Madrid (Casa de América), 13 -14 November 2007

The aim of this seminar was to critically and constructively review the progress made and the obstacles encountered in the process since its application began, reflecting in a European environment on the complexities of the Colombian context. The discussion undoubtedly gave rise to controversy as very different positions were exposed in the seminar, and a rigorous and productive debate took place and concrete proposals were made to overcome the difficulties of the process.

On the Colombian side, the meetings were attended by the Vice-President, Francisco Santos, the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, Carlos Holguín, the High Commissioner for Peace, Luis Carlos Restrepo, the President of the Consitutional Court, Rodrigo Escobar Gil, the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, César Julio Valencia Copete, the President of the Superior Judiciary Council, Jorge A. Flechas Díaz, the Procurador General, Edgardo Maya, the President of the National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation, Eduardo Pizarro, a representative of the National Movement of Victims of State Crimes, Iván Cepeda, the High Counsellor for the Social and Economic Reintegration of Persons and Illegal Armed Groups, Frank Pearl, as well as representatives from the Bogota and Medellin Mayor Offices and key experts in justice.

On the Spanish side, participants included the Secretary of State for Justice, Julio Pérez Hernández, former Prime Minister, Felipe González, former Minister for Justice, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Public Prosecutor, Cándido Conde-Pumpido, the Magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice, Enrique Bacigalupo, the lawyer and President of the Pro-Derechos Humanos Association, Manuel Ollé, the President of the General Council of Lawyers, Carlos Carnicer Díez and the Magistrate of the National High Court, Baltasar Garzón.

In addition, representatives from the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Criminal Court also attended. Likewise, there were representatives from the main regional organisations providing assistance to the institutions involved in the process (the Organisation of American States via its Mission to Support the Peace Process and the European Union), as well as a representative group of NGOs.