By Farah Caïdi / GICJ 

A resolution introduced by Switzerland, Argentina and Morocco on human rights and transitional justice was adopted by consensus by the Human Rights Council, on the 7th of October. The main request of the States is for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a report on “lessons learned and good practices of transitional justice in the context of sustaining peace and of sustainable development.” This report will have to be presented at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, in 2025. The last report on the matter by the OHCHR was released in 2022. 

The core group behind this present resolution emphasised the need to give a greater place to mental health and psychological support services for victims during transitional justice processes. These services have to be implemented as early as possible where atrocities are committed. The resolution insisted also on the essential role of women and youth in peacebuilding efforts as well as in the prevention of future conflicts and atrocities. It reiterated the importance of a gender-sensitive human rights training for the actors involved in the transitional justice processes. 

Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) welcomes the adoption of this resolution and supports the important role of transitional justice in promoting truth, justice and reparation for the victims of atrocities. We encourage a comprehensive approach that can be successful only if the different actors overseeing the issues of development, security and human rights work collectively. 

HRC51, resolutions, transitional Justice, Violations, Human Rights Violations, atrocities, Justice, Human Rights Council, Geneva International Centre for Justice, GICJ.