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Resource Library

The Resource Library stores all of ICTJ’s published works since 2001 to the present, grouped by category and searchable by key word, country, issue, language, and more.

We are continually adding new content from our archives, especially our Multimedia content. Check back regularly to explore newly added videos, photo galleries, and audio products.

ICTJ Mourns the Passing of Theo van Boven, Pioneer of Victims’ Rights

ICTJ deeply mourns jurist and professor Theo van Boven, an eminence and true innovator in the field of international law, as well as a fearless defender of victims globally, who sadly passed away on May 9th. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

05/14/26

Black and White image of Theo van Boven speaks during an interview produced by Maastricht University in April 2013

ICTJ Report Calls for Comprehensive Transitional Justice Framework for Ukraine

A new ICTJ report urges the revitalization of Ukraine’s holistic transitional justice policymaking. Debunking the most common myths about transitional justice in Ukraine, the report presents the key legal, policy, and victim-centered arguments in favor of advancing a comprehensive transitional justice framework.

05/13/26

A seated person, back partially facing camera, holds a report.

Myths and Ways Forward: Transitional Justice for Ukraine

Despite earlier efforts to envision a national transitional justice policy, Ukraine remains overly cautious about establishing one. This report provides a robust substantiation of why Ukraine should revive its holistic transitional justice policymaking. In the first part, it debunks t...

05/13/26

by

Kateryna Busol

A women holds up an infant in the air on sunny day outdoors, surrounded by yellow and blue balloons

Facilitators in Training Prepare to Lead Community Dialogues Across Syria

Fourteen members of Syrian civil society recently gathered for a five-day workshop on community facilitation and transitional justice organized by ICTJ and its partners in the Bridges of Truth project. The workshop marked a major step in the preparation for extensive community dialogues that will take place across Syria in the months ahead.

04/21/26

A women stands in front of photographs hanging on a wall

From Combat to Territorial Control: Recommendations for a Security Policy Adapted to Contemporary Violence in Colombia

Colombia currently faces a transformed, fragmented form of violence centered on territorial and social control rather than the traditional insurgency. This briefing paper argues that state security strategies remain misaligned, relying on outdated military approaches and metrics. To a...

04/20/26

Image of first page of the briefing paper "From Combat to Territorial Control"

From Combat to Territorial Control: Adapting Security Policy to Contemporary Violence in Colombia

Colombia currently faces a transformed, fragmented form of violence centered on territorial and social control rather than the traditional insurgency. This report argues that state security strategies remain misaligned, relying on outdated military approaches and metrics. To avoid lon...

04/20/26

by

Naryi Vargas Cáceres

An aerial view of a group of soldiers interacting with a large civilian crowd in a rural setting

Why Victims Must Lead the Way to Peace in Sudan

As the world marks the third anniversary of the brutal war in Sudan, it is a moment to reflect on a conflict that rarely receives the media attention it deserves and to consider the millions of Sudanese caught in cycles of violence.

04/15/26

by

Ilaria Martorelli

Men and women carry large boxes and sacks on their heads

The Amnesty Law in Venezuela: A Step Toward Democracy?

On February 19, 2026, Venezuela’s National Assembly passed the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence, which seeks to extinguish criminal liability for certain acts committed in the country over the past 26 years. While the law has sparked debate, it undeniably represents a significant development in the country's political landscape.

03/23/26

A person waves the Venezuelan flag on city street at night

Human Rights Defenders from Sudan and the Wider Region Harness the Power of Digital, Open-Source Investigative Tools

ICTJ recently convened human rights defenders, journalists, and lawyers from Libya, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen for a workshop on digital, open-source investigations. Held on November 3-8 in Kampala, Uganda, the course trained participants on open-source tools with a view to strengthening their work investigating, documenting, and monitoring human rights violations.

03/17/26

three people seat together look at a computer screen

The Enduring Fight for Justice for Victims in War: An Interview with ICTJ's Fernando Travesí-Sanz

The outlet PassBlue recently interviewed ICTJ Executive Director Fernando Travesí-Sanz about the challenges and breakthroughs ICTJ has encountered while facilitating a victims-led path to transitional justice in post-Assad Syria. Travesí-Sanz compared the experience to the lessons learned from Colombia’s post-conflict transition, revealing the nuanced, fragile nature of both retroactive justice and long-term peacebuilding.

