Pablo de Greiff, Ph.D. Closed Now

Dr. Pablo de Greiff, Ph.D., is an internationally respected expert in transitional justice, human rights, and post-conflict peacebuilding. A Colombian-born philosopher and policy practitioner, he has dedicated his career to promoting accountability, truth, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence in societies emerging from repression and conflict.

From 2012 to 2018, Dr. de Greiff served as the United Nations’ first Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence. In this role, he provided guidance to governments, civil society, and international organizations on how to design and implement comprehensive transitional justice policies. His work emphasized the interdependence of justice mechanisms, showing that truth commissions, criminal accountability, reparations, and institutional reform must be pursued together to achieve lasting peace and reconciliation.

Prior to his UN mandate, Dr. de Greiff was Director of Research at the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), where he helped shape the organization’s intellectual and policy agenda for over a decade. He worked directly with governments and NGOs in more than 30 countries, including Guatemala, Colombia, Morocco, Sierra Leone, and the former Yugoslavia.

A trained philosopher (Ph.D. in Philosophy from Northwestern University), he has published extensively on political theory, human rights, and transitional justice. His essays appear in leading journals and edited volumes, addressing themes such as collective memory, democratic consolidation, and the moral foundations of reparations.

Beyond academia and international organizations, Dr. de Greiff continues to advise governments, truth commissions, and regional bodies, including the European Union and the Organization of American States. He is also affiliated with research centers, including NYU’s Center for Human Rights and Global Justice.

Through a unique blend of academic rigor and practical engagement, Dr. de Greiff has become one of the most influential voices in transitional justice, advocating for approaches that prioritize victims’ rights and strengthen democratic institutions.