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Transitional Justice

Latest from USIP on Transitional Justice

  • November 20, 2009   |   Event
    Looking for Justice in Liberia

    As Liberia continues its struggle to rebuild institutions destroyed by years of brutal conflict, the rule of law has emerged as a focus area of national and international development efforts.  A key policy question concerns the future of Liberia’s dual justice system under which a hierarchy of chiefs’ courts managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs exists in parallel to the formal judiciary.  Co-authors Deborah Isser and Stephen Lubkemann discuss the policy implications of the newest USIP Peaceworks with the Chair of the Liberian Law Reform Commission.

  • November 5, 2009   |   Resource
    Looking for Justice: Liberian Experiences with and Perceptions of Local Justice Options

    This report presents the research findings and analysis of ten months of field study as part of the United States Institute of Peace and George Washington University project titled "From Current Practices of Justice to Rule of Law: Policy Options for Liberia's First Post-Conflict Decade." The analysis we present, based on three types of research methods (focus groups, individual interviews with parties to specific disputes, and interviews with chiefs, zoes [traditional leaders], and other justice practitioners) employed primarily in three counties (Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Nimba, and less extensively in parts of Monrovia), is intended to provide the Liberian government and other stakeholders in the country with more robust evidence than has hitherto been available on how both formal and customary justice systems are perceived and utilized by Liberians.

  • November 2, 2009   |   Course
    Governance and Democratic Practices in War to Peace Transitions

    Course will enable practitioners and policy makers to develop effective strategies in establishing stable institutions and helping to support a robust civil society in transition environments. Interactive exercises with critical analysis of various case studies will focus on establishing governance and democratic practices in divided societies, and offer a framework that can be applied in unstable, post-conflict environments.
     

  • September 22, 2009   |   Course
    Engaging With Identity-Based Differences

    Outlines strategies and distinctive challenges for third-party mediators and other advisors, including countering hate speech and exclusionary policies, engaging religious and tribal leaders, establishing trust through intergroup dialogues, and other measures. Recommended for practitioners whose peacebuilding work requires them to work with religious, ethnic, tribal and minority groups.

  • September 14, 2009   |   Course
    Introduction to Post-Conflict Strategies and Operations

    A 'hands on' course that provides students with a framework for organizing and implementing post-conflict peace and stability operations based upon the end-states that should be achieved. Will focus on the critical issues that confront post-conflict interventions in achieving each end state and the overarching leadership responsibilities involved in these objectives.

  • July 31, 2009   |   Resource
    Truth Commission: Panama

    Truth Commission: Panama Truth Commission (Comisión de la Verdad de Panamá)
    Duration: 2001 - 2002
    Charter: Executive Decree No. 2, January 18, 2001
    Commissioners: 7
    Report: Public report

  • July 31, 2009   |   Event
    Transitional Justice, Community Reconstruction, and Citizenship in Postwar Guatemala

     Since the internal armed conflict in Guatemala ended in 1996, millions of dollars have been spent on transitional justice, but the state's efforts to create an effective justice system have largely failed -- obliging many Guatemalans to create their own coping mechanisms for war-time atrocities, and severely limiting the effectiveness of ongoing transitional justice efforts.

  • July 30, 2009   |   Resource
    Truth Commission: Ethiopia

    Commission of Inquiry: The Special Prosecution Process by the Office of the Special Prosecutor
    Duration: 1993 – 2007(?)
    Charter: Proclamation No. 22/1992
    Commissioners: more than 400 staff at peak
    Report: [Public report on first year of activities]

  • July 30, 2009   |   Resource
    Truth Commission: Solomon Islands

    Truth Commission: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
    Duration:  2009 – 2010 (expected)
    Charter: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2008 (No. 5 of 2008)
    Commissioners: 5
    Report: Not yet issued

  • July 1, 2009   |   Resource
    Truth Commission: Kenya

    Truth Commission: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation
    Duration: 2 years anticipated
    Charter: Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission Bill
    Commissioners: 7
    Report: The commission is still in session.

  • May 3, 2007   |   Resource
    Truth Commission: Ecuador 07

    Truth Commission: Truth Commission to Impede Impunity
    Duration:  2007 - 2009
    Charter: Ministerial Accord No. 305
    Commissioners: 4
    Report: Public report expected in September 2009

     

  • January 17, 2007   |   Resource
    Oral Histories: The Sudan Experience Project

    The Sudan Experience Project Oral History Library contains the transcripts of nearly 100 interviews with those who negotiated and who are implementing the CPA. These first person accounts and the lessons learned from their experience are a substantial contribution to our understanding of the challenges of negotiating and implementing complex peace agreements.

  • February 20, 2006   |   Resource
    Truth Commission: Liberia

    Truth Commission: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia
    Duration: 2006 - 2009
    Charter: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act
    Commissioners: 9
    Report: Vol. I issued in December 2008, Vol. II, and Vol. III due June 2009
     

  • December 1, 2004   |   Resource
    Truth Commission: Morocco

    Truth Commission: Equity and Reconciliation Commission
    Duration: 2004 – 2005
    Charter: Dahir (Royal Decree) No. 1.04.42
    Commissioners: 16
    Report: Public report

     

  • June 1, 2004   |   Resource
    Truth Commission: Paraguay

    Truth Commission: Truth and Justice Commission
    Duration: 2004 - 2008
    Charter: Ley No. 2225
    Commissioners: 9
    Report: Public report

     

A country that is at risk for, in the midst of or recovering from conflict has needs that no one expert or organization can provide. Often, humanitarian organizations work to address basic human needs for food, shelter and medicine; military or international organizations may have armed forces providing security; and governance experts may be helping local officials establish or improve legal frameworks and government agencies.

No two countries or situations are the same, but experts have identified many issues that emerge in nearly every conflict or post-conflict setting. The list of issue areas aims to aid researchers and practitioners by grouping USIP events, publications and resources by topic.