When you look back on the commission's work today, what do you think were the key achievements or findings?
All findings are key, because everything is connected. One central issue was the problem of security. The total failure of the Colombian security system was clear: more than six decades of armed conflict, 10 million victims, 16,000 child soldiers forcibly recruited, 4,000 massacres and 800,000 deaths. Another main point was the notion of 'wounded Colombia' – the fact that every murder victim left behind a family and that the suffering caused by loss, displacement and psychological damage has left its mark on society as a whole. More than 80% of the population were affected directly or indirectly.
In terms of key achievements, I would mention the tools developed by the commission to help people overcome their fears of talking about the past, which is what made it possible to even draw up the report. I also particularly appreciate some of the key methodological decisions the commission made during the process. For example, the decision to use a differentiated approach meant that the report also had to include a section dedicated to clarifying the impact of the armed conflict on Colombia's various ethnic groups. This was very important in terms of recognising the country's ethnic and cultural diversity.
