Metadata
Title
Julia Viebach
Category
undergraduate
UUID
bf81040e75714c01a4e3928162d9affa
Source URL
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/
Parent URL
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/criminology-ba-m900/
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T18:56:45+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Julia Viebach

**Source**: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/
**Parent**: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/criminology-ba-m900/

[View Scopus Profile](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56736861200)

# Julia Viebach

Dr

- Lecturer, [School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/school-of-social-sciences-education-and-social-work/)
- [AHSS - Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/ahss-institute-of-criminology-and-criminal-justice-iccj/)

[https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3950-4081](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3950-4081 "Orcid")

- Email[j.viebach@qub.ac.uk](#)

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

Transitional Justice, International Criminal Justice, Rwanda, South Africa, Mass Atrocity, Human Rights Documentation and Archives, Digitalisation and Datafication of Human Rights Documentation

2009Research output 2009: 1Research output 2012: 1Research output 2013: 2Research output 2014: 1Research output 2015: 1Research output 2016: 2Research output 2017: 1Research output 2018: 3Research output 2019: 2Research output 2020: 1Research output 2021: 2Research output 2022: 3Research output 2023: 3Projects 2024: 1Research output 2025: 12025

Research activity per year

## Personal profile

### Research Focus

Julia Viebach is a Lecturer in Criminology at Queen's University Belfast. Her research explores transitional justice, mass violence, memorialization, and human rights documentation, driven by the fundamental question: how do societies live together after such a rupture of social bonds and communal life? She explores these themes from an interdisciplinary perspective drawing on socio-legal studies, Southern and Critical Criminology, African and postcolonial studies, and legal anthropology.

Julia's research encompasses two major strands. The first focuses on post-genocide Rwanda, examining how survivors in Rwanda and in the diaspora reconstruct meaning after mass atrocity. Her early work investigated survivors' experiences of trauma and meaning-making through memorial practices, particularly the practice of care-taking—the preservation and care of human remains and dead bodies displayed at genocide memorials. This research revealed how survivors remake their worlds through working with the remnants of their dead loved ones, exploring the connectivities between violence, memory, personhood, place, and human substances. Her current work examines Rwanda's gacaca courts through a decolonial lens, developing the concept of "gacaca judgecraft from a global south perspective." This research challenges Western human rights critiques by foregrounding local legal practices and epistemologies, examining how gacaca operated as both a legal mechanism and a social process of meaning-making in communities devastated by genocide. She interrogates indigenous forms of justice and how judges constructed truth through community knowledge, emotional labor, and embodied practices.

Her second major research strand critically examines the politics of documentation and archiving in transitional justice. This work troubles the assumed positive relationship between archives and transitional justice, questioning how documentation practices involve power relations and produce systematic silences rather than serving as neutral repositories of evidence. She explores how documentation and archiving processes shape whose stories are told, whose deaths are remembered, and whose silences are reproduced. Julia is particularly interested in the intersection of digital technologies with human rights documentation and archiving practices, examining both the promises and perils they present for justice and memory work.

Julia is curator of the award-winning *Kwibuka Rwanda* photographic exhibition and *Traces of the Past* display at Oxford's Pitt Rivers Museum, developed in partnership with Rwandan communities. The project *Remembering Rwanda* received the University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor's Award for outstanding public engagement with research in 2019. She co-hosts the podcast series *Can the Record be Trusted?*, which brings together UN archivists, field researchers, international prosecutors, and preservation specialists to examine digital human rights documentation and archiving across diverse contexts. Julia has published widely on transitional archives, gacaca courts, trauma and testimony, and memorial practices, and has co-edited two books: *Beyond Evidence: The Use of Archives in Transitional Justice* (Routledge 2022) and *Localising Memory in Transitional Justice* (Routledge 2022).

Previously, Julia was Senior Lecturer at University of Bristol. Before that she held different positions at the University of Oxford both at the Faculty of Law and the African Studies Centre where she taught on the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice and the MSc in African Studies. She has also worked as a consultant on transitional justice and memory for various development aid organizations and German government bodies. She holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Centre for Conflict Studies, University of Marburg.

### Research Interests

Transitional Justice

Trauma

Memorialisation

Human Rights Documentation

Human Rights Archives

Technology and Human Rights/Transitional Justice

International Criminal Justice

Genocide and Mass Violence

Rwanda

### Teaching

CRM2011 State Violence, Resistance and Justice

CRM2009 Justice and Conflict

### Particulars

Athena Swan Co-Champion SSESW

### Achievements

Oxford University Vice-Chancellor Award for Public Engagement

### Keywords

- JX International law
- GN Anthropology
- JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration

### Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)](https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

1. SDG 16
   Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

## Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Julia Viebach is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

- [3](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/similar/)
  Similar Profiles

- Justice
  Social Sciences
- Rwanda
  Social Sciences
- Courts
  Social Sciences
- Human Rights
  Social Sciences
- Genocide
  Social Sciences
- Archives
  Social Sciences
- Transitional Justice
  Arts and Humanities
- Memory
  Social Sciences

[View full fingerprint](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/fingerprints/)

## Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or Select a country/territory from the list\

# Dive into details

Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects

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[Explore network further](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/network/)

## Projects

- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/projects/?status=RUNNING)
  Active

- ### [R1956SES: Can the record be trusted? Prospects and Challenges of Human Rights Documentation and Archiving in the Digital Age](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/projects/can-the-record-be-trusted-prospects-and-challenges-of-human-right/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/) (PI)

  24/05/2024 → …

  Project: Research

  - United Nation Organization
  - Civil Society
  - Justice
  - Human Rights
  - Colombia

## Research output

- [7](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fchapter)
  Chapter
- [3](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Farticle)
  Article
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fother)
  Other report
- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fedited_collections)
  Edited book
- 2
  More

  - [**1** Commissioned report](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fcommissioned)
  - [**1** Chapter (peer-reviewed)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fpeerreviewedchapter)
  - [**1** Editorial](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Feditorial)

- ### [Atrocity’s archives: the role of archives in transitional justice](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/atrocitys-archives-the-role-of-archives-in-transitional-justice/)

  Lühe, U., [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/), Hovestädt, D., Ott, L. & Thorne, B., 2025, *swisspeace Handbook on archiving for dealing with the past.* [Swisspeace](#), 11 p.

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  - Justice
  - Advocacy
  - Education
- ### [Rwanda: transitional justice after genocide](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/rwanda-transitional-justice-after-genocide/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/), 2023, *After dictatorship: instruments of transitional justice in post-authoritarian systems.* Hoeres, P. & Knabe, H. (eds.). [De Gruyter](#), p. 81-148 68 p.

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  Open Access

  File

  [1](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85163568100#tab=citedBy)
  Citation
  (Scopus)

  122
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Rwanda's gacaca courts and the discovery of mass graves](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/rwandas-gacaca-courts-and-the-discovery-of-mass-graves/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/), Bikesha, D. & Moore, A., 2023, *Mass graves, truth and justice: interdisciplinary perspectives on the investigation of mass graves.* Smith, E. & Klinkner, M. (eds.). [Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd](#), p. 80-102 23 p.

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  - Victims
  - Mass graves
  - Rwanda
  - Courts
  - Search
- ### [Transitional justice and archives](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/transitional-justice-and-archives/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/), Hovestädt, D. & Lühe, U., 11 Aug 2023, *Research handbook on transitional justice.* Lawther, C. & Moffett, L. (eds.). 2nd ed. [Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd](#), p. 341-358

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  - Archives
  - Justice
  - Documentation
  - Actors
  - Human Rights

  [2](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85172239215#tab=citedBy)
  Citations
  (Scopus)
- ### [Beyond evidence – the use of archives in transitional justice](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/beyond-evidence-the-use-of-archives-in-transitional-justice-2/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/), Lühe, U. (Editor) & Hovestädt, D., 23 Feb 2022, [Taylor and Francis](#).

