President-elect vows to dismantle Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace

A decade after Colombia signed a peace accord with the now-defunct FARC rebel group, the tribunal handling crimes from the conflict faces an uncertain future after the country's president-elect vowed to dismantle it. Known as the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, the court has long divided the country, much like the peace deal itself.

The president-elect has described the tribunal as a failed court.

Tribunal's mandate and protections The tribunal began operating in 2018 and is scheduled to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity until 2028, followed by a five-year period for trials. Colombia's Congress would then decide whether to extend its term by another five years.

The tribunal is protected by Colombia's Constitution and backed by the International Criminal Court, which closed its preliminary examination of Colombia in 2021 after concluding the country was meeting its international justice obligations.

Statements from tribunal leadership The tribunal's president told The Associated Press that closing the court would be contingent on the tribunal continuing its work, otherwise Colombia would be in breach of its obligations to the world court. He said cutting the tribunal's budget would seriously affect the fundamental right of access to justice, especially for victims of the armed conflict, and that an abrupt termination would result in a legal limbo.

The tribunal has handled cases involving more than 14,000 suspects accused of crimes committed during the conflict. About 70 percent are former FARC guerrillas, 29 percent are former members of the security forces, and the rest are civilians.