Chapter 6 | Reconciliation and justice

The study “Reconciliation and Justice” analyzes justice policies implemented in post-violence contexts ((armed conflicts or authoritarian and repressive regimes) commonly referred to as “transitional justice”.

Through the example of different countries such as Colombia, Lebanon, Argentina or the Democratic Republic of Congo, the working group tries to provide an overview of the means used by states to reconcile and deliver justice, thus allowing recommendations to be made to ensure that “justice and reconciliation” policies lead to a real process of exiting violence.

These different concrete cases reflect the rise of this transactional justice, which recognizes that unforgivable crimes have been committed and that justice could provide solutions to create a reconciled society.

While criminal trials appear to be a way to exit violence since they punish the criminals and recognize the violence suffered by the victims, they alone are not capable of bringing about a political transition. Indeed, this political transition requires a number of measures, including apologies and remembrance work.

This work of remembrance and recognition of the violence people have suffered appears essential e in order to avoid the emergence of new tensions. The recommendations proposed at the end of this research work are intended to propose avenues for reflection in order to avoid them.