Though the notion of transitional justice is relatively recent, the final quarter of the 20^th century witnessed significant transitional justice experiences in many parts of the world. The issue of transitional justice has started, during the past years, to pose itself, with varying degrees, in a number of Arab countries. This issue has been raised either in the form of official invitations to political decision-makers, as part of an action to strengthen civil peace and end armed conflict, or official invitations concerning the need to promote democratic transition through national reconciliations. As regards victims and civil associations involved in transitional justice, the issue has also been posed in various forms, especially through calls for revealing truth and fighting impunity.

The issue of transition justice was directly posed by official bodies as part of the dynamics of strengthening civil peace and national reconciliation in Algeria, Sudan and Iraq. In Bahrain and Mauritania, however, it was raised in contexts related to the promotion of democracy and national unity. In Lebanon and Yemen, it was posed as a call for reflection concerning democratization and the related strategic thinking. Not far from the aforementioned contexts, transitional justice is considered as an issue for reflection for political and human rights elites concerned with political reform in Egypt, Syria and Jordan.