Victim Engagement in Reparations and the Role of Conflict-Related Classifications

Reparations are a key mechanism for delivering justice to victims and survivors of armed conflicts. The first generation of victim engagement was marked by demands for reparations from state authorities, making them a core element of post-war justice. This chapter examines how the nature of a past conflict shapes the conditions for victim engagement in reparations. It is shown that social classifications of victim groups that arose during or prior to conflict act as a moderating factor, influencing who is deemed eligible for compensation. However, these classifications are not fixed; victims and survivors can actively reshape them through transitional justice processes. This chapter examines how social classifications shape reparation policies by analysing three case studies – Guatemala, Timor-Leste, and Northern Ireland – each representing a distinct type of conflict. It explores the opportunities and constraints victims face in articulating and securing compensation claims, highlighting how these are influenced by evolving social classifications.