Support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence

Completed in December 2015

From 2012 to 2015 the Geneva Academy hosted the Adviser to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence (SR) Pablo de Greiff.

Legal and Political Advice

During these four years, the Adviser – Thomas Unger – was able to provide targeted legal and political advice on the very sensitive areas the mandate is working on. He developed close links and collaborations with Geneva-based multilateral discussions, leading NGOs working in the field of transitional justice and international organizations, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Support

The project was made possible through the support of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and Switzerland. This support came at a crucial moment and contributed to the successful implementation of the mandate in its important and challenging first three years.

Research Team

This research project was carried out by Thomas Unger.

OUTPUT

A Comprehensive Framework on Transitional Justice


With the support of the Adviser, the SR was able to introduce a comprehensive framework on transitional justice into the work of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Thematic reports have been drafted and presented to the HRC on all four pillars of the mandate.

Standard Setting


The SR started key standard-setting processes in areas where there remain gaps, such as archives and guarantees of non-recurrence. On the latter, the SR started a new process to strengthen the field of prevention. The high-level policy dialogue in Stockholm, Guarantees of Non-Recurrence: From Aspiration to Policy, held on 14–15 October 2015, was the constitutive meeting to start this important process.

A Solid Network of Key Stakeholders


With the support of the Adviser, the SR was also able to create a solid network of key stakeholders in the area of transitional justice, at both the international and regional levels. The series of regional consultations on transitional justice, as well as expert workshops and policy dialogues are a testimony to this. Today the mandate is a firm part of key policy development, not only at the UN, but also at the level of the EU and African Union.

Field Visits


Finally, the SR, with the support of the Adviser, was able to visit current hotspots in relation to transitional justice, such as Tunisia, Burundi and Sri Lanka.

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