Essex Transitional Justice Network

Various research and impact projects have the transitional justice process in Colombia as their focus. They aim to support the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to deliver on its mandate but also to consider from an academic and practice-oriented perspective many of the challenges that transitional justice faces in the country, particularly in the areas of reparation, victims’ participation, acknowledgement of responsibility, punishment of those responsible and accountability of third party actors.

Professor Sabine Michalowski and Professor Clara Sandoval are leading the ETJN’s working in these areas.

Key publications

Economic actors in the Colombian transitional justice process:

• Michalowski, Sabine; Sánchez, Camilo; Marín, Daniel; Jiménez, Alejandro; Martínez, Hobeth; Domínguez, Valentina and Arroyave, Lina. (2018). Entre coacción y colaboración. Verdad judicial, actores económicos y conflicto armado en Colombia. Bogotá: Dejusticia.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Marín, Daniel; Jiménez, Alejandro and Martínez, Hobeth; Domínguez (2018). Los terceros complejos: la competencia limitada de la jurisdicción especial para la paz. Bogotá: Dejusticia.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz-Rodríguez, Michael; Orjuela, Astrid and Gómez, Luisa (2019). ABC del sometimiento voluntario de terceros civiles a la JEP. Bogotá: Transitional Justice Network-University of Essex.
  Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz-Rodríguez, Michael; Orjuela, Astrid and Gómez, Luisa (2020). Terceros civiles ante la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Dejusticia. Bogotá: ETJN- Dejusticia.

Analysis of legal concepts that are essential for the work of the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace

• Martínez, Hobeth (2020) Antecedentes del régimen de condicionalidad en los tratamientos penales condicionados del proceso de Justicia y Paz. ETJN Working paper second series.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz-Rodríguez, Michael and Martínez, Hobeth (2020). ¿A quiénes sancionar? Máximos responsables y participación determinante en la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Bogotá: ETJN- Dejusticia.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz-Rodríguez, Michael and Martínez, Hobeth (2021). ¿Cómo contribuir a la paz con verdad y justicia? Aportes a la verdad y reconocimiento de responsabilidad por quienes serán seleccionados en la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Bogotá: ETJN-Dejusticia.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz-Rodríguez, Michael & Martínez, Hobeth (2021) Máximos responsables, planes, patrones y políticas de macrocriminalidad en el caso 001 de la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Análisis del Auto 19 de 2021 de la Sala de Reconocimiento. ETJN Working paper second series.
• Zuluaga Afanador, Nicolás (2021) El cumplimiento colectivo del deber de reparación en la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz Desafíos y aprendizajes para agilizar el procesamiento del régimen de condicionalidad. ETJN Working paper second series.
• Michalowski, Sabine and Cruz, Michael (2021) Máximos responsables y sanciones inferiores a 5 años. Recomendaciones preliminares sobre la Sentencia TP-SA 230/21. ETJN Working paper second series
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz, Michael and Hobeth Martínez (2021) Máximos responsables, planes, patrones y políticas de macrocriminalidad en el caso 001 de la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Análisis del Auto 19 de 2021 de la Sala de Reconocimiento. ETJN Working paper second series.
• Michalowski, Sabine. Cruz Rodríguez, Michael (2022). Más allá de los máximos responsablesLos partícipes no determinantes en los crímenes más graves y representativos ante la Jurisdicción Especial para la PazLos 
• Michalowski, Sabine, Cruz Rodriguez, Michael (2022). Reflexiones sobre la remisión temprana de comparecientes a la Unidad de Investigación y Acusación El caso fundacional de Almario Rojas 

Victim participation

• Sandoval, Clara; Cruz, Michael and Ruiz Segovia, Camila, (2020). Victims’ Participation in Times of Covid-19 in Transitional Justice Accountability Mechanisms: What is Needed for Virtual Hearings to Fulfil this Right? The case of Colombia and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. In: Covid-19, Law and Human Rights: Essex Dialogues. A Project of the Essex Law School and Human Rights Centre. Editors: Ferstman, Carla and Fagan, Andrew. University of Essex. 73- 81. 978-1-5272-6632-2

