A Sanctuary for the Missing

At first glance, they look like simple white-edged ossuaries. But for those who spent over a year building them at the Central Cemetery in Palmira, Colombia, these are “repositories of memory”—the final resting place for over 500 victims of forced disappearance.

The project was built by 32 former FARC combatants and 23 members of their wartime enemy, the Colombian Army, all appearing before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). The initiative, proposed by the group of former guerrillas, brought together peace signatories and soldiers to work toward a common goal of atonement.

Following the handover of these ossuaries in August 2026, the area—locally known as “The Backyard”—will now serve as a space for reconciliation. It offers a long-awaited sense of peace to families who have spent decades in a desperate search for their loved ones.

In a country where over 100,000 people remain missing, these repositories are more than stone and mortar; they represent a vital, heartfelt step toward healing Colombia's deepest wounds and honoring those who were lost.

Jaír F. Coll

Jaír F. Coll (1997) is a Colombian visual journalist whose work focuses on culture as a factor of social transformation. His photography, both intimate and colorful, has been exhibited at the Photo Vogue Festival 2021 and was selected in the ninth edition of the New York Portfolio Reviews. Based in the city of Cali, Coll's work explores the universal themes of cultural identity and spirituality. He has worked with international media such as The New York Times, NPR, The Guardian, Bloomberg, Reuters, among others.