from the article by Rose Lander in Colombia Reports:
Representatives for the victims of Colombia’s ongoing internal armed conflict on Monday expressed their unanimous support for a transitional justice deal that was signed last week by the government and FARC rebels in a mutual attempt to make peace.
The group of 60 victims who were invited to Havana, Cuba to take part in the peace negotiations released a statement saying that they believe the signing of the justice deal was a “crucial step” towards the final conclusion of the peace talks which, according to president Juan Manuel Santos, will happen within six months….
Together the victims lauded the “restorative justice perspective” of the deal which will “allow sanctions to become effective contributions to reparation, no repetition and the building of peace.”….
The most important aspects of the deal for the victims are the truth commissions, the reparations that all those found guilty will have to pay, the guarantee of no impunity and the measures put in place to prevent the repetition of civil conflict.
The statement read by Jineth Bedoya, a journalist who was kidnapped and raped by paramilitaries in 2000 said that this deal represents “an historic opportunity to fully recognize the responsibilities of the State, the FARC and all the groups and people involved in the conflict.”
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