European Union Support for Colombia's Peace Process: Civil Society, Human Rights and Territorial Peace

Description

This open access book provides a comprehensive analysis of the EU's crucial support for the implementation of the Havana Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC-EP. It explores the use of new approaches and instruments that, despite some limitations and criticisms, could go beyond conventional liberal peace and provide useful lessons. Particular attention is paid to three axes: strengthening civil society, protection of human rights and a territorial peace perspective, as a contribution to the "local turn" in peace policies. The book first outlines the background of the conflict, the EU's two-decade defense of a negotiated peace, and the complexities of the peace process. Then, it analyses the development cooperation and political support provided in different areas: the collective reinsertion of ex-guerrillas, women and gender initiatives, the rights of ethnic communities, the sophisticated transitional justice system, as well as activities on reconciliation, victims and protection of human rights defenders. Acknowledgments Praise for European Union Support for Colombia’s Peace Process Contents Notes on Contributors Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction: EU Support for Peace in Colombia. Territorial Approach, Strengthening Civil Society and Human Rights 1 Introduction 2 The Armed Conflict, the Havana Peace Agreement and the Difficulties in Its Implementation 3 The EU: A Normative Power with a (Relative) Interest in Colombia 4 EU Support for Peace Prior to the Agreement 5 EU Support for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement 5.1 EU Instruments in Support of the Agreement 6 EU Support for Peace in Colombia: Going Beyond Liberal Peace? 6.1 Liberal Peace and Its Critics 6.2 EU Peacebuilding Approaches in Colombia 6.2.1 Strengthening Civil Society 6.2.2 Defence of Human Rights 6.2.3 Territorial Peace Approach 7 Structure of the Book References 2 The Recent Context in Colombia in Historical and Territorial Perspective: Armed Conflict, the Havana Agreement and Its Implementation 1 Introduction 2 A Brief Explanation of the Violence in Colombia: From Violence to Failed State 3 The Policy of Democratic Security (2002–2010): Towards a Hurting Stalemate 4 Juan Manuel Santos Assumes the Presidency: A 180 Degree Turn 5 The Territorial Dimension of the Peace Agreement (2016) 6 Implementation of the Agreement the Difficulties of a Government Lacking in Commitment 7 Implementation of the Agreement: Violence, Dissidence and Selective Murders 8 Conclusions References 3 Pathways and Obstacles in Colombia's Quest for Peace 1 Introduction 2 Political Violence and Obstacles to Peace in Colombia 2.1 Cycles of Political Violence and Internal Armed Conflict 2.2 Frameworks for the Legitimisation of Political Violence 2.3 Degradation of Political Violence 2.4 Main Actors Hindering Peace 2.5 Main Challenges Hindering Peace 3 The Search for Peace and an End to Political Violence 3.1 Civilian Resistance to Violence 3.2 Developing a Humanitarian Imperative in Colombia 3.3 Sustained Social Mobilisation for Peace and Human Rights 3.4 The Strategic Use of Law and Strategic Litigation 3.5 Consolidated Experience and Practice in Peace Processes 3.6 The Submission of Various Armed Actors to Transitional Justice 3.7 Institutional, Regulatory, and Constitutional Changes 3.8 Partnerships, Peace and Development Platforms and Public Policies 3.9 Inclusion in the Centre 3.10 International Accompaniment 4 Conclusion References 4 Is the Trade Agreement Between the EU and Colombia Coherent with European Support for Peacebuilding? 1 Introduction 2 Antecedents and Logic of the Agreement Between the EU and Colombia 3 Principal Characteristics of the Trade Agreement 4 State and Evolution of the Main Variables Linked to the Agreement 5 Is the Trade Agreement Coherent with Building a Stable and Lasting Peace in Colombia? 