Category Archives: Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

Beyond Criminal Justice: A Truth Commission in Libya

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Mark Kersten

A fascinating debate about where to try the two surviving members of theTripoli Three – Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi – is currently raging (see here, here and here). It’s an important debate, and, as readers will know, I … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3), Traditional Justice Mechanisms, Transitional Justice, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Truth Commission | Leave a comment

ICC Complementarity, Positive Peace and Comprehensive Approaches in Transitional Justice

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Patrick Wegner

Even though much of the literature on Transitional Justice still focuses on unhelpful dichotomies like peace versus justice or trials versus amnesties the concepts that are being applied to tackle the legacies of violent conflicts in practice are increasingly comprehensive. … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty, Complementarity, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Traditional Justice Mechanisms, Transitional Justice, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Uganda | 4 Comments

Checking in on Ivory Coast: Justice here and Justice there

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Mark Kersten

With the vast majority of international justice attention focused on the unfolding situation in Libya, the search for justice in post-conflict Ivory Coast has been chugging along without much international scrutiny. In sharp contrast to the rigid either-or-debate regarding where … Continue reading →

Posted in Ivory Coast / Côte d'Ivoire, Ivory Coast and the ICC, Justice, Libya and the ICC, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Truth Commission | 1 Comment

Transitional Justice: “Paradigm Shift or Hot Air?”

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Mark Kersten

I recently attended the IASFM conference on forced migration outside of Kampala, at a picturesque resort perched above Lake Victoria (yes, there is irony there!). At the conference, numerous scholars presented pieces on “transitional justice” or “TJ”. Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Traditional Justice Mechanisms, Transitional Justice, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Truth Commission | 2 Comments

More Justice in Argentina: Dirty War Dictator Gets Life Sentence

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Mark Kersten

Last month, Argentina continued its remarkable zeal for justice and accountability by putting two of its most brutal leaders on trial. Former Argentine dictators Jorge Videla and Reynaldo Bignone, along with six others, were brought to trial for crimes committed … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty, Argentina, Human Rights, Iraq, Transitional Justice, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions | 2 Comments

Ivory Coast and the ICC: This Justice for You, That Justice for Me?

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Mark Kersten

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara was quoted today speaking about the need for all individuals responsible for human rights violations to be brought to justice: Mr Ouattara…said that all those responsible for committing atrocities in Ivory Coast’s civil war, including his … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Ivory Coast / Côte d'Ivoire, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Uganda | 5 Comments

A Case for ICC Intervention in Ivory Coast

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Mark Kersten

The worst appears to be over. The detention of Laurent Gbagbo yesterday by French forces, (or was it Alassane Ouattara troops?), appears to have closed an ugly, brutal and costly chapter of Ivorian history. Over the past few days there … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Ivory Coast / Côte d'Ivoire, Transitional Justice, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions | 4 Comments

The US and the ICC: Towards A Closer Relationship?

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Mark Kersten

A number of recent events and statements have brought the relationship between the United States and the ICC back into focus. Most notably, the US was amongst the permanent members of the UN Security Council which agreed to refer Libya … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Sudan, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, UN Security Council, United States | 57 Comments

Sri Lanka and the Best Transitional Justice Joke Ever?

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Mark Kersten

The final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war were particularly brutal. It has been repeatedly alleged that both the Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) committed war crimes. The International Crisis Group (ICG) … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Humour, Sri Lanka, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions | 5 Comments