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Disability and ableism in the falsos positivos in Colombia. A biopolitics circuitry approach.
(The University of Waikato, 2026-03) Munera R, Etilvia; Del Monte , Pablo; Jarallah, Yara; Jimenez , Alberto
In this paper I argue that the erasure of disabled people from official discourse during and after the Colombian Army’s Falsos positivos scandal results from intersecting ableist and biopolitical powers. In the early 2000s, the Colombian Army presented thousands of civilian victims as positive results in staged military operations. This scandal stands as a horrific chapter in Colombia’s contemporary history. While the scale of these crimes has been documented, disability and the intersecting identities of the victims have often been overlooked as a secondary characteristic, concealing how the Colombian state’s power targeted particular bodies. Employing a qualitative methodology that integrates elements of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA and Narrative analysis (NA). I apply this approach to the testimonial stories of two victims, Camilo and Roger, whose cases exemplify the intersections between the Falsos Positivos and disabilities in Colombia. I also triangulate these testimonies with press and official discourses from the conflict period and the subsequent Transitional Justice process. The analysis reveals a systematic erasure of disabled people from official discourses, both during the time the scandal emerged and throughout the post-conflict (post 2016) period and its transitional justice mechanisms. I argue that this erasure is produced by the interlocking operation of the three theoretical concepts that comprise the biopolitics circuitry. The stories of Camilo and Roger demonstrate that their legibility as targets of Falsos Positivos by the military was based on a hierarchy of worth, founded in ableist values of productivity, capacity, and conformity to an idealised normative body (Goodley, 2014; Mitchell & Snyder, 2018). This thesis thus contributes to the growing field of Disability Studies in the Global South while simultaneously offering a critical approach to understanding state violence against disabled bodies and Transitional Justice systems.
Non-reimbursable foreign aid as a factor for reducing war reparations in inter-state adjudication
(Brill, 2026) Alvarez-Jimenez, Alberto
The ICJ dealt with the issue of reparations in international armed conflict in Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda). The ICJ relied conceptually on the work on the subject-matter by the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission (EECC). This close connection could also revitalize other EECC statements on compensation. Particularly, the use of non-reimbursable foreign aid received by the injured State as a factor that reduces compensation to be paid by the responsible State. This article challenges this approach for lack of support in the Articles on State Responsibility, identifies potential counter-arguments, such as the existence of punitive damages or double recovery if non-reimbursable foreign aid is not discounted, and responds to them. As the EECC and ICJ recognized, war compensations remedy only a fraction of the injury, so this article seeks to avoid a further erosion of an already low war reparation.
Mātauranga informed enhancement of natural reef recovery and resilience for mahinga kai restoration: Replenishment of mana and mauri
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Taufa, Natalie; Battershill, Christopher
Coastal environments in Aotearoa/New Zealand are highly dynamic and diverse ecosystems that hold great cultural, social, economic and spiritual significance to Māori communities (the indigenous people of Aotearoa), yet face major threats from climate change, alongside other anthropogenically induced pressures. New Zealand's temperate reefs are experiencing increasing habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, and altered ecosystem functioning, which is evident in the depletion of culturally significant species and the declining state of health and mauri. The continual degradation of natural resources has had significant cultural impacts, compromising traditional customs such as mahinga kai (food gathering), kaitiakitanga (stewardship) and manaakitanga (hospitality), which is of great concern to mana whenua in Whangaruru, Northland. This thesis set out to address mana whenua concerns regarding the ongoing degradation of their moana rohe (ocean tribal area) by co-developing a monitoring framework for indigenous marine management, with a particular focus on rāhui as a traditional restriction on natural resources. Semi-structured interviews with kaumātua and kuia of Whangaruru were conducted, utilising a culturally responsive approach to collect oral histories and capture their perspectives on spatial and temporal environmental changes. The results revealed their key objectives for managing a rāhui within their moana rohe. Additionally, this study reviewed existing techniques of traditional and contemporary monitoring approaches used in comparable reef restoration contexts. Methods that aligned with the objectives identified through the interviews were incorporated into the framework. The outcome of this research was a monitoring framework that addresses the concerns of mana whenua (local indigenous people) by being responsive to their needs, filling a significant gap in existing marine management approaches. It also advocates for a decolonised research methodology that prioritises co-design, co-development, and collaboration with mana whenua, as a collective approach benefits the environment (te taiao), local communities, and researchers. The research draws on participants' intimate connection to their environment, leading to an innovative framework to revive guardianship (kaitiakitanga), provide hospitality (manaakitanga), and safeguard treasured species (taonga) and people, thereby maintaining cultural and ecological integrity. It stresses the importance of observing and listening to the environment, drawing from mātauranga and acting according to tikanga (customs). Ultimately, this study proposes a culturally grounded framework that promotes indigenous autonomy, protects food sovereignty, and reinforces the connection between people and te taiao for future generations.
Psychological distress in Aotearoa New Zealand adults with type 1 diabetes
(Sage, 2025) McClintock, Joanna Marie; Chepulis, Lynne Merran; Blackmore, Tania Louise; Fraser, Sonya; Paul, Ryan G.
The psychological burden of type 1 diabetes (T1D) can negatively impact health outcomes. This study evaluates the prevalence of low mood (WHO-5), disordered eating (DEPS-R), diabetes distress (PAID) and fear of hypoglycaemia (HFS-II), in a sample of 250 New Zealand adults (8.4% Māori/91.6% non-Māori; 43.6% female/56.4% male) with T1D using validated tools. Māori and female patients indicated low mood, with lower median WHO-5 scores than non-Māori (p = 0.027) and males (p = 0.002). Māori were more likely to score in the clinical range on the WHO-5, DEPS-R, PAID and HFS-II (all p < 0.05). HbA1c was correlated with emotional well-being (rs = −0.189), diabetes distress (rs = 0.223) and disordered eating (rs = 0.389; all p < 0.001) whilst DEPS-R correlated with age (rs = −0.232) and BMI (rs = 0.343; both p ≤ 0.001). Thus, diabetes-related psychological distress is common in New Zealand adults with T1D, particularly for Māori, females and those with elevated HbA1c levels.
Captive friends: What kind of autonomy is required for friendship?
(2025-12-02) Weijers, Dan M.