02/06/26

by Arthur Bassas, PassBlue

Portrait of ICTJ Executive Director Fernando Travesí-Sanz

ICTJ Report Calls for Inclusion of Displaced Persons in South Sudan’s Transitional Justice Process

South Sudanese refugees and displaced persons currently comprise 40 percent of the country’s total population. Yet, these groups have been largely excluded from ongoing policy discussions related to South Sudan's transitional justice process in South Sudan. A new ICTJ report aims to amplify the perspectives and expectations of these groups and ensure they are included in the process's design and implementation.

01/26/26

several women in colorful dresses crouch around an open fire pit, cooking food in a large pan.

‘Thoughts on Our Beloved Country’: A Call for Inclusion of Displaced Persons in South Sudan’s Transitional Justice Process

This study aims to communicate the perspectives, expectations, and needs of South Sudanese displaced persons to relevant policymakers and thereby inform the ongoing transitional justice efforts emanating from South Sudan’s 2018 revitalized peace agreement. It also provides lessons lea...

01/26/26

by

Agatha Ndonga

several women in colorful dresses crouch around an open fire pit, cooking food in a large pan.

Many Truths Revealed, But More to Come

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Justice and Peace Law—which created Colombia's first transitional justice system—media outlet Verdad Abierta, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and ICTJ partnered to produce an investigative four-part series in Spanish that critically assesses its legacy. Now translated into English, this second installment explores the unprecedented challenges the country faced as the process got underway.

01/21/26

A seated audience watch formal proceedings projected on a screen mounted on a stage

From Laboratory to Transitional Justice Benchmark

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Justice and Peace Law—which created Colombia's first transitional justice system—media outlet Verdad Abierta, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and ICTJ partnered to produce an investigative four-part series in Spanish that critically assesses its legacy. Now translated into English, this first installment provides an overview of the process.

01/21/26

Hundreds of people gather at the bottom a green hill

Colombia's Justice and Peace Law: 20 Years and Counting

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Justice and Peace Law—which created Colombia's first transitional justice system—media outlet Verdad Abierta, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and ICTJ partnered to produce an investigative four-part series in Spanish that critically assesses its legacy. ICTJ has now translated the first two installments into English.

01/21/26

A woman displays black-and-white mugshot photos of men laid out on a flat surface on her lap

Africa’s Gen Z Challenges the Status Quo

The death of eight women in childbirth at a hospital in Agadir this past August sent shockwaves through Morocco. The news crystallized national anger over deteriorating public services as well as persistent high unemployment and corruption. Years of frustration erupted into the streets as thousands of mostly young Moroccans gathered in cities and towns across the nation to protest and to demand accountability and institutional reform.

12/02/25

by

Clément Eyraud

A crowd of people gather in the street in the evening; many hold up illuminated cell phones

Gender Justice and Accountability: An Analysis of the African Union Transitional Justice Policy

This report assesses the gender sensitivity of the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP). Drawing on continental practice and scholarship, it identifies opportunities for AU member states, civil society, and donors to strengthen the policy’s implementation and its responsi...

11/18/25

The Justice and Peace Law: 20 Years of Lessons from Colombia’s Transitional Justice Process

This year, Colombia commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Justice and Peace Law, which established the country’s first formal transitional justice mechanism. On this milestone anniversary, ICTJ reflects on the evolution that led to the groundbreaking law, the lessons that have been learned so far, and the challenges that lie ahead.

11/05/25

A woman holds a candle at a pro-peace demonstration in Colombia

The Conviction of Abd-Al-Rahman and What It Means for Victims Amid Ongoing Atrocities in Sudan

On October 6, the International Criminal Court (ICC) found former Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (also known as Ali Kushayb) guilty of 27 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004. This landmark verdict counters cycles of impunity in Sudan and sends a powerful message that these crimes are not tolerated.

11/04/25

by

Ilaria Martorelli

ICTJ and Bridges of Truth Commemorate Eights Years of Partnership in Damascus

ICTJ and its partners in the Bridges of Truth project hosted an event in Damascus on October 7 to present findings from their recent report on the community dialogues held in April in Syria and to commemorate the project’s eighth anniversary.

10/06/25

A women seated a table where other are also sitting is speaking; she is reaching out with one arm and holding papers in the other hand.

A Fragile Framework for Lasting Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

On August 8, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed the Joint Declaration on Future Relations. Hailed by some as a “historic peace deal,” it neither is a treaty nor ends the 37-year Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Rather, it is a political framework that requires international support and attention.