Reparations

• Sandoval Clara; Martínez, Hobeth; Cruz, Michael; Zuluaga, Nicolás; Galindo, Juliana; Lovelle, Pilar; Vargas, Juliette; Romero, Adriana and Rodríguez, Andrea (2021) Toars anticipados y sanciones propias. Reflexión informada para la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Bogotá: ETJN-Dejusticia.
• Iris Marin (2022) Identificación y diagnóstico del daño en la JEP

Socioeconomic dimensions of transitional justice

• Rodriguez Llach, Alejandro; Martínez Carrillo, Hobeth (2022) ¿La paz al menor costo? Análisis presupuestal de la implementación de la paz territorial y el sistema integral. Bogotá: ETJN-Dejusticia

Amicus curiae before the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace

• Michalowski, Sabine; Parra, Jorge; Rodríguez, Diana; Uprimny, Rodrigo; Jiménez, Alejandro; Marín, Daniel and Martínez, Hobeth (2018) Alcance del compromiso concreto, programado y claro (CCPC) ante la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Concepto de la Red de Justicia Transicional de la Universidad de Essex y el Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad- Dejusticia sobre las cuestiones planteadas en el Auto AP-TP-SA-ECM 002 de 2018.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Uprimny, Rodrigo; Sánchez, Camilo; Martinez, Hobeth; Junieles, Irina and Dominguez, Xajamaia (2018) Competencia de la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz sobre Terceros Civiles. Consideraciones a propósito de la decisión adoptada por la Sala de Definición de Situaciones Jurídicas de la JEP el 7 de mayo de 2018 ante la solicitud de sometimiento voluntario elevada por David Char Navas (Resolución número 000084).
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz, Michael; Barragán, Maryluz; Albarracín, Mauricio; Dávila, Juana; Gómez, Pablo; León, Felipe and Jiménez, Alejandro (2020) La investigación, juzgamiento y sanción de los máximos responsables.El estado del derecho internacional en cuanto al tratamiento de las fuerzas de policía en los conflictos armados no internacionales. Amicus curiae de la Essex Transitional Justice Network (ETJN), el Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad (Dejusticia) y el Essex Armed Conflict and Crisis Hub de la Universidad de Essex.
• Michalowski, Sabine and Cruz Michael. (2021) Reconocimiento de nuevas calificaciones jurídicas sobre hechos y conductas ya reconocidas por los comparecientes durante el procedimiento dialógico ante Sala de Reconocimiento. Concepto de la Essex Transitional Justice Network (ETJN) en atención a la invitación realizada mediante el Auto JLR01 334 de 2021 sobre el resuelve sexto del Auto 244 de 2021 de la SRVR.

Blogs and opinion pieces:

• 7 October 2021 - Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz, Michael and Martínez, Hobeth. ¿Qué significa contar la verdad y asumir la responsabilidad por crímenes internacionales? Los retos de la JEP. Agenda Estado de Derecho.
• 25 May 2021 - Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz, Michael and Martínez, Hobeth. Towards Consolidating Synergies Between Business and Human Rights and Transitional Justice.
• 2 September 2021 - Jiménez, Alejandro; Martínez, Hobeth and Cruz, Michael. ¿A quiénes sancionar en casos de masivas violaciones a los derechos humanos?: la interpretación de la JEP. Agenda Estado de Derecho.

A key area of work of the ETJN has been the right to reparation that victims, individual or collective, have when they suffer harm as a result of human rights violations or serious violations of humanitarian law in times of conflict or repression. The work on reparations has focused on rehabilitation for victims (including legal empowerment); reparations for victims of sexual and reproductive violence; making reparations viable during transitions; implementing of reparations; ensuring that all those responsible for violations provide reparations to victims; victims’ participation; and understanding the transformative potential of reparations for victims.

