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Please join us on Wed., Nov. 12, in the Engineering Research Building, room ERB006, when Dr Kelsey Rhude will deliver a talk, “(In)Access and Distance: A Survivor/Victim-Centres Analysis of Transitional Justice in Liberia.” Abstract: Focusing on the case study of Liberia, the study examines the dynamics of access to transitional justice using a survivor/victim-centred analysis. This research is the first comprehensive qualitative assessment of transitional justice in Liberia in the aftermath of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s mandate, including a novel analysis of survivors/victims’ perspectives on reparations. Central to the research is its ground-breaking analysis tracking the implementation of the National Palava Hut Programme (NPHP), a traditional mechanism for alternative dispute resolution adapted to address the objectives of post-conflict peace, justice, and reconciliation on a national level. The study is based on extensive qualitative data collected through fieldwork in Liberia, including interviews, focus group discussions, direct observation of the NPHP, and empirical research on transitional justice and peacebuilding processes. Through thematic analysis of the interconnected themes of space and familiarity, the study uncovers three layers of distance—physical, conceptual, and vernacular—that hinder survivors/victims' access to transitional justice. The research reveals that even when transitional justice mechanisms are based on familiar justice processes, still, they may generate accessibility barriers. The study also clarifies that accessibility alone does not guarantee a survivor/victim-centred approach to transitional justice. Accordingly, the research suggests restructuring transitional justice beyond levels and mechanisms, emphasising spatial, relational, and vernacular factors to improve access. Liberia is currently at a critical juncture. As the country recommits to transitional justice, the study invites practitioners and policy makers to embrace a hybrid approach in designing future programmes. The study highlights the importance of focusing on survivors/victims’ postconflict needs and conceptualisations of justice based on accessible vernaculars.