References: Constitución Política de Colombia 1991. art. 29 and 86.

DECRETO NUMERO 2700 DE 1991(Noviembre 30) Por el cual se expiden las normas de Procedimiento Penal

The ombudsman (Defensor del Pueblo) reports that right to due process and the right of defense are among the rights that citizens feel are most frequently violated. In 2005 the ombudsman received 496 complaints about violations of this right. In general, according to a recent survey made among citizens about perceptions of democracy, about 80 percent of those surveyed feel judicial decisions are slow or too slow.

According to data from the World Bank, in 2003 it was estimated that a job related case could take 1,647 days to be solved on average, and a civil process about 2,048 days. As a consequence of these delays, evidence may be missed and there may be an increase in impunity rates. Although in recent years there have been important efforts in all judicial institutions to reduce backlog, it is so big that there are still unsolved cases from many years ago, so it is difficult to compel judges to act within the legal time frame.

References: XIII Informe del Defensor del Pueblo al Congreso de la República 2005.

Rodriguez Raga, Juan Carlos and Sellingson, Mitchell. 2007. La Cultura Política de la Democracia en Colombia. Vanderbilt University.

CAJPE. 2003. Red de Información Jurídica, SISTEMAS JUDICIALES Reforma y modernización judicial Colombia (enero-diciembre, 2003) [ LINK ]

It is important to note also that given the widespread use of the "tutela," the congestion of the judiciary has also increased.

References: CORPORACIÓN EXCELENCIA EN LA JUSTICIA. 2006. INVESTIGACIÓN EL IMPACTO DE LA ACCION DE TUTELA EN LA CORTE SUPREMA DE JUSTICIA 2003 2006 Investigadores, Gloria María Borrero, Ana Lucía Gutiérrez, Jorge Bautista, Luz María Orozco, Andrea Castellanos, María Mercedes Hoyos, Andrés Ucrós,Luis Alberto Castel,

XIII Informe del Defensor del Pueblo al Congreso de la República 2005.

Rodriguez Raga, Juan Carlos and Sellingson, Mitchell. 2007. La Cultura Política de la Democracia en Colombia. Vanderbilt University.

CAJPE. 2003. Red de Información Jurídica, SISTEMAS JUDICIALES Reforma y modernización judicial Colombia (enero-diciembre, 2003) [ LINK ]

Armed conflict creates one of the biggest obstacles for the judiciary to follow written law, as armed actors and corrupt networks threaten judges or try to bribe them. At the local level the investigative skills of the police and justice institutions are weak. Citizens also may consider that the social position of the claimant influences the outcome of judicial processes (Gargarella).

Following the results of a recent survey made among citizens on perceptions of democracy, the confidence in institutions that protect rights is higher in Colombia than in other Latin American countries. However, about 66.3 percent of respondents feel that the corruption of judges is generalized. Of all justice institutions, tribunals are the least trusted, showing that citizens are less confident in the institutions that are closest to them. In general, about half of respondents were satisfied with the action of judges and prosecutors.

References: Rodriguez Raga, Juan Carlos and Sellingson, Mitchell. 2007. La Cultura Política de la Democracia en Colombia. Vanderbilt University.

CAJPE. 2003. Red de Información Jurídica, SISTEMAS JUDICIALES Reforma y modernización judicial Colombia (enero-diciembre, 2003) [ LINK ]

Rama Judicial de Colombia. Acceso a la Justicia. www.ramajudicial.gov.co/csj_portal/assets/Acceso%20a%20la%20Justicia.htm - 56k - Gargarella, Roberto. 2002. Too far removed from the people Access to Justice for the Poor: The Case of Latin America. Universidad Torcuato di Tella, Argentina.

The most recent example is the conflict that appeared between the executive and the Supreme Court of Justice. The Court decided not to approve the government´s proposal to judge paramilitaries involved in a demobilization process under the "sedition" figure. Although the government accepted the decision, it was bitterly criticized and the government is planning to issue a legislative reform to introduce a new penal figure for paramilitaries, similar to sedition.