Key publications include:

• Sandoval-Villalba, C-L. and Moffett, L., Titling at Windmills: Reparations and the International Criminal Court. Leiden Journal of International Law. 34 (2)
• Correa, C., Furuya, S. and Sandoval, C., (2020). Reparations for Victims of Armed Conflict. Cambridge University Press. 1108480950. 9781108480956
• Sandoval-Villalba, C-L., Leach, P. and Murray, R., (2020). Monitoring, cajoling and promoting dialogue – what role for supranational human rights bodies in the implementation of individual decisions?. Journal of Human Rights Practice. 12 (1), 71-100
  Sandoval-Villalba, C. and Murray, R., (2020). Balancing Specificity of Reparation Measures and States' Discretion to Enhance Implementation. Journal of Human Rights Practice. 12 (1), 101-124
• Sánchez León, NC. and Sandoval-Villalba, C., (2020). Go Big or Go Home? Lessons Learned from the Colombian Victims' Reparation System. In: Reparations for Victims of Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity Systems in Place and Systems in the Making. Second Revised Edition. Editors: Ferstman, C. and Goetz, M., . Koninklijke Brill NV. 547- 570. 978-90-04-37719-6
• Guillerot, J., Gilmore, S. and Sandoval, C., (2020). Beyond Silence and Stigma: Crafting a Gender-Sensitive Approach for Victims of Sexual Violence in Domestic Reparation Programmes
• Waldorf, L. (2019). Between Transition and Transformation: Legal Empowerment as Collective Reparations. In: From Transitional to Transformative Justice. Editors: Gready, P. and Robins, S., Cambridge University Press.  
• Sandoval-Villalba, C-L., (2018). The Legal Standing and Significance of the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation. Heidelberg Journal of International Law. 78 (3), 565-568

Current and past grants/projects in this area include:

Reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence in Colombia: Global Survivors Fund, 2020-2021

• As part of the world report that the Global Survivors Fund is preparing on reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence, where 20 States have been chosen to consider the opportunities as well as the challenges and achievements to secure reparation for survivors, Professor Sandoval is leading the team working on the Colombian report.

Reparations, responsibility and victimhood in transitional societies: Arts and Humanities Research Council – 2017-2021

• The project looks at Colombia, Guatemala, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Peru, and Uganda to analyse the effectiveness of reparations in the aftermath of conflict and mass violence. The project considers the role of non-state armed groups in contributing to reparation processes, victim participation and agency in reparation programmes, gender dimensions, and the interaction of donors and developments with reparations. The project is in partnership with Redress and collaborates with the International Centre for Transitional Justice and the International Organisation for Migration.
• Learn more about this grant.

Alternative sanctions in Catatumbo: Exploring punishment, reparation and victims’ participation: IAA (July 2020-December 2020)

Implementation and compliance with human rights law: An exploration of the interplay between the international, regional and national levels: Economic & Social Research Council (2015-2019)

• The aim of the project was to track selected decisions by UN and regional human rights treaty bodies, against nine countries in Africa, Europe and the Americas, to see the extent to which States have implemented them and why. Professor Sandoval led the Americas team of the project and they consider the conflict dimensions of reparation and their intersections with the work of the Inter-American Commission and Court, in relation to Colombia and Guatemala.
• Learn more about this project

Since its beginnings, the ETJN has had a strong research focus on the linkages between business and human rights and transitional justice, resulting in a series or international seminars and an edited collection already in 2013. More recently, this work has concentrated on how to achieve the inclusion of third party actors in the Colombian transitional justice process. Together with Colombian NGO and thinktank Dejusticia, the ETJN has co-authored several policy and academic publications related to the implementation of the Colombian peace agreement on this point and has filed amicus curiae briefs before the Colombian Constitutional Court and the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace. At the international level, we have been supporting the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights in their work on businesses in conflict, post-conflict and transitional justice contexts.

