Are reparations impossible to pay? Colombia’s reparation policy for survivors of sexual violence and victims of the armed conflict

Abstract

The right to reparation for victims of human rights violations is one of the cornerstones of transitional justice and is a widely recognized principle in both the literature and human rights standards. Despite its importance, administrative reparation programs are often seen as costly and ineffective policies. Nevertheless, the literature on reparations has overlooked the question of the financial feasibility of these programs.

In an effort to address this question, this text contributes to the analysis of the financing of administrative reparation programs, particularly regarding reparations for sexual violence, based on the Colombian experience. We examine how the financial feasibility of the reparations policy created in 2011 was determined, how the budget allocated to reparations has behaved between 2012 and 2022, and the role of reparations for acts of sexual violence within this framework.

This study allows us to identify important methodological, conceptual, and political elements in order to establish what has worked well and what has been problematic in this process. Based on this, we discuss factors that should be taken into account in different contexts to ensure sustainable programs that fulfill the rights of victims of human rights violations, especially survivors of sexual violence.