10/01/25

by

Maria Abrahamyan

Armenian Prime Minister, Azerbaijani President, and U.S. President, seated at a table and wearing suits, each hold up a signed document in their hands

In a New Documentary, an Intimate Portrayal of Colombians Affected by Conflict Sheds Light on the 2016 Peace Agreement

ICTJ, in collaboration with the Center for Media Integrity of the Americas, the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, and the New York City Bar Association, recently hosted a screening of the Colombian documentary Después del Frío ("After the Cold"). Coproduced by ICTJ and Colombian journalist María Jimena Duzán, with the support of the Embassies of Sweden and Norway in Colombia, the film paints an intimate portrait of a nation seeking healing and transformation, where the scars of the past give way to hope.

09/09/25

Two women seated at table, one of whom speaks into a microphone

As Colombia Marks 20 Years of ‘Justice and Peace,’ A New ICTJ Podcast Unearths the Seeds of War

This year, Colombia commemorates the 20th anniversary of Law 975, which established the country’s first transitional justice process, called Justicia y Paz (or Justice and Peace). With this anniversary top on mind, and as the current government engages with eight of the remaining armed groups in pursuit of its “Total Peace” strategy, ICTJ recently teamed up with podcast producers Sillón Estudios to create a four-part series that delves into the peace process with the AUC and considers key lessons learned.

08/20/25

A black background with light-yellow knock-out font that reads "el cascarón y la semilla"

In Kenya, Violence Against Protesters Should Serve to Revive Scuttled Police Reforms

The police response to the peaceful anti-government protests in Kenya over the past year has been deadly and brutal. Their actions have rocked the country and reaffirmed the 2013 findings of the Kenyan Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (KTJRC) that state security agencies, particularly the police, have historically used excessive and disproportionate force and “been the main perpetrators of bodily integrity violations of human rights in Kenya including massacres, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, and sexual violence.”

08/04/25

by

A man back facing camera holds up a Kenya flag

To Syria’s New Justice Commissions: Victims Need You Now

Across Syria today, we continue to witness human rights violations and abuses that run counter to the very principles upon which the revolution was built. In particular, recent violence in the coast and Sweida has deepened the sense of fear and mistrust already felt by many communities. Meanwhile, Syria's new transitional justice commissions have been working hard to lay the foundations of their mandates. Now, at this critical juncture, they must show that they are ready to lead and first and foremost to serve victims.

07/31/25

by

A large outdoor mural of a man's face is painted over with the Syrian revolution flag. Next to it, the English "Free" is painted in green.

In Community Dialogues, Syrians Share Their Stories and Aspirations for Justice

At the end of April in Syria, dozens of local residents in several cities and towns sat down together for the first time to finally speak about their experiences during the 14-year conflict that tore society apart and resulted in countless human rights violations. These community dialogues, organized by ICTJ in partnership with the Bridges of Truth project, provided a safe space for participants to share their stories and hardships, discuss their needs, and express their hopes for justice and reconciliation.

07/18/25

Three women and a man seated in chairs arranged in a semicircle.

‘Our Pain Turned into Policy’: Advancing Peace and Justice Through Community Dialogue in Syria

This report summarizes the key observations offered by Syrians during community dialogues in April 2025. Convened by Bridges of Truth, a collaboration of Syrian civil society organizations and ICTJ, the dialogues captured a wide spectrum of perspectives and experiences and provided va...

07/16/25

Some 20 people sit in chairs around a table located inside a courtyard.

A Shadow Over Democracy in Colombia

On June 8, Colombia woke up to the grim news that Miguel Uribe Turbay, a 39-year-old senator and presidential hopeful for the right-wing Centro Democrático party, had been gravely wounded after being shot. More than three weeks have passed since the attack and Uribe remains in critical condition, while Colombians, concerned about renewed democratic instability, have found themselves haunted by ghosts from the past.

07/02/25

by Maria Camila Moreno Múnera

A man sits crossed legged with his head down. Next time to him are several lit candles.

AU and EU Hold Expert Seminar on Reparations and Transitional Justice in Africa

Abuja, June 19, 2025—The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), in collaboration with the Consortium implementing the Initiative for Transitional Justice in Africa (ITJA), led by the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and co-implemented by the Africa Transitional Justice...

06/19/25

The logos for the African Union and the European Union on top of a series of decorative lines and the title "Initiative for Transitional Justice in Africa"

Gambians Break the Silence on Sexual Violence in ICTJ-Held Community Dialogues

From May 25 to June 1, 2025, ICTJ held a series of community dialogues in three rural regions of the Gambia on sexual and gender-based violence, including crimes committed during the Yahya Jammeh dictatorship. The dialogues brought together 122 individuals, including community leaders, victims, and young people, to share their experiences and discuss pathways for justice.