Key publications

• Michalowski, Sabine; Sánchez, Camilo; Marín, Daniel; Jiménez, Alejandro; Martínez, Hobeth; Domínguez, Valentina and Arroyave, Lina. (2018). Entre coacción y colaboración. Verdad judicial, actores económicos y conflicto armado en Colombia. Bogotá: Dejusticia.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Marín, Daniel; Jiménez, Alejandro and Martínez, Hobeth; Domínguez (2018). Los terceros complejos: la competencia limitada de la jurisdicción especial para la paz. Bogotá: Dejusticia.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Uprimny, Rodrigo; Sánchez, Camilo; Martinez, Hobeth; Junieles, Irina and Dominguez, Xajamaia (2018) Competencia de la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz sobre Terceros Civiles. Consideraciones a propósito de la decisión adoptada por la Sala de Definición de Situaciones Jurídicas de la JEP el 7 de mayo de 2018 ante la solicitud de sometimiento voluntario elevada por David Char Navas (Resolución número 000084).
• Michalowski, Sabine; Parra, Jorge; Rodríguez, Diana; Uprimny, Rodrigo; Jiménez, Alejandro; Marín, Daniel and Martínez, Hobeth (2018) Alcance del compromiso concreto, programado y claro (CCPC) ante la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Concepto de la Red de Justicia Transicional de la Universidad de Essex y el Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad- Dejusticia sobre las cuestiones planteadas en el Auto AP-TP-SA-ECM 002 de 2018.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz-Rodríguez, Michael; Orjuela, Astrid and Gómez, Luisa (2020). Terceros civiles ante la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz. Dejusticia. Bogotá: ETJN- Dejusticia.
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz-Rodríguez, Michael; Orjuela, Astrid and Gómez, Luisa (2019). ABC del sometimiento voluntario de terceros civiles a la JEP. Bogotá: Transitional Justice Network-University of Essex.
• Cruz, Michael. Terceros civiles ante la JEP: empiezan a corres los plazos. 2019/28/06
• Michalowski, Sabine; Cruz, Michael and Martínez, Hobeth. (2021). Towards Consolidating Synergies Between Business and Human Rights and Transitional Justice.
  
   

Recent grants

• Road map on how the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for peace should deal with third-party actors  (GCRF, Essex 2019)
• Including third party actors into the Colombian transitional justice process University of Essex (IAA, 2017)

The ETJN continues to explore how the arts can promote accountability and memorialisation for past atrocities. Earlier theoretical explorations are now complemented by studies of specific art forms (comics, dance, music, and theatre) dealing with atrocities in Former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Rwanda, and Sri Lanka.

Key publications

• Bahun, S., (2020). Beyond Good and Evil? Popular Songs, Mathemes, and Bus Rides (Art and Transition in the Region of Former Yugoslavia). Media, War, and Conflict. 12 (Special Issue: The Political Aesthetics of Democratization Conflicts,), 70-87
• Pegorier, C. and Howe, S., (2020). Law, Narrative and Critique in Contemporary Verbatim Theatre. Pólemos. 14 (2), 385-405
• Pegorier, C., (2019). Law, Literature and Genocide: Rupert Bazambanza’s Smile Through the Tears. Pólemos. 13 (1), 167-189
• Bahun, S., (2015). Transitional justice and the arts: Reflections on the field. In: Theorizing Transitional Justice. Editors: Corradetti, C., Eisikovits, N. and Rotondi, J., . Ashgate. 153- 166. 9781472418296

Recent grants

• Performing Inclusion: Researching How Mixed-Abled, Community Dance Performances Impact Perceptions towards Disability in Post-War Sri Lanka (British Council in Sri Lanka 2019)
• Performing Empowerment: Disability, Dance and Inclusive Development in Post-War Sri Lanka (AHRC/ESRC/GCRF, 2016-2018)
  
   

Syria in Transition is a research collaboration between the Essex Transitional Justice Network of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, the Transitional Justice Institute at Ulster University, and the Syrian Academics and Researchers Network in the UK (SARN-UK).

The project will examine pathways to transitional justice in Syria through a focused, interdisciplinary approach. It brings together academic expertise, local knowledge, and policy innovation to contribute to Syria's transition towards justice and sustainable reform.