Abstract
In 2011, Colombia enacted Law 1448 of Victims and Land Restitution providing restitution and reparations to victims of the civil armed conflict in an ambitious reconciliation and transitional justice effort at reform. The successes and the limitations of this legislation and its implementation serve as a vehicle through which public corruption—as well as anti-corruption strategies—in Colombia can be understood. This paper argues that fundamental changes must be made to the existing system by creating stronger accountability mechanisms for the effective enactment of the legislative program.
This analysis is highly relevant to understanding modern armed conflicts and their aftermath. Understanding the ways in which corruption interacts with legislative reforms like Law 1448 highlights systemic vulnerabilities that can derail post-conflict recovery. Lessons learned from Colombia’s approach to transitional justice can inform ongoing armed conflicts and post-conflict scenarios in countries such as Ukraine.
Recommended Citation
Abigail Zislis,
Justice Compromised: How Systemic Corruption Hinders Colombia's Victims' Law (Law 1448),
49 Fordham Int'l L.J. 249
(2026).
Available at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/ilj/vol49/iss1/5