Implementation of Transitional Justice Initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Need for an Inclusive Approach

Abstract

The main objective of the paper is to examine the relationship between various transitional justice mechanisms established in the aftermath of the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995 and recent reflections on political and social instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). With this objective, the post-conflict peace-building initiatives are analyzed for their crucial role in the establishment of peace and reconciliation, while recognizing that responses to the peace building initiatives have shown difference from one society to another. BiH is the country where transitional justice mechanisms such as the establishment of local courts and ad hoc tribunals, truth and reconciliation commissions, providing reparations for war victims and institutional reform process have been only partially applied. This demonstrates an obvious need for an inclusive approach that brings all four transitional justice mechanisms together, not as opponents but rather components of each other. In this article, transitional justice mechanisms such as local courts and international ad hoc tribunals, truth and reconciliation commissions, reparation initiatives and institutional reform processes are analyzed in the post-war context of BiH and their methods of implementation are comparatively examined. The study also provides a brief overview of the implementation of transitional justice initiatives as peace building efforts in BiH together with possible future developments.