References: Comisión Internacional de Juristas. 2005. COLOMBIA: SOCAVANDO EL ESTADO DE DERECHO Y CONSOLIDANDO LA IMPUNIDAD

EL TIEMPO, Julio 27 de 2007 , Para dar estatus político a 'paras', presidente Álvaro Uribe buscará apoyo del pueblo

References: Constitución Política de Colombia 1991. Art. 228

LEY 270 DE 1996. Diario Oficial No. 42.745, de 15 de marzo de 1996 ESTATUTARIA DE LA ADMINISTRACIÓN DE JUSTICIA

There are conflicts between the executive and the national level courts on controversial matters. Although the government respects decisions from the courts, in several occasions they have been criticized and the government has even proposed to eliminate some Courts (as the Constitutional Court) or judicial mechanisms as the "Acción de tutela" or tutelage mechanism to protect human rights. The most recent episode of conflict between the executive and the courts occurred because the Supreme Court of Justice decided to declare that paramilitaries involved in the peace process started in 2003 cannot be prosecuted by sedition, as it only applies to guerrillas. The government disliked the decision and stated that the independence of the court cannot be used to avoid responsibilities in the peace process.

Although national level judges are elected for fixed terms and cannot be removed without justification, there is a perception that despite increasing independence, their election is highly determined by political criteria. In order to make the selection process more transparent, in 1999, the NGO Corporacion Excelencia en la Justicia, in association with a number of CSOs and Universities, started the first exercise of citizen oversight over the process of selection for Justices in the Council of the State and the Supreme Court of Justice. The Corporación has conducted similar exercises in 2006 and 2007 in order to make public the CVs of the candidates as well as the selection criteria. The Corporation reports that as a result of this exercise the courts feel compelled to be more transparent in their actions. For the case of the constitutional court, after 1991 a tradition of independence has been established, by which the justices elected are very well known for their qualifications. Political criteria are stronger in the selection of justices for the Supreme Court of Justice.

Since July 2007 there has been a controversy on the election of a new member of the court, for which the Government initially sent a list of three conservative women. The move was criticized as a way to reduce the progressive spirit of the court. In the end, two of the initial candidates removed themselves from consideration and the Government created a list including the current juridical secretary of the presidency in a very politicized and criticized decision. Based on situations like this, critics argue that the independence of the court can be weakened.

References: EL TIEMPO, Julio 27 de 2007 , Para dar estatus político a 'paras', presidente Álvaro Uribe buscará apoyo del pueblo

Navas Talero, German. UN PUNTO DE VISTA PANORAMICO DE LA JUSTICIA EN COLOMBIA DIEZ AÑOS DESPUES DE LA NUEVA CARTA POLITICA Y UN LUSTRO MAS TARDE DE LA FUNDACION DE LA CORPORACION EXCELENCIA EN LA JUSTICIA.

Uprimny Yepes, Rodrigo. La judicializacion de la política en Colombia: casos, potencialidades y riesgos. Revista Conectas [ LINK ]

Revista Semana. 2007. La Corte de Uribe El Presidente ya no quiere quitarle poder a la Corte Constitucional, sino darle un rumbo más conservador. 07/28/2007 # 1317

Revista Semana. 2007. La categórica renuncia de las aspirantes a Magistrado de la Corte Constitucional desnuda una elección anunciada. 08/14/2007

However, this sytem is not totally transparent and efficient in practice. Each court of Law including national level courts has an office that adjudicate cases, however the widespread perception is that adjudication is not efficient and that there is a big contrast between the adjudication of few notable cases which are solved efficiently and in a very visible manner, and the bulk of cases which are not properly and transparently distributed. Criminal matters may get more press and more political attention, whereas civil matters that concern the population in day-to-day life are not properly adjudicated..

