Strategic Communication and Stakeholder Engagement in Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace

This paper contributes to a critical gap in scholarship and practice on deepening democracy: understanding how best to communicate about the work of transitional justice (hereafter TJ) institutions. Despite the established potential of TJ to contribute to strengthening democratic norms, some aspects of TJ institutions’ work remain understudied. Speaking about the work towards objectives such as truth and justice is a relatively new focal point for these institutions. While some existing research has focused on the role of the media in influencing TJ efficacy and operations, there is a significant gap in understanding how TJ mechanisms themselves can approach communication related to their work. This issue is particularly salient for institutions adopting innovative approaches to truth-seeking and the pursuit of justice, as in the case of Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace (Jurisdicción Especial Para la Paz, hereafter JEP); communicating the potential value of a non-retributive approach to justice to a wide variety of actors and groups may pose challenges. Based on a mapping of the relevant stakeholder groups and interviews and focus groups with members from each key stakeholder group, this paper provides necessary insights into ways for TJ institutions to communicate their objectives and work, such as in sentences and other major decisions, to more effectively contribute to deeper democratic practices. Key groups of focus in the paper include JEP magistrates not already involved in sentencing, appearing parties (those accused of crimes, or comparecientes, as the JEP terms them), academic leaders in Colombia, domestic policymakers, and international partners of the JEP. Understanding what particular audiences expect from TJ institutions, such as the JEP, offers insights into effective communication strategies which satisfy the rights of victims to truth and justice.