What is the cost of truth for families immobilised by Colombia’s violent past? In 2005, Colombia started gathering evidence about the horrific violence being carried out by illegal paramilitias. A highly controversial justice and peace process allowed paramilitary leaders to hand in their weapons and give themselves up voluntarily in exchange for reduced sentences. Impunity documents the hearings in which paramilitaries describe atrocities they have committed in detail as the families of their victims listen and watch on projected screens. Through a series of these testimonies, footage of paramilitary crimes, and interviews with victims and experts, the brutal history of paramilitary violence comes to light. Yet due to serious irregularities in the justice and peace process, many families express their fear that they will never know the truth surrounding the deaths of their loved ones, and that the perpetrators will escape punishment. In an era where many countries are tempted to sacrifice justice in the name of “peace”, what happens in Colombia will resonate beyond its borders.
A Q&A discussion with filmmakers Juan José Lozano and Hollman Morris will take place at both screenings.
Human Rights Watch has documented the serious flaws in the original Justice and Peace program and engaged in extensive advocacy work to strengthen investigations and ensure accountability for paramilitary abuses. Human Rights Watch’s most recent report on Colombia documented on-going and egregious abuses by armed groups made up largely of former members of the paramilitary organisations that had officially disbanded. http://www.hrw.org/americas/colombia
