The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the Government of Colombia reaffirmed their shared commitment to partnership, complementarity and victim-centered justice during the official visit of ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan to Bogotá from 4 to 8 May 2026.
During her first official mission to Colombia, Deputy Prosecutor Khan held meetings with senior government officials, judicial authorities, representatives of the United Nations, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organisations and victims’ representatives. The visit took place within the framework of the 2021 Cooperation Agreement signed between the ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) and the Government of Colombia.
Deputy Prosecutor Khan described Colombia as “a leader in international criminal justice” and stressed the importance of ensuring that the country’s transitional justice process continues to deliver meaningful results for victims. She reaffirmed the Office’s dedication to working closely with all partners in line with the OTP’s Policy on Complementarity and Cooperation.
A central focus of the mission was the implementation of sentences issued by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, following recent landmark decisions in Colombia’s transitional justice process. Discussions highlighted the importance of effective coordination among national authorities to ensure sanctions are implemented in a way that reflects accountability, public condemnation of criminal conduct, and recognition of victims’ suffering.
The Deputy Prosecutor met with Colombia’s Minister of Justice and Law, Jorge Iván Cuervo Restrepo, and expressed appreciation for the Government’s continued support of the transitional justice framework and its commitment to strengthening coordination with the JEP.
She also held discussions with Miroslav Jenča, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, as well as Claudio Tomasi, Acting Resident Coordinator in Colombia. Meetings with international partners and members of the diplomatic community underlined the importance of sustained international engagement and support for Colombia’s peace and justice architecture.
An important component of the mission involved direct dialogue with civil society organisations and victims’ representatives. These exchanges provided an opportunity to assess progress achieved, ongoing challenges and the support still required to advance accountability efforts. Deputy Prosecutor Khan reiterated the OTP’s commitment to ensuring that victims’ voices continue to shape and inform its complementarity activities.
The visit also included meetings with Alejandro Ramelli and magistrates of the JEP, reflecting the strong ongoing partnership between the ICC Office of the Prosecutor and Colombia’s transitional justice institutions. Deputy Prosecutor Khan welcomed the progress achieved across several macro-cases and acknowledged efforts to develop restorative sanctions that include effective restrictions on liberties and rights.
Deputy Prosecutor Khan concluded her mission with a keynote address at an academic event hosted by Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on partnerships for justice. Emphasising the importance of international cooperation in addressing contemporary challenges in international criminal justice, she noted that complementarity can “build bridges” and strengthen collective efforts to deliver justice and accountability for victims.
