Ariel Sánchez Meertens

Dr. Ariel Sánchez Meertens began his career as a research assistant for the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (2002) and later for the Ombudsman Office (2003). He later worked as an external consultant for UNHCR (2004-2006). In 2007 he obtained his MA degree in Conflict Studies (cum laude, Utrecht University) and in 2008, started his PhD (Anthropology, Utrecht University), carrying out fieldwork in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province. He was awarded a Marie Curie fellowship to continue research based at the University of Ulster's International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE, Northern Ireland). In October 2013, after obtaining his PhD, he started working as lecturer for the Centre for Conflict studies (Utrecht University) then returned to Colombia where he held a position at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, as a postdoctoral fellow. He then worked at Bogotá´s Centro de Memoria Paz y Reconciliación (Centre for Memory Peace and Reconciliation), in charge of the design of the city’s memory and reconciliation strategies. He currently works at Colombia´s Peace Tribunal (JEP) as a coordinator of restorative justice processes within the chambers and tribunal of Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP).