Morocco’s Transitional Justice Experience Highlighted at Helsinki University Conference

The conference, titled “Transitional Justice and Mediation,” brought together diplomats, Finnish government officials, academics, civil society representatives and experts to discuss how countries can address past human rights violations and strengthen democratic institutions.

Addressing the gathering, Morocco’s Ambassador to Finland, Mohamed Achgalou, presented the Kingdom’s experience in transitional justice under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

He highlighted the establishment of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) in 2004 as a landmark initiative to acknowledge past human rights violations, rehabilitate victims and provide individual and community reparations.

The ambassador emphasised that political will, national ownership and civil society engagement are essential to advancing reconciliation and institutional reform.

He also stressed that transitional justice should be considered an ongoing process that goes beyond addressing past violations. It should also focus on strengthening the rule of law, rebuilding public trust and preventing future abuses.

The conference featured contributions from Tanja Leikas-Botta, Director for Human Rights Policy at Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Tuija Brax, Director of the Rule of Law Centre at the University of Helsinki; and Elisa Tarnaala, Senior Adviser at the CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation.

Discussions highlighted the growing importance of transitional justice amid renewed conflicts and political instability worldwide. Participants stressed that sustainable peace requires rebuilding trust between citizens and public institutions.

Particular attention was given to the relationship between transitional justice and peace mediation. Participants discussed how accountability, truth-seeking, reconciliation and institutional reforms can strengthen mediation efforts before, during and after political transitions.

Experiences from South Africa, Libya, Côte d’Ivoire and Yemen illustrated the importance of adopting flexible, nationally owned approaches rather than applying standardised international frameworks to different political and institutional contexts.

The role of women, civil society organisations and community leaders in building inclusive and sustainable peace was another key topic. Participants underlined the importance of protecting civic space and ensuring that reconciliation processes involve wider communities beyond government institutions.

The conference also examined the links between human rights, the rule of law and peacebuilding, with particular reference to European integration processes involving Ukraine and the Western Balkans.

Participants further discussed the need for stronger coordination and information-sharing among international organisations, including the United Nations, European Union, African Union and OECD.

The conference was organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Finland in partnership with the CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation and the Rule of Law Centre at the University of Helsinki, with the participation of Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.