Post conflict communities and transitional justice

The importance of justice in communities in transition, and in societies living through post-conflict periods, is clearly stated in international human rights law and is highlighted by the many efforts to bring perpetrators to justice both under national and international law. These processes are important not only from a legal point of view, but have important repercussions on health and coping after periods of unrest, injustice and violence. This thematic page includes some useful links in relation to Post conflict communities and transitional justice.

UN Documents

• Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. UN 1998
• The right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms
  Commission on Human Rights Resolution: 2004/34
  

• Basic principles and guidelines on the right to a remedy and reparation for victims of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law
  Human Rights Resolution 2005/35
  

• Handbook on Justice for Victims: On the Use and Application of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. UNODCCP 1999
• Guide for policymakers, Justice for Victims
  The guide briefly sets out lines of work that can be pursued. UNODCCP 1999
  
• The right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms Commission on Human Rights Resolution: 2004/34

Introduction to post-communities and transitional justice

• First trial by Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge tribunal
  The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) February 12th 2009. Introduction to the trial of the first former Khmer Rouge leader to be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).
  
• The Khmer Rouge Trial Website, Mental Health Services
  Introduction to mental health in relation to the trial and trauma from the Khmer Rouge period.
  
• The Challenges Facing Mental Health Programs for Post-Conflict and Refugee Communities
  Derrick Silove, FRANZCP Centre for Population Mental Health Research, Southwestern Sydney Area Health Service and School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales (2004, 6 pages pdf)
  
• Trauma and Transitional Justice in Divided Societies
  Judy Barsalou United States Institute of Peace (2005, 12 pages pdf)
  
• Post-Conflict Peacebuilding: Meeting Human Needs for Justice and Reconciliation
  Wendy Lambourne, United States Institute of Peace (2004, 24 pages pdf)
  
• Exhumation of Mass Graves in Iraq - Considerations for Forensic Investigations, Humanitarian Needs, and the Demands of Justice
  Eric Stover; William D. Haglund, Margaret Samuels (2003, 4 pages pdf)
  
• Accountability in Argentina 20 Years Later, Transitional Justice Maintains Momentum
  International Center for Transitional Justice
  Argentina is undergoing significant changes regarding the investigation and prosecution of human rights violations that occurred from 1976 to 1983 (2005, 9 pages pdf)
  
• Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Paradise Lost or Pragmatism?
  Brandon Hamber (2007, 9 pages pdf)
  
• Nepali Voices: Perceptions of Truth, Justice, Reconciliation, Reparations and the Transition in Nepal
  International Center for Transitional Justice, Occasional Paper (2008) (63 pages pdf)
  
• Conflict, Disaster, Homicide - Mental health reform in post-conflict areas: a policy analysis based on experiences in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo. Albert K. De Vries1, Niek S. Klazinga2 (2005, 6 pages pdf).

Post-conflict communities and individuals’ mental health recovery

• Mental Health Disabilities and Post-Conflict Economic and Social Recovery
  Robert J. Muscat, Global Peace Services USA (2006, 6 pages pdf)
  
• Mental health promotion in post-conflict countries
  Neill Ghosh et al.(2004, 3 pages pdf)
  
• Declaration of cooperation - Mental health of refugees, displaced and other populations affected by conflict and post-conflict situations. WHO (2001)
  
• Symbolic closure through memory, reparation and revenge in post-conflict societies
  Brandon Hamber & Richard Wilson (2002)

Handbooks and Guides

• Handbook for repatriation and reintegration Activities
  UNHCR, Amadou Tijan Jallow (2004)
  The Handbook for Repatriation and Reintegration Activities (“the Handbook”) is a guide for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and partner staff in the field to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate repatriation and reintegration activities.
  
• WHO Mental Health Policy and Service guidance package
  WHO
  This module is part of the WHO Mental Health Policy and Service guidance package, which provides practical information to assist countries to improve the mental health of their populations. Important for countries that are rebuilding their governance.
  (2004, 102 pages pdf)
  
• Reconciliation after Violent Conflict; A Handbook. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003, David Bloomfield, Teresa Barnes and Luc Huyse.

Post-conflict communities and transitional justice and women

• The Gender of Reparations: Setting the Agenda Introduction
  Ruth Rubio-Marín (2006, 27 pages, introduction chapter, pdf)
  
• Evaluating the Gender Content of Reparations: Lessons from South Africa, chapter one
  Beth Goldblatt (2006, 41 pages, chapter 1, pdf)

Organisations, Institutions and Sites

• The International Criminal Court (ICC)
• Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, web page. UN 1998
• International Center for transitional Justice ICTJ.ORG
• Website of Bandon Hamber
• The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ICTY
• The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)