  Research output: Book/Report › Edited book › peer-review

  - Transitional Justice
  - Justice
  - Archival Science
  - Injustice
  - Re-membrance

[View all 24 research outputs](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/publications/)

## Prizes

- ### [Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/leverhulme-trust-early-career-fellowship-4/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/) (Recipient), 01 Feb 2015

  Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively

  - Justice
  - Occupational Career
  - Atrocities
- ### [University of Oxford Vice Chancellor's Public Engagement Award](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/university-of-oxford-vice-chancellors-public-engagement-award/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/) (Recipient), 16 Jun 2019

  Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

  - Universities
  - Awards
  - Exhibitions
  - Rwanda
  - Museum Equipment

## Activities

- [5](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_talk)
  Invited talk
- [3](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fotheractivity%2Fother_activity)
  Other
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fparticipation_in_festival_exhibition)
  Participation in Festival/Exhibition
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fworkshopseminarcourseparticipation)
  Participation in workshop, seminar, course
- 8
  More

  - [**4** KTP & Consultancy in kind](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fconsultancy%2Fconsultancy)
  - [**4** Public lecture/debate/seminar](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Fpublic_lecture_debate_seminar)
  - [**1** Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fconsultancy%2Fwork_on_advisory_panel_to_industry_or_government_or_non_government_organisation_)
  - [**1** Editorial activity](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Feditorial)
  - [**1** Publication peer-review](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Fpublicationpeerreview)
  - [**1** Membership of public/government advisory/policy group or panel](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fmembership_of_public_government_advisory_policy_group_or_panel)
  - [**1** Membership of network](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fnetwork)
  - [**1** Research and Teaching at External Organisation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fvisitother%2Fresearch_and_teaching_at_external_organisation)

- ### [Internal Reviewer UKRI Leadership Fellowships](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/internal-reviewer-ukri-leadership-fellowships/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/) (Reviewer)

  Feb 2026

  Activity: Other activity types › Other
- ### [BEYOND OUTREACH: THE CONTRIBUTION OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION TO TRANSITIONAL USTICE THEORY AND PRACTICE](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/beyond-outreach-the-contribution-of-strategic-communication-to-tr/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/) (Invited speaker)

  Dec 2025

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
- ### [Lawpod Podcast Series: Can the Record be Trusted? Prospects and Challenges of Human Rights Documentation and Archiving in the Digital Age](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/lawpod-podcast-series-can-the-record-be-trusted-prospects-and-cha/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/) (Organiser), Hovestädt, D. (Organiser) & Lühe, U. (Organiser)

  Oct 2025 → 2026

  Activity: Other activity types › Other
- ### [Frieden in de Theorie? Perspektiven aus Philosophie und Wissenschaft](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/frieden-in-de-theorie-perspektiven-aus-philosophie-und-wissenscha/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/) (Keynote speaker)

  Jun 2025

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
- ### [Conducting Research With Care Workshop](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/conducting-research-with-care-workshop/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/) (Invited speaker)

  2025

  Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course

[View all 36 activities](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/activities/)

## Press/Media

- ### [Ruanda nach dem Genozid](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/ruanda-nach-dem-genozid/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/)

  08/04/2024

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment
- ### [The Kwibuka Rwanda Exhibition and Commemoration Event in Oxford](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/the-kwibuka-rwanda-exhibition-and-commemoration-event-in-oxford/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/)

  12/04/2018

  1 item of Media coverage

  Press/Media: Research
- ### [The Kwibuka Rwanda Exhibition](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/the-kwibuka-rwanda-exhibition/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/)

  11/04/2018

  1 item of Media coverage

  Press/Media: Research
- ### [Why Remembering the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi Matters](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/why-remembering-the-1994-genocide-against-the-tutsi-matters/)

  [Viebach, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/julia-viebach/)

  01/01/1970

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment