Despite limited empirical evidence of its effectiveness, transitional justice remains the dominant paradigm within international peacebuilding frameworks for addressing conflict-related harm. The field, which expanded significantly after the Nuremberg trials and tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, has faced sustained critique for its legalism, international imposition, and marginalisation of victims—prompting calls for structural transformation. Within this critical turn, Sri Lanka has emerged as a key site of scholarly intervention, contributing to the literature through empirically grounded critiques that advocate for a decolonial reconceptualising of transitional justice. This presentation will analyse preliminary findings of a British Academy project on transforming transitional justice through decolonial methodological approaches in Sri Lanka. The project navigated complex methodological terrain, pursuing a decolonial approach within a context where colonial structures and systems remain, producing findings which contribute to further challenging dominant praxis on transitional justice. Preliminary findings reinforce existing scholarly arguments for gender- and identity-based justice, and by advancing notions of equity and self-determination as integral to justice, contribute to expanding the conceptual imaginary of transformative justice.
Add to Calendar 21-10-2025 13:00 21-10-2025 14:30 Europe/London From redress to reimagining: a decolonial lens on justice for women war survivors in Sri Lanka
Despite limited empirical evidence of its effectiveness, transitional justice remains the dominant paradigm within international peacebuilding frameworks for addressing conflict-related harm. The field, which expanded significantly after the Nuremberg trials and tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, has faced sustained critique for its legalism, international imposition, and marginalisation of victims—prompting calls for structural transformation. Within this critical turn, Sri Lanka has emerged as a key site of scholarly intervention, contributing to the literature through empirically grounded critiques that advocate for a decolonial reconceptualising of transitional justice. This presentation will analyse preliminary findings of a British Academy project on transforming transitional justice through decolonial methodological approaches in Sri Lanka. The project navigated complex methodological terrain, pursuing a decolonial approach within a context where colonial structures and systems remain, producing findings which contribute to further challenging dominant praxis on transitional justice. Preliminary findings reinforce existing scholarly arguments for gender- and identity-based justice, and by advancing notions of equity and self-determination as integral to justice, contribute to expanding the conceptual imaginary of transformative justice.
St Antony's College, Pavilion Room, 62 Woodstock Road OX2 6JF