References: LEY 270 DE 1996 (marzo 7) Diario Oficial No. 42.745, de 15 de marzo de 1996 ESTATUTARIA DE LA ADMINISTRACIÓN DE JUSTICIA

Uprimny Yepes, Rodrigo. La judicializacion de la política en Colombia: casos, potencialidades y riesgos. Revista Conectas [ LINK ]

Magistrates and judges belong to the judicial civil service and cannot be removed without relevant justification. The only judges that can be removed without justification are those appointed on a temporary basis. Occasionally there are reports of removals without relevant justification, as in the case of one prosecutor who was removed by the General Prosecutor after making a decision that was in apparent contradiction with the security policy of Alvaro Uribe's government.

References: Constitución Política de Colombia 1991. Art. 233 LEY 270 DE 1996 (marzo 7) Diario Oficial No. 42.745, de 15 de marzo de 1996 ESTATUTARIA DE LA ADMINISTRACIÓN DE JUSTICIA. art. 252 Comisión Internacional de Juristas. 2005. COLOMBIA: SOCAVANDO EL ESTADO DE DERECHO Y CONSOLIDANDO LA IMPUNIDAD

References: Comisión Internacional de Juristas. 2005. COLOMBIA: SOCAVANDO EL ESTADO DE DERECHO Y CONSOLIDANDO LA IMPUNIDAD

References: Comisión Internacional de Juristas. 2005. COLOMBIA: SOCAVANDO EL ESTADO DE DERECHO Y CONSOLIDANDO LA IMPUNIDAD

In general, the emphasis given in Colombia to alternative resolution methods has facilitated the access of minority groups to justice. However, African descendants and indigenous groups are not well aware of the existence or the way these mechanisms work

References: Centro de Estudios Juridicos de las Americas. Métodos Alternativos de Resolución de Conflictos MARC)[22] [ LINK ]

Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Declaration by Indigenous and Afro-Colombian Councils in Cauca DECLARATION BY THE INDIGENOUS AND AFRO-COLOMBIAN COMMUNITY COUNCILS AND ETHNIC-TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATIONS OF THE CAUCANA PACIFIC COAST, GATHERED AT THE MEETING FOR LIFE AND AUTONOMY (Translated by Peter Lenny, a CSN translator) [ LINK ]

One of the major problems reported by the Office of Women from the Organization of American States during its visit to Colombia is that women victims of violence do not get appropriate treatment when they try to access judicial resources. These problems however, are not limited to women but to victims of violence in general, from which women constitute a significant group

According to the latest report of the above mentioned Office for Women, Colombian women say that they don't report violence acts because they fear stigma or because they are not fully aware of the available judicial resources. It is important to note that the government and the judiciary have taken special measures to address crimes against women in a specialized way and to train public servants on gender and women issues. The Supreme Council of the Judicature has created a training program with gender focus for judiciary employees. Its goal was to train 15,000 employees between 2002 and 2005. National level courts have produced a body of doctrine aimed at protecting women's rights. The government also has created special programs to attend women victims of violence. It is estimated that women have been the main beneficiaries of Justice Houses, a mechanism aimed at facilitating the solution of minor conflicts. On average, approximately 60 percent of Justice House users are women

References: Organización de Los Estados Americanos, Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. 2007. ACCESO A LA JUSTICIA PARA LAS MUJERES VÍCTIMAS DE VIOLENCIA EN LAS AMÉRICAS

Checchi and Company Consulting, Inc.. 2006. COLOMBIA ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE PROGRAM (2001-2006) FINAL REPORT Submitted to: USAID/Colombia Bogotá, Colombia

Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia. Casas de Justicia de Colombia. [ LINK ]

References: DECRETO NUMERO 2700 DE 1991(Noviembre 30) "Por el cual se expiden las normas de Procedimiento Penal"

With the recent introduction of the orality system in Colombia, the weaknesses of state-provided aid are even more evident. It is important to note that several international organizations have given aid to Colombia in order to modernize the judicial system, and a fraction of this aid goes toward the training of public defenders.

