Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court visits Colombia to evaluate case of crimes against humanity

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Khan visita Colombia to meet with members of the Government and civil society to continue with the preliminary examination of the case of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the armed conflict.

The Vice President and Chancellor of Colombia, Marta Lucía Ramírez, welcomed the prosecutor in a video on a visit “In which he will have the opportunity to meet not only with the President of the Republic but with the different entities that make up the judicial branch.”

Khan, who replaced prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in The Hague last June, is in possession of the longest-running preliminary examination in the CPI, since 2004, and that involves war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Army, the extinct FARC guerrilla and paramilitary groups since 2009 (the former) and 2002 (those against humanity).

“The important thing is that he has the opportunity to analyze with each and every one of the institutions what is the decision of the State and Colombian society not to allow impunity for any crime against humanity that could have been committed in our country, ”explained Ramírez, who met with the prosecutor last month and agreed to the visit.

The case is still in preliminary examination and the CPI he has to decide whether to continue it and thus opens the official investigation to Colombia or closes it.

In addition to the meeting with the president, Iván Duque, during his visit, which will last until October 29, Khan will have the possibility of meeting with the transitional justice that judges collective crimes of the conflict, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) , the Constitutional and Supreme Court, the Office of the Prosecutor and Procurator (Public Ministry) of the country and members of the UN and civil society.

In this way, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “it is expected that the Prosecutor can verify the progress of the State institutions to punish the conduct included in the mandate of the International Criminal Court.”

Prior to her departure, Prosecutor Bensouda indicated that the next steps would be to focus on the national legislative framework (ability or willingness of the authorities to bring a person to justice), national judicial processes, and enforcement of sentences (if sanctions were effective).

In 2012, the ICC Prosecutor’s Office presented its findings regarding crimes allegedly committed by members of the Colombian armed forces, paramilitary groups; the FARC-EP; and the National Liberation Army (ELN).

The Office of the Prosecutor has since carried out visits, meetings, exchanges and discussions with the Colombian authorities, members of the judiciary, as well as with members of civil society, international organizations and academia.

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