
However, the beginning date of the armed conflict has not been established due to differing interpretations. The SJP will have exclusive jurisdiction over the crimes committed prior to 1 December 2016 in the context and by reason of the armed conflict, such as grave breaches of international humanitarian law and gross human rights violations. Personal and material scope of jurisdiction This article analyses some of the main features of the SJP as well as other complementary mechanisms in the quest for accountability. According to the Legislative Act 01 of 2017, the SJP consists of an Investigation and Indictment Unit, three Trial Chambers, and a Tribunal for Peace, which will have an Appeal’s Division serving as final instance. Additionally, 14 foreign judges will serve as observers.

To date 38 judges have been selected to sit at the SJP, 20 of the them are women.

In particular, the SJP is the judicial component of the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition, and is designed to investigate and prosecute serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed during the Colombian armed conflict. The SJP is one of the key accountability mechanisms of the Peace Agreement signed between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-Popular Army (FARC-EP) on 24 November 2016. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Colombia (SJP) officially opened its doors on 15 March 2018.
