Under the leadership of Dr Christophe Paulussen and Dr Niki Siampakou from the T.M.C. Asser Institute, and Mitchell Institute Fellow: Legacy, Professor Cheryl Lawther the Mitchell Institute co-hosted a one day conference on the application of transitional justice to counter terrorism with the T.M.C. Asser Institute on 27 March 2025.  Established in 1965, the T.M.C. Asser Instituut is an internationally renowned centre of expertise in the fields of public international law, private international law and European law.

The objective of this Conference was to generate a better understanding of transitional justice's potential relevance within a counter-terrorism context and raise awareness amongst practitioners, academics, and policymakers on the potential uses of transitional justice in a countering terrorism context.

Focusing on the examples of Northern Ireland and Colombia, it aimed to analyse what and how transitional justice mechanisms can contribute to reducing the terrorist threat in the long term, fostering national security as well as transforming victims and survivors into active actors of counter-terrorism, and promoting reconciliation.

The Conference built the necessary bridges between transitional justice and counterterrorism, bringing together scholars, practitioners, policy makers, and civil society.

Opening with a keynote speech from Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin (Professor of Law, QUB and Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism) on the experiences and potentialities of transitional justice for counter terrorism, the day went on to consider comparative experiences from Northern Ireland and Colombia.

The resulting discussions covered topics such as negotiating peace, engaging with armed groups, the importance of truth, the role of restorative justice, the value of reparations, and reconciliation were lively and thought-provoking.

In addition to Mitchell Institute colleagues, Professor Richard English, Institute Director, Honorary Professor Chris Maccabe, and Professor Cheryl Lawther, esteemed panellists included Professor Josefina Echavarría Álvarez, Professor of the Practice and Director of the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), Program at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame; Judge Catalina Díaz Gómez, Magistrate, Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Colombia; Dr Lina Malagon Diaz, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Human Rights and Gender, UWE Bristol; and Dr Beatriz Mayans Hermida, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Pictured l-R: Professor Cheryl Lawther (QUB), Ms Zsófi Bauman (Asser Institute), Professor Chris Maccabe (QUB)

Professor Cheryl Lawther (QUB)

Professor Chris Maccabe (QUB)