Apologies in transitional justice

Public apologies for gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law have become increasingly common in transitional justice. While there is a rich literature on apologies in general, it is (with notable exceptions) quite theoretical, with relatively little detailed empirical exploration of: the views of victims or affected communities; the motivations of apologising institutions or organisations; and the intersection between apologies and other ways of addressing past injustices. Drawing upon the relevant international legal framework and original research conducted by the authors with a range of victims and perpetrators, this chapter examines a number of key conceptual issues. These include: gendered and victim-centred apologies; apologies and truth recovery; the timing of apologies; apology preparation, delivery and follow-through; and other components of an effective apology.