Processes of Participation in Peacebuilding in Colombia: Feminist and Decolonial Perspectives on Transitional Justice

The Colombian transitional justice system, established after the Peace Agreement with the former FARC-EP guerrilla, cannot be understood without recognising the participation of women—particularly those racialised, impoverished, and historically marginalised—who have long been central to peacebuilding while remaining largely invisible within institutional frameworks. Their involvement reclaims women’s active role as social and political actors, challenging narratives that confine them to the status of victims and exposing struggles against racism and colonial legacies that continue to shape their realities. It is therefore essential to implement transformative measures within transitional justice that move beyond formal inclusion and genuinely acknowledge women’s political agency, advancing their demands for justice and equality. These claims resonate with decolonial feminist epistemes, which seek to dismantle liberal-democratic frameworks that reproduce historical hierarchies and exclusions. Ultimately, the Colombian experience illustrates how intersectional and decolonial approaches reveal the limits of participation within liberal democracy. A substantive and transformative participation of women remains vital to addressing structural injustices and fostering the creation of a plural, inclusive, and socially just peace.