Uses of the Concept of Human Dignity and the Dignification of Victims in Transitional Justice in Colombia

Abstract

The idea of human dignity appears extensively in Transitional Justice (tj); nevertheless, it has not received critical examination. Based on the insights from the Colombian tj, this article analyses the challenges and tensions in the operationalisation of the mandate to restore victims’ human dignity. It studies three pathways of dignification that explain victims’ different engagement with steps that intend to restore their dignity. One of these pathways is refusing to be part of a state-led process while perceiving the state as a perpetrator. The article follows a qualitative methodology based on interviews with victims, civil servants acting in different tj mechanisms, and scholars; observation of tj meetings and public events; and the review of relevant documentation. The article firstly explains the background of dignity in human rights law and constitutional law. Secondly, it describes how the mandate of victim dignification appears in the Colombian tj and explains its use in practice. Finally, it presents different pathways used for the dignification of victims.