Bogotá, Colombia – 9 September 2025
On 2 September 2025, Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) announced the accreditation of 104 men as victims/survivors of sexual violence committed in the context of the country’s ongoing internal armed conflict. All Survivors Project (ASP) welcomes these landmark decisions that mark the first instance of such recognition on a national and international level.
ASP commends the courage and resilience of the victims/survivors who, despite stigma and silencing, came forward to contribute to truth and justice. Their voices represent a fundamental step toward building a more inclusive society committed to memory, recognition, and non-repetition. ASP, with support from Justice Rapid Response (JRR), a global facility providing rapidly deployable experts to both investigate international crimes and human rights violations, and to enable inclusive approaches to justice, are proud to have supported the victims/survivors in their accreditation process.
Accreditation is the JEP’s official recognition of a person(s) as a victim/survivor of the armed conflict within a case or subcase under its jurisdiction. This recognition grants victims/survivors both the right to participate in proceedings related to the case or subcase and enables access to protection and other support measures.
These historic decisions were issued within the frameworks of Macrocase 11 (Sub-cases 1 and 2) and Macrocase 08. The JEP accredited 104 men as victims/survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, including 35 who were children at the time of the crimes. In Macrocase 11 Subcase 2 and Macrocase 08, the JEP accredited male victims/survivors not only as individuals but also as a collective subject, recognising the shared nature of their experiences.
In its analysis, the JEP recognised these crimes of sexual violence against men as a form of gender-based violence. They noted that sexual violence against men and boys, including those identifying as heterosexual and cisgender, was used strategically by armed actors in Colombia to impose control, to humiliate, and to reinforce violent models of masculinity. By accrediting victims/survivors not only as individuals but also as a collective subject, the JEP has opened a new dimension in jurisprudence on conflict-related sexual violence against men and boys. This auto represents a groundbreaking step for truth and accountability in Colombia as it constitutes the first step in formal recognition of victims/survivors, with implications for justice processes internationally.
Importantly, the JEP stressed that:
“The recognition of men, adolescents and boys, including those who identify as heterosexual and cisgender, as victims of sexual violence does not deny or minimise the centrality or seriousness of violence against women, girls, and persons with diverse SOGIESC; on the contrary, it broadens and reinforces gender and intersectional arguments and strengthens the transformative, inclusive and restorative nature that should guide the actions of this Jurisdiction.” (para. 113, pg. 44-45)
Judge Oscar Parra Vera stated that:
“It is important for the jurisdiction to recognise that men were also victims of sexual violence. This is significant because sexual violence against men, adolescents, and boys has been silenced and rendered invisible; recognising them as gender-based violence makes it possible to move towards transformative justice.”
Charu Lata Hogg, Executive Director of All Survivors Project remarked that:
“This decision recognises not only the profound harms suffered, but also the structural injustices that have, for too long, silenced survivors. The men and boys accredited in this process have acted collectively and with courage, transforming their experiences of violence into a demand for truth and accountability. Their voices strengthen the fight against gender-based violence and open the way for wider recognition of men and boys who have endured similar crimes. We are honoured to accompany them and profoundly grateful for the trust they have placed in us.”
ASP encourages the JEP to continue building on this important step by working in close partnership with victims/survivors to ensure their meaningful participation, access to appropriate support, and protection from further harm throughout the justice process. By embedding survivor-centred approaches alongside a robust gender analysis, the JEP can help establish lasting and inclusive mechanisms that recognise and respond to the experiences of all those affected by conflict-related sexual violence. In doing so, Colombia will not only continue to advance truth, justice, reparation, and prevention, but will also set a powerful example for inclusive transitional justice processes worldwide.
