Comprehensions of Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Justice of Victims of Forced Displacement in Colombia; Comprensiones de perdón, reconciliación y justicia en víctimas de desplazamiento forzado en Colombia; Concepções de perdão, reconciliação e justiça em vítimas de deslocamento forçado na Colômbia
In: Revista de Estudios Sociales, Heft 63, S. 84-98
ISSN: 1900-5180
The present study analyzes the concepts of forgiveness, reconciliation and justice, in the context of the Colombian armed conflict, on the part of 68 victims of forced displacement who live in the town of Soacha (Cundinamarca, Colombia). It is based on a qualitative methodology drawn from grounded theory. It found that those victims understood forgiveness to involve a transition from negative to positive emotions, and as a synonym for forgetfulness, while reconciliation was understood as a means to restore broken links. Thus, in the context of an armed conflict, justice (restorative and / or distributive) is a requirement for securing forgiveness and reconciliation. The study also reveals the importance of religious faith in the acceptance of forgiveness and reconciliation by the victims.