6 Conclusions References 5 European Union Cooperation in Colombia: A Commitment to Peacebuilding in Historical Perspective 1 Introduction 2 General Guidelines for EU International Cooperation in Colombia 3 Andrés Pastrana (1998–2002): Diplomacy for Peace and the EU's Modest Involvement in the Caguán Peace Talks 3.1 Diplomacy for Peace and Internationalisation of the Conflict 3.2 Plan Colombia 3.3 The End of the Caguán Peace Talks and the Planning of the I Peace Laboratory 4 Alvaro Uribe (2002–2010). Democratic Security Policy and EU Continuity in Peacebuilding 4.1 Continuity of the Peace Laboratories 4.2 Regional Development Peace and Stability (RDPS) 5 Juan Manuel Santos (2010–2018). Ratification of the EU's Support for Peacebuilding 6 Conclusions References 6 The Long Road Towards Reconciliation: Theoretical Elements and the EU’s Contribution to Working Towards Peace 1 Introduction 2 Academic Debates About Reconciliation 3 The Peace Laboratories 3.1 Reconciliation through the CNRR 4 The EU’s Commitment to the 2016 Peace Agreement: The European Fund for Peace 5 Conclusions and Recommendations References 7 Multilevel Support for the Process for the Reincorporation of FARC-EP: The Experience of the EU Trust Fund 1 Introduction 2 Overview of the Process for the Reincorporation of FARC-EP 3 EU Technical–Financial Support for the Reincorporation Process 3.1 The Territorial Level: Community-Based Organisations and Community Reincorporation 3.2 The National Level: Strengthening the Platforms for Coordinating Key Aspects of Reincorporation 3.2.1 Ecomun 3.2.2 Humanicemos DH 3.3 The Institutional Level: Promoting the Implementation of Sectoral Public Policy 4 Conclusions References 8 A Review of the European Union’s Gender Approach in Its Support for the Colombian Peace Process 1 Introduction 2 Background to the Inclusion of the Gender Approach in the Peace Process: The Leading Role of the Women’s Movement 3 The European Union’s Gender and Peace Agenda in Colombia 3.1 International and Regional Regulatory References 3.2 Gender Action in European Cooperation in Colombia 4 Conclusions References 9 The European Union’s Contribution to the Implementation of the Ethnic Approach Within the Colombian Peace Agreement (2016–2021) 1 Introduction 2 Ethnic Communities in the Armed Conflict 3 The Inclusion of an Ethnic Approach in the Colombian Peace Agreement and Its Implementation 3.1 The Ethnic Chapter of the Peace Agreement 3.2 The Implementation of the Ethnic Approach During the First Five-Year Period (2016–2021) 4 The EU’s Contribution to Implementation 4.1 Objectives, Priorities and General Guidelines 4.2 European Union Trust Fund for Colombia (EUTF) 4.3 Actions in the Area of Human Rights and Civil Society 5 Conclusions References 10 Keys to Interpreting the International Cooperation of the EU for the Special Jurisdiction for Peace 1 Introduction 2 The Colombian Model of Transitional Justice 3 The Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Investigation of System Crimes 4 International Cooperation, the EU and Transitional Justice 5 The Challenges of European Cooperation in the Investigation of System Crimes 6 Conclusions References 11 The European Union: A Strategic Partner for Colombia’s Truth Commission 1 Introduction 2 Peace and Truth Do Not Come Easily 3 The EU: A Partner for Colombia’s Truth Commission 3.1 Political Support 3.2 Technical and Financial Support 4 Conclusions and Lessons Learned from the EU’s Support for the Truth Commission References 12 The European Union’s Cooperation for Peace in Colombia: Achievements, Contributions and Limits with Respect to Guaranteeing Victims’ Rights 1 Introduction 2 The European Union and Victims in Colombia 2.1 The Peace Laboratories and the Justice and Peace Law (2002–2010) 2.2 Extending the Application of Transitional Justice in Colombia (2012–2016) 2.3 Victims’ Rights in the Implementation of the Peace Agreement (2016–2022) 3 Contributions by EU Cooperation to Realising the Rights of Victims in Colombia 4 Limits to the EU’s International Cooperation in Terms of Realising Victims’ Rights 4.1 Structural Limits 5 Conclusions References 13 The EU’s Peace Work in Colombia: Conclusions, Lessons Learned and Future Prospects 1 Introduction 2 Support for the Strengthening of Civil Society 3 Defending and Promoting Human Rights 4 The Territorial Approach 5 Lessons Learned for Other Contexts 6 Future Prospects and Room for Improvement References Index