Indigenous judges at the special jurisdiction for peace

Reimagining the Role of Transitional Justice Judges

Bibliographic Data

ID7474573
AuthorsNina Bries Silva (0000-0002-9887-1255, European University Institute, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume30
Issue1
Pages234-253
Publication date2026-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe International Journal of Human Rights (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1364-2987 • E-ISSN: 1744-053X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13642987.2025.2475006
OpenAlexW4408413009
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited24

In the wake of the 2016 Final Peace agreement, the Colombia Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) was established as the court in charge of dealing with cases related to the armed conflict. For the first time in Colombian history and in a transitional justice context worldwide, Indigenous judges sat together on the bench of the JEP. Having the knowledge of both legal systems, i.e. the dominant Western legal framework and the laws of their respective indigenous communities, these judges could navigate between worlds and act as intercultural translators. Based on qualitative research conducted with the judges of the JEP and indigenous representatives of the victims, this article explores the role played by indigenous judges in facilitating the participation of indigenous groups within the transitional justice process and enhance the epistemic dialogue, while acting in the middle of power and opportunity. By investigating the experience of Colombia and analysing the work of the Indigenous judges, this article invites to reimagine the role of the judge in transitional justice

Criminology · Economic Justice · Human rights · Indigenous · Jurisdiction · Political science · Sociology · Transitional justice · Gender, Security, and Conflict · International Law and Human Rights · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Ecology

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