Challenges of denial, negationism and revisionism of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law in transitional justice contexts. Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence

While Colombia has made significant advances in recognising gender-based violence (GBV) against civilian populations, violence perpetrated within the ranks of armed groups has remained far less visible and unevenly acknowledged. This submission examines GBV committed within armed groups, with particular attention to the former FARC-EP. It analyses how denial and silencing have operated in relation to intra-group GBV, and how these dynamics have shaped victims’ participation before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). The submission draws on the ESRC-funded project “The Subversive Victim: Victimhood, Agency and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Colombian Non-State Armed Groups”. The principal findings are systematised in the annexed policy document, Rethinking Victimhood: Insights from Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) on Gender-Based Violence within Armed Groups (2025). Input submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice and Reparations within the Call for Inputs on Challenges of denial, negationism and revisionism of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law in transitional justice contexts