DDR and truth commissions, limits and meeting points: Evidence from the cases of Namibia, Congo, Indonesia and Colombia

Abstract

The end of the Cold War made it possible to position on the world stage the need to resolve internal conflicts on different continents. Consequently, the first experiences of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) arose, based on the stabilization of countries in terms of security, which in some cases took into account aspects such as the victims’ right to the truth. However, in recent years a concern has emerged regarding the articulation of DDR processes and truth commissions, as experience has shown great difficulty in coordinating the development and objectives of these processes. Thus, this research carries out a comparative analysis focused on cases that are not emblematic of truth commissions, but of DDR, such as Namibia, Congo, Indonesia and Colombia, in order to analyze the impact of the robust processes of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration in truth commission processes.