This issue brief examines dialogue processes in complex political contexts and their usefulness in advancing reconciliation and transitional justice. It draws on the case of Sri Lanka, where the recent political transition offers a historic opportunity to address long-standing grievances in order to secure sustainable peace.

The brief sketches out key features of dialogue processes during times of political transition. It then disaggregates the government-led national dialogues in Sri Lanka, designed to address issues of transitional justice and constitutional reforms after the end of a long and bloody civil war in which ethno-religious tensions were a key factor. It also sets out the UN’s coordinated and comprehensive approach to supporting government efforts, guided by the Human Rights Council’s resolution. The brief concludes by identifying key challenges and recommendations.