According to 2004 figures, there are 2.5 public defenders per 100,000 inhabitants in Colombia, a figure that is slightly above the Latin American average (2.4).

References: Fernanda Santos. 2005. Colombian lawyers back in schools Program funded by U.S. provides training on navigating a new justice system to resemble sponsor's. Spring 2005 IRP Fellow Reprinted with permission of Newsday [ LINK ]

CEJA. 2005. Foro Iberoamericano de Acceso a la Justicia. Desafíos Futuros: Calidad y Participación. Juan Enrique Vargas, Director Ejecutivo CEJA.

Peer Review Comments: State legal aid/public defenders have neither the training nor the means to competently represent the most impoverished defendants.

Although courts of law in formal systems are easily accessible, the costs derive from the need of citizens to spend considerable amounts of money in order to access good lawyers. Citizens earning a median income might have difficulties paying for good quality lawyers and to pay for all the necessary administrative procedures. Since lack of information is identified by citizens as one of the main obstacles to accessing justice, in complex cases it is necessary to recur to specialized knowledge in order to follow the right procedure, and such knowledge carries significant costs.

Informal systems are not homogeneous throughout the country and in certain areas citizens might not be able to access these alternative mechanisms that reduce costs and time spent in solving conflicts. In Colombia, various mechanisms exist for alternative dispute resolution: equity conciliation, legal conciliation, mediation, arbitration and peace judges. Those mechanisms are suitable to solve minor and collective conflicts and incorporate local knowledge and authority as part of the conciliation process. Although those mechanisms complement formal justice systems, they are not a substitute of them for middle class citizens.

The Casas de Justicia (Justice Houses) are a system created by the Government to facilitate access from citizens to formal and informal justice systems. To date, there are 44 Casas de Justicia functioning around the country which have attended to about 600,000 cases in 2007. Even though the Casas have given important advantages to middle and lower class citizens, the breakdown of processes attended in justice houses shows that familiar conflicts (28.1percent) and questions about lost documents (26.7 percent) are the principal causes attended in 2007. Penal problems represented 11.1 percent of causes attended. Thus, even though Casas de Justicia may facilitate access of middle class citizens to formal justice in complex cases, their impact is still limited.

References: Uprimny Yepes, Rodrigo. La judicializacion de la política en Colombia: casos, potencialidades y riesgos. Revista Conectas [ LINK ]

Rama Judicial de Colombia. Acceso a la Justicia. www.ramajudicial.gov.co/csj_portal/assets/Acceso%20a%20la%20Justicia.htm - 56k - Gargarella, Roberto. 2002. Too far removed from the people Access to Justice for the Poor: The Case of Latin America. Universidad Torcuato di Tella, Argentina.

Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia. 2007. Casas de Justicia, Consolidado nacional. [ LINK ]

Informal systems are not homogeneous throughout the country, so in certain areas it might be more difficult for a small business to access those mechanisms that can reduce costs. In Colombia, various mechanisms exist for alternative dispute resolution: equity conciliation, legal conciliation, mediation, arbitration and peace judges. However, as already mentioned in cases where economic disputes are in place, alternative justice mechanisms might not be the most suitable tool as they are primarily used to solve minor disputes, incorporating community knowledge and authority.

References: Uprimny Yepes, Rodrigo. La judicializacion de la política en Colombia: casos, potencialidades y riesgos. Revista Conectas [ LINK ]

Fuentes Hernández, Alfredo. 2006. Reforma judicial en Colombia: Progresos en 15 años (Primera versión para comentarios). [ LINK ]

References: Rodriguez Raga, Juan Carlos and Sellingson, Mitchell. 2007. La Cultura Política de la Democracia en Colombia. Vanderbilt University.

CAJPE. 2003. Red de Información Jurídica, SISTEMAS JUDICIALES Reforma y modernización judicial Colombia (enero-diciembre, 2003) [ LINK ]

Uprimny Yepes, Rodrigo. La judicializacion de la política en Colombia: casos, potencialidades y riesgos. Revista Conectas [ LINK ]