The UNDP has supported transitional justice processes for over a decade, recognizing the value of a development-oriented approach and supporting targeted interventions. The main focus is in supporting integrated processes that combine prevention measures with accountability and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) measures. This approach is an enabler to not only address the past and its consequences on the present but also to support broader efforts for inclusive and accountable institutions, to promote and protect human rights and to establish a lasting rule of law.

The aim of this event is to launch the report ‘From justice for the past to peace and inclusion for the future: A development approach to transitional justice’ and to present relevant cases identified in this report that have been supported by UNDP. The idea is to discuss the elements that allowed these successful experiences and next steps to create synergies between the transitional justice processes and the conflict prevention agenda, with an integral approach.

Featured experiences:

• Colombia – The experience of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace
• The Gambia – Integrated transitional justice processes
• Guatemala – Transformation through strategic prosecution and human rights education
• Central African Republic – Justice efforts through the Special Court and Truth Commission

The key questions to be discussed are:

• What elements have allowed successful interventions at country level?
• What is required for a more integrated approach?
• How can the UN system and UNDP in particular, better engage with DDR and justice components in transitional justice processes under conflict settings?

Finally, it is expected that the experiences and recommendations shared, can be used as strategic material for country offices to best place UNDP with governments as a strategic partner in transitional processes.