heal”.
How Will the Victim’s Law Work?
In a brief summation, there are various levels to this immense law that will try and put into coherent order the suffering and loss experienced by victims at the hands of the Guerrilla, the Paramilitaries and the State to enable to Colombia to emerge from half a century of conflict. Most strikingly, for the first time the Armed Forces are to be held accountable as well.
