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Repairing the most serious crimes: understanding the consequences of reparations programmes

Objective

When and to what extent can reparations effectively contribute to justice and redress in the aftermath of the most serious crimes—war crimes, crimes against humanity, and grave human rights violations? Despite significant legal and philosophical scholarship, the question of what reparation programmes actually produce remains unanswered. AFTER-REP develops a new field of research by moving beyond ex-ante reasoning and focusing on the consequences of reparations over time. The project uncovers how the empirical, material, and embodied experiences of reparations challenge norms and expectations. The approach is crucial for refining, reimagining, and recasting the foundational principles of reparations.

AFTER-REP builds on insights from interdisciplinary development studies to produce a comprehensive mapping and critical analysis of the aftermath of reparation programmes across diverse contexts. It develops the first analytical toolbox for understanding reparations in practice. It offers conceptual frameworks and methodologies for future research, bridging gaps between socio-legal research, law, history, anthropology, and development studies.

Methodologically, the project will first compile a comprehensive database of reparations for severe crimes capturing what is known about their consequences. Next, it will conduct in-depth and mixed-methods case studies of three influential reparations cases in three key domains: war crimes (Lubanga/Ntaganda in DR Congo), colonial crimes (Mau Mau in Kenya), and environmental crimes (Lhaka Honhat v. Argentina). Finally, it will synthesise insights to explore how reparations processes influence each other.

Ultimately, AFTER-REP redefines what reparations mean and how they can be planned, assessed, and understood. It transforms both academic understanding and practical policy frameworks on reparations, advancing wider and burning debates on justice and redress, and laying the foundation for interdisciplinary reparation studies.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG

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Host institution

THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 998 901,00
Address
OLD COLLEGE, SOUTH BRIDGE
EH8 9YL Edinburgh
United Kingdom

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Region
Scotland Eastern Scotland Edinburgh
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 998 901,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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