06/17/25

ICTJ Welcomes Establishment of Syria’s New National Commissions for Transitional Justice and the Missing

ICTJ welcomes the formation of two new independent institutions in Syria: the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the National Commission for the Missing. Established by presidential decree, these commissions represent a historic step forward in acknowledging the demands of victims and their families and formally responding to the widespread violations committed in Syria over the last decades.

05/22/25

Demonstrators gather around a three-dimensional sculpture of the English word "Truth," waving placards.

Amid Epic Crisis, Sudan Marks Double Anniversary of Revolution and War

This April, Sudan marked a double anniversary: one of the 2019 revolution that toppled President Omar al Bashir’s decades-long repressive regime, the other of the 2023 outbreak of the ongoing civil war that has devastated the country. These contrasting occasions bring with them great hopes and deep pain. They also raise pressing questions: How long will Sudan have to suffer while the world’s attention seems turned the other way? How long will the voices of Sudanese who yearn for peace and justice continue to be sidelined?

05/02/25

by Ilaria Martorelli, Yasir Masoud, and Emma Merritt-Cuneo

People gather in front of government buildings in Khartoum waiving Sudanese flags.

Exploring Dilemmas Between Sanctions and Transitional Justice: An Interview with ICTJ’s Elena Naughton

In recent years, states have increasingly imposed sanctions in relation to the commission of human rights violations, which has expanded their potential to advance transitional justice goals. In this context, ICTJ recently published a new report offering an analysis of international sanctions from a transitional justice perspective. In this interview, the report's author, ICTJ Senior Expert Elena Naughton, discusses how sanctions may advance or hinder efforts to deliver accountability, acknowledge and redress victims, and prevent recurrence in response to massive human rights abuses.

04/22/25

by Isabella Wylie

2025_Q&A with Elena Naughton

Truth Telling in Ukraine Amid Widespread Disinformation and a Weakened International System

Since long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has spread disinformation to justify its aggression, disguising their longstanding premises that Ukraine is, allegedly, not a sovereign nation, and its statehood is conditioned upon an alliance with Russia. Countering these narratives is not only valuable for Ukrainians, but also for buoying any democratic transformations in Russia and for establishing a more nuanced understanding of the history of Central and Eastern Europe.

04/01/25

by Anna Myriam Roccatello and Alec Knight

Prisoner Exchange in Ukraine, 2024

New ICTJ Report Explores Pathways for Transitional Justice in Yemen

Since 2014, conflict in Yemen has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, displaced millions, destroyed the economy, and exacerbated systemic marginalization, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes. Yet currently, transitional justice and reconciliation take up little space in the Yemeni political arena. In this context, ICTJ has released a new report that explores pathways to a just and sustainable peace in Yemen.

03/17/25

The sun shines into an urban courtyard of what it appears to be residential buildings.

Opening Space for Transitional Justice in Yemen

This report explores pathways for transitional justice in Yemen, emphasizing victims’ experiences, political dynamics, and existing justice mechanisms. It examines national and local efforts, including mediation and reconciliation initiatives, and highlights the role of Yemeni civil s...

03/17/25

The sun shines into an urban courtyard of what it appears to be residential buildings.

ICTJ Statement on the Recent Massacre in Syria

ICTJ is outraged by the recent massacre in Syria, where over 1,000 civilians were brutally killed in yet another wave of violence. This appalling crime underscores the urgent and undeniable need to protect civilians and provide justice and accountability.

03/11/25

Hopes Heighten for Justice and Accountability in Syria

The fall of the Assad regime marks the beginning of a long-overdue transformation in Syria. For the first time in decades, space has opened to speak freely about justice, accountability, and reconciliation. It is a moment filled with uncertainty and pain, but also one of immense hope.

03/03/25

by

Large crowd of people in a city street some holding and waving the Syrian flags

ICTJ Report Explores the Opportunities and Dilemmas That International Sanctions Present for Justice

As a tool of foreign policy, sanctions have historically been deployed by one or more states to coerce a change of behavior or policy. In recent years, however, states have increasingly imposed sanctions on actors responsible for human rights violations, which has expanded their potential to advance transitional justice goals. Now, ICTJ is releasing a new report that considers this potential as well as the obstacles to justice sanctions may engender.

02/19/25

in two different photos, people hold signs for and against sanctions

Of Two Minds: Sanctions as a Form of Accountability and the Dilemmas for Transitional Justice

This report provides an analysis of international economic sanctions from a transitional justice perspective. It considers the role that sanctions may play in advancing or hindering accountability, redress, and prevention in response to massive and serious human rights violations. The...

