The Promise of Land: Law, Land Restitution, and Indigenous Communities in Colombia

Project Information

PROLAND

Grant agreement ID: 896436

DOI

10.3030/896436

Project closed

EC signature date 30 April 2020

Start date 1 July 2022

End date 1 July 2026

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 212 933,76

EU contribution

€ 212 933,76

Coordinated by

MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP LBG
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PROLAND (The Promise of Land: Law, Land Restitution, and Indigenous Communities in Colombia)

Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Indigenous communities in Colombia have experienced long histories of land dispossession, armed conflict and displacement. Land restitution has become an important way of addressing these legacies, but restitution is often shaped by continuing conflict, competing territorial claims and the complexities of legal and institutional processes. PROLAND examined how restitution unfolds in practice. Drawing on ethnographic research in the department of Cauca, the project explored how Indigenous organisations, communities and public institutions navigate restitution processes in contexts marked by conflict and dispossession. The project contributes to wider understanding of the social, political and legal conditions under which the restitution of Indigenous territorial rights takes place.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project was based on ethnographic fieldwork in the department of Cauca, Colombia. The research examined land restitution as it is experienced in practice and generated findings that are being developed through ongoing publications. The fellowship included conference presentations, an international workshop, scholarly publications in preparation and continuing collaboration with researchers in Colombia. Findings were also shared through an op-ed and engagement with civil-society organisations. These activities supported dialogue between academic and non-academic audiences and created a foundation for future collaborative research.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

PROLAND contributes to research on land restitution by showing how restitution is negotiated in contexts affected by armed conflict. The project combines ethnographic research with the study of law to offer new perspectives on territory and reparative justice. The fellowship provides a foundation for ongoing publications and collaborative research in Colombia. Its findings are relevant to researchers, Indigenous organisations, public institutions and others working on land restitution and territorial governance.