Center for socio-legal research (CIJUS)

CIJUS was created in 1983 to undertake research in the relationship between the law and social and political realities in Colombia. In the beginning, we gave private place to studies in the administrative organization of the state, the improvement of the administration of justice, information systems in the justice system, and computer law. We slowly became more specialized in the analysis, evaluation and criticism of the administration of justice in Colombia, and conducted a number of important pieces of research with regard to topics such as justice and social conflict, access to justice, reforms to the administration of justice, and alternative mechanisms for the solution of conflict.

In parallel to this area of central interest we also have an immediate objective in promoting research in the following strategic areas: Democracy, governance and the state of law, political reforms and the reform of the State, human rights, civic guarantees and freedom, the law, gender and other rights of women, the law and multiculturalism, the law and the environment, and finally, the law and globalization.

The CIJUS also contains an important teaching function since research is presented to faculty students at seminars, and there is hope that in the future such work will also enrich teaching materials. Also, some students of the faculty produce their degree papers as part of this research, under the supervision of CIJUS researchers.