Transitional Justice and Displacement

Transitional justice measures such as trials, truth commissions and compensation have been used in countries around the world to redress the legacies of violent conflict and widespread human rights violations, which often trigger large-scale displacement. These mechanisms have not consistently addressed displacement as a human rights concern, or engaged refugees and internally displaced persons as key stakeholders. However, recent research suggests that transitional justice may be part of an effective response to forced migration. At the same time, incorporating displacement may strengthen transitional justice initiatives.

On July 26, the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement and the International Center for Transitional Justice presented the results of a multiyear collaborative research project on the relationship between forced migration and transitional justice, including the launch of the new book entitled Transitional Justice and Displacement (Social Science Research Council, 2012). The discussion focused on how transitional justice measures can address displacement and how responses to displacement can be strengthened through the incorporation of transitional justice mechanisms, using experiences in Colombia as a case study. Panelists included: Brookings Fellow Megan Bradley; Roger Duthie, senior associate at the International Center for Transitional Justice; and Roberto Vidal, professor of law at the Pontifica Universidad Javierana in Colombia. Senior Fellow Elizabeth Ferris, co-director of the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement, provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion.

You can follow the conversation on this event on Twitter using the hashtag #IDPandTJ.

 Learn more about the book, report and case studies discussed at this event »