25 June 2026
This report identifies the different strategies used by victims and victims’ groups to influence and participate in political negotiations related to transitional justice processes.
Victims should not only influence decision-making, but also participate as decision-makers in all phases of transitional justice: development, implementation and evaluation.
The report with the Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation highlights how victim participation has influenced transitional justice mechanisms, from spearheading procedural innovation to contributing to a greater understanding of the nature of victims’ suffering. It also examines the benefits victims derived from those participatory processes, even when final outcomes diverged from their initial goals and expectations.
Building on extensive victim-led and participatory research conducted by Impunity Watch, its partners, and others, findings were distilled to establish a baseline of practice. Five countries were selected for more focused analysis: Colombia, The Gambia, Germany (National Socialist period), Nepal and Syria.
Transitional justice processes are not only more effective, but also more legitimate when victims and victims’ groups engage in all stages of the process. It is therefore important for states and transitional justice mechanisms to create effective opportunities to foster comprehensive victim participation.
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