Finding a way to live with the past: ‘self‐repair’, ‘informal repair’, and reparations in transitional justice

Reparations are widely regarded as a key element of dealing with the past in transitional justice. Over three decades, there has been plethora state practice, jurisprudence, and international norms requiring states other responsible actors to redress victims’ harm. Yet practice remain significant deficiencies delivering reparations on ground those affected. This article explores what victims their civil society allies do manage suffering absence or delay reparations. Drawing upon fieldwork seven societies transitioning from conflict, we suggest that find own way live they await reparations, through ‘self-repair’ measures ‘informal repair’ provided by non-governmental organizations. alternative perspective aims shed light agency resilience, well critique notions dependence needs rights discourse often encourages victims. We also argue self-repair strategies informal pathways can complement more formal measures, be conducive making most state-based reparation programmes.