The first session of the conference covered the topic of
transitional justice in post-authoritarian settings, with particular attention to experiences from Latin America.
The speakers and participants emphasized the need for a holistic and creative approach to transitional justice, remembering that traditional justice - or criminal justice - is an integral part of transitional justice, but still just a part.
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Panelists Zalaquett, Rahmouni and de Greiff (l-r) |
Ahmed Rahmouni, president of the Association Tunisienne des Magistrats (AMT), began by introducing the speakers and stressed
legal accountability and prosecutions as the core of transitional justice.
Jose Zalaquett, professor of human rights at the Law School of the University of Chile, explained, "Transitional justice can act as an ice breaker opening up pathways for future redress. Over time it amounts to something substantial despite temporary reversals or occasional setbacks. It is not an exhaustive agenda of social, economic and political transformation but h
as to be linked to other policy initiatives."