Every April 9, Colombia pauses its daily routine to honor millions of citizens who have suffered from the country’s armed conflict–this is the National Day of Victims.
This date, established by law in 2011—known as the Victims and Land Restitution Law—was not chosen at random but for its profound historical significance: the assassination of political leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitan in 1948, an event that marked the beginning of one of the most violent chapters in the country’s modern history.
Since 2012, when this national day was first commemorated, the country has sought not only to recognize victims but also to strengthen collective memory and promote efforts toward reparations, reconciliation, and non-repetition.
This date has become an opportunity to open spaces for dialogue, reflection, and expression, both institutionally and within social and cultural spheres.
National Day of Victims and Gaitan’s legacy in Colombia
Jorge Eliecer Gaitan was far more than a Liberal Party politician. A lawyer, brilliant orator, and advocate for the working class, he became a charismatic figure who united the hopes for social transformation among a significant portion of the country.
His focus on social justice, equity, and the fight against oligarchy positioned him as the strongest candidate for the 1950 presidential elections.
However, his life was cut short on April 9, 1948, when he was assassinated in broad daylight in downtown Bogota. This event not only shook the nation but also triggered a wave of violence known as El Bogotazo, during which the capital was consumed by chaos, riots, and destruction.
Shock and grief spread across the country, giving way to a dark period known as La Violencia (The Violence), which pitted Liberals against Conservatives and claimed the lives of over 200,000 people between the 1940s and 1950s.
For many historians, Gaitan’s assassination was the turning point that unleashed the simmering social, economic, and political conflicts that had been brewing for decades.
The collective frustration over losing a leader who represented profound change left an open wound in Colombia’s history—one that still pulses to this day.
A prolonged conflict and its victims in Colombia
The Colombian armed conflict has been one of the longest and most complex in the Western Hemisphere. Over 9 million people have been officially recognized as victims, impacted by events such as forced displacement, homicides, disappearances, kidnappings, sexual violence, and more.
Various actors have been responsible for these crimes: guerrilla groups, paramilitary forces, state security forces, and criminal organizations. The violence has spared no one, regardless of age, gender, or social status.
Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and rural communities have been particularly affected, often caught in the crossfire or unjustly targeted by warring factions.
The National Day of Remembrance and Solidarity with Victims seeks to place victims at the heart of the country’s narrative. It is a day to acknowledge their dignity and suffering, as well as their resilience and capacity to rebuild.
It also serves as a call for society as a whole to reject indifference and take an active role in building peace.
A day to remember and transform
Every April 9, Colombia holds symbolic, academic, artistic, and community-driven events aimed at redefining the memory of the conflict. Museums, universities, social organizations, and government institutions promote activities to honor victims.
In many cities, peace marches, photo exhibitions, panel discussions, concerts, and community art displays are organized.
One of the most emblematic sites for this commemoration is the Center for Memory, Peace, and Reconciliation in Bogota, a space dedicated to preserving victims’ histories and fostering a culture of peace.
The Colombian Museum of Historical Memory also stands out, documenting testimonies, artifacts, and stories from affected communities to ensure future generations understand the consequences of war.
Schools, meanwhile, host educational workshops where students learn about the origins of the conflict and reflect on the role of youth in building a different future.
Integrating historical memory into education is vital to preventing history from repeating itself.
The Commitment to Non-Repetition
The path toward a peaceful Colombia remains long and complex. While the 2016 peace agreements between the government and the FARC were a historic step, multiple forms of violence persist in many regions.
For this reason, the National Day of Remembrance cannot exist in isolation as a symbolic date. Instead, it must form part of an ongoing commitment by the state, civil society, and every citizen to truth, justice, and reparations.
Remembering April 9, 1948, also pays tribute to Jorge Eliecer Gaitan and his vision of a more just, inclusive, and democratic nation. His assassination—a crime still shrouded in speculation and academic debate—is commemorated annually and remains deeply present in Colombia’s collective memory.
This date seeks, through the lens of past tragedy, to build a Colombia where political differences are not resolved through violence and where no victim is forgotten.
This April 9, Colombia remembers once again. But beyond remembrance, the nation renews its commitment to peace, justice, and solidarity with those who have suffered most. For without memory, there is no future, and without truth, there can be no reconciliation.