Contested Symbols, Fractured Memory: The Politics of Symbolic Reparation in Colombia
26th October 2026
The article “Símbolos en disputa, memoria fracturada: la política de reparación simbólica en Colombia" [Contested Symbols, Fractured Memory: The Politics of Symbolic Reparation in Colombia], written by Jairo Andrés Hernández-Cubides and Andrés Eduardo Fernández-Osorio and published in 2026 in Estudios Socio-Jurídicos, is now available.
The contribution examines symbolic reparation within the context of transitional justice in Colombia, considering both State-led measures and initiatives developed by civil society. It focuses in particular on the relationship between reparation, historical memory, and victims’ participation, showing how monuments, artistic practices, commemorative acts, and other forms of symbolic expression can contribute to the construction of collective memory and the prevention of renewed violence. The analysis nevertheless identifies several recurring tensions: between reparation and ritualisation, between victims’ participation and institutional control, and between the plurality of memories and the consolidation of official narratives. The authors therefore stress the importance of understanding symbolic reparation as a participatory and dialogical process, capable of acknowledging diverse memories and moving beyond the mere creation of monuments or commemorative acts.
The full article can be accessed at the following link.