Transitional justice is a set of measures taken by states emerging from conflicts or authoritarian regimes; aimed at achieving justice for victims, holding those responsible for violations accountable, and building a peaceful society that respects human rights.
Transitional justice includes four fundamental pillars:
Truth: Revealing violations that occurred in the past
Accountability: Prosecuting perpetrators of serious crimes
Reparations: Compensating victims materially and morally
Guarantees of non-recurrence: Through institutional reform, especially the judicial system
Judicial reform is considered an essential part of the transitional justice process; as the existence of an independent and impartial judicial system is necessary to ensure accountability and achieve justice. This reform aims to:
- Strengthen judicial independence from other authorities
- Combat corruption within the judicial system
- Train judges on human rights principles
- Ensure equality in access to justice
The relationship between transitional justice and judicial reform is perfectly complementary; true justice cannot be implemented without a trustworthy judiciary, while judicial reform ensures that violations are not repeated in the future and establishes a culture of human rights in society