02/19/25

by

Elena Naughton

in two different photos, people hold signs for and against sanctions

Justice and Democracy Are Taking Root in South Sudan

South Sudan’s transition to democratic governance through a highly anticipated, first-ever post-independence general election has to wait once again for another two years. Despite this latest extension, the country has achieved notable milestones in its transitional justice process.

02/03/25

by

people gather holding South Sudanese flags

Victims and International Criminal Justice: Repair, Prevent, Remember

As part of the new digital campaign "Reparations Build Justice," the ICTJ team would like to share the keynote address given by ICTJ Director of Programs and Deputy Executive Director Anna Myriam Roccatello at a recent conference on issues related to providing reparations through international criminal courts. In her remarks, Roccatello describes the inextricable link between accountability and reparation as well as ICTJ’s unwavering commitment to victims of massive human rights abuses.

01/24/25

by

Anna Myriam Roccatello

Three people sit a conference table, facing out toward the camera.

ICTJ Statement: A Historic Moment for Syria and the Path Ahead

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime after 53 years of authoritarian rule marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice, peace, and human rights. While this transition opens the door to new possibilities, it also underscores the immense obstacles and responsibilities that lie ahead.

12/17/24

A large crowd of people in the street, many waving the Syrian flag

ICTJ Accompanies Sudanese Victims to ICC War Crimes Trial

ICTJ accompanied more than 10 Sudanese victim stakeholders to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to attend the closing statements in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman ("Ali Kushayb"). The statements took place on December 11 to 13. ICTJ supported the ICC in the selection of the stakeholders, who were chosen for their strong ties with affected communities.

12/11/24

A man wearing black plastic-framed glasses and a suit sits in a chair turning his slightly looking directly into the camera.

From Gaza to Lebanon: The Conflict's Heavy Toll on a Fragile Country

The ongoing war in the Middle East is not an isolated event; it represents a 75-year cycle of violence marked by historical grievances, geopolitical struggles, and humanitarian crises. In the latest episode of this tragic story, Lebanon has become the newest battlefield. So far, the conflict has caused widespread destruction, killed or injured thousands, and displaced over a million in Lebanon. The country now faces many daunting questions about reconstruction, reparations for victims, and the type of society that will emerge in the war’s aftermath.

11/04/24

by Fernando Travesí and Nour El Bejjani

Lebanon house destroyed

New Report Offers Guidance to Truth-Seeking Bodies on Producing Transformative Final Reports

In societies grappling with the legacies of mass atrocities, truth-seeking bodies and the reports they produce can be instrumental in exposing culpability, revealing root causes, and preventing a recurrence of violence or repression. A new ICTJ research report serves as a practical guide for those working in truth commissions and fact-finding bodies on how to convert large amounts of data and information into credible reports.

10/02/24

A man takes in his arms a large stack of reports from a woman.

Reports That Transform: Reporting Truth and Making Impact

This report serves as practical guide for those working in truth commissions and fact-finding bodies to convert large amounts of data and information into a final report. The manual draws on real life experiences from multiple truth commissions and includes extracts and examples from ...

10/02/24

A man takes in his arms a large stack of reports from a woman.

‘The Search for People’s Well-Being’: Mainstreaming a Psychosocial Approach to Transitional Justice

The field of transitional justice is increasingly recognizing the relevance of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in contexts of massive human rights violations. Despite growing advocacy and awareness at the global policy level, however, the field lacks a systematic approa...

09/19/24

by

Virginie Ladisch and Shayna Lewis

an image of colorful painting featuring a young girl

A New ICTJ Study Offers Practitioners Guidance on Psychosocial Support

The field of transitional justice increasingly recognizes the relevance of mental health and psychosocial support in contexts of massive human rights violations. Despite growing advocacy and awareness at the global policy level, however, the field lacks a systematic approach to the issue. Now, a new ICTJ report contributes to such an approach.

09/19/24

an image of colorful painting featuring a young girl

Uganda’s Long Road to Accountability: The Kwoyelo Verdict and Lessons for Future International Crimes Prosecutions

On August 13, 2024, the International Crimes Division of the High Court of Uganda delivered its long-awaited verdict in the case of Uganda versus Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander and colonel in the rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army. Mr. Kwoyelo was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other serious crimes committed during the decades-long armed conflict in Northern Uganda between the LRA and the Ugandan government. This judgment represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice and accountability and a crucial step toward acknowledging the suffering of the victims of these horrific mass atrocities.

08/21/24

A man sits at a witness stand in a court room

We work side by side with victims to obtain acknowledgment and redress for massive human rights violations, hold those responsible to account, reform and build democratic institutions, and prevent the recurrence of violence or repression.