Introduction

The HD Centre's operational work suggests that justice and the rule of law play a central role in sustainable conflict resolution. The HD Centre started directly researching these issues in early 2003, focusing on post-conflict assistance to the rule of law and justice sector. Gaps in assistance to conflict-affected countries, such as East Timor, Kosovo and Afghanistan, were found to be intimately linked to difficulties and even failures in establishing and maintaining peace. Of these gaps, the central one appeared to be insufficient coherence and competence in the international community’s response to needs on the rule of law and justice sector. In response to these findings and in an attempt to improve the quality of international assistance to the sector, the HD Centre created the Rule of Law and Justice Reconstruction project in 2003.

Building on this initial project, the HD Centre carried out subsequent research into the role of traditional justice systems in post-conflict reconstruction. Also drawing on its own experience of mediation, the HD Centre then increasingly focussed its activities in the justice field on the negotiation and early implementation phases of peace processes.

Consequently, the project 'Negotiating Justice: strategies for tackling justice issues in peace processes' was launched in October 2005. The HD Centre has since developed further this special focus from the specific period of conflict and conflict-resolution process, to the post-conflict reconstruction period. This is intended to assist the international community in improving its responses to conflict resolution, by handling justice and rule-of-law issues in a more timely, nuanced and strategic way.