Transitional Justice: What Do the People Want? Views from the ground in Guatemala, Nepal, and Northern Ireland

Not long ago, ordinary people’s thoughts about transitional justice were left ignored. More recently, however, there has been a move among students and practitioners of transitional justice toward greater emphasis on victims’ needs and preferences, as well as a greater involvement of civil society. This brief provides an update about the implementation of transitional justice in Guatemala and some general reflections about accountability in a post-conflict society. It also extends the evidence to Nepal and Northern Ireland to show that, overall, punitive transitional justice enjoys widespread support.