External Transitional Justice Funding: Introducing a New Dataset

Abstract

In this briefing, we introduce a new data-set of donor support for transitional justice (TJ). Given data collection challenges, we have focused on specific TJ mechanisms, namely inter-national and internationalised tribunals (hybrid courts) and truth commissions. Both are distinct TJ mechanisms in which norms of reporting and transparency exist (however imperfectly). We begin by highlighting the database’s potential contributions to the TJ and foreign policy literatures. Next, we describe the data collection process and outline general trends in external TJ funding that are emerging from the data. We conclude by offering several hypotheses to explain the patterns of TJ support that deserve further attention.

Keywords: transitional justice, North/South relations, foreign aid, funding, donors, truth commission, international tribunals