Abstract

CESPEDES-BAEZ, Lina M. Colombia's Victims Law and the Liability of Corporations for Human Rights Violations. Estud. Socio-Juríd [online]. 2012, vol.14, n.1, pp.177-213. ISSN 0124-0579.

In 2011, after four years of lobbying and political wrangling, Colombia approved Law 1448, commonly known as the Victims Law. Its aims are broad: to be the comprehensive body of law to address civilian population claims related to the armed conflict, and therefore to include the necessary legal reforms to restore the rule of law through the enforcement of victims' rights. Currently, government, civil society and scholars are focused on the major issues of the Law, specifically land restitution and assistance for victims. However, this new body of Law, with its 208 provisions, is broader than that, and a close review of its articles is urgently needed. One little-studied and apparently forgotten provision is Article 46, which appears to put in place a specific directive to enhance the prosecution of juridical persons for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the context of the Colombian armed conflict. However, a thorough analysis of its wording and history reveals that Article 46 is incapable of establishing links between businesses and human rights and humanitarian law violations in Colombia. This article specifically examines the scope and shortcomings of Article 46, and sets forth some possible solutions that require further investigation to fill the lacuna that already exist in the country in this subject.

Keywords : Victims Law; business and human rights violations; juridical persons; international law; civil law.

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