1444 results

The Bumpy Road to Peace and Accountability: Transitional Justice in the African Great Lakes Region

In Africa's Great Lakes region, countries face common challenges like bad governance, inequitable distribution of natural resources, and ethnic divisions. As nations like Burundi, Central African Republic and South Sudan work towards peacebuilding and accountability, they should learn from what has worked and what has not in neighboring countries, writes Sarah Kihika Kasande, ICTJ's Head of Office in Uganda.

04/24/17
In Focus

Writing the Unvoiced: Tunisian Women Break the Silence About Repression

The impact of Tunisia's transitional justice process is rooted in its ability to give voice to diverse segments of the population, including historically marginalized communities. A workshop hosted by ICTJ brought generations of women together to explore truth-telling techniques and create space for all voices.

04/17/17
In Focus

“Things that Money Alone Cannot Buy:” Defining Reparations in Cases of Sexual Violence

Money alone cannot compensate sexual violence committed on a massive scale, particularly when such crimes are accompanied by other forms of violations affecting entire communities. ICTJ's Cristián Correa examines how rehabilitation, education, and acknowledgement can bring victims closer to full restitution for their suffering.

04/12/17

Court-Ordered Reparations for Sexual Violence Must Go Beyond Money to Truly Help, Says New ICTJ Paper

A new briefing paper from the International Center for Transitional Justice provides guidance for national courts issuing decisions on redress of human rights violations involving sexual violence. It encourages judges, advocates and prosecutors to consider the full range of possible forms of redress when ordering reparations for victims, to make use of relevant national and international decisions in interpreting domestic laws, and to pay particular attention to how sexual violence may affect different victims.

04/12/17
Press Releases

UN Inquiry in Myanmar Is a Moment of Truth for Aung San Suu Kyi’s Commitment to Justice

For decades, successive Myanmar political and military leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s, have flatly denied what millions of their citizens know: that the military has committed and continues to commit human rights violations. A new UN inquiry into those crimes is provides a moment of truth for Suu Kyi's commitment to justice, writes ICTJ's Aileen Thomson.

04/11/17
In Focus

ICTJ Urges Zambia to Support International Criminal Court

Zambia should reaffirm its membership in the International Criminal Court to best advance justice for victims of atrocities, a group of African organizations and international nongovernmental organizations with a presence in Africa said today.

04/11/17

Getting to Full Restitution: Guidelines for Court-Ordered Reparations in Cases Involving Sexual Violence Committed during Armed Conflict, Political Violence, or State Repression

Defining court-ordered reparations for victims of sexual violence committed during armed conflict, political violence, or state repression is not an easy task. The challenges only increase when there are few domestic precedents for defining such reparations based on international huma...

by

Cristián Correa

African Americans and Police: To Repair Broken Trust There Must Be a Reckoning First

In today’s United States, civic trust that has been systematically eroded among many communities of color. There is little basis, either historically or in the current political atmosphere, for African Americans and other minorities to have this essential trust in government institutions, particularly in the police. To build that relationship, there must first be a reckoning, writes ICTJ President David Tolbert.

04/07/17
In Focus

Reflections on the Struggle for Justice: Jill Williams

To mark 15 years of ICTJ, we asked staff past and present for the memories that stand out from their work. Former ICTJ consultant and Executive Director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Greensboro, North Carolina Jill Williams reflects on her efforts to bridge a cultural gap in the pursuit of shared values.

04/03/17
In Focus

Activists: Strong Civil Society is Key to Hopes of Stability in Africa’s Great Lakes

A new ICTJ report argues that in Africa's interconnected Great Lakes region, each country’s attempt to provide justice for past violations offers lessons for similar processes in others. We gathered civil society activists from across the region to discuss which strategies have worked for them, which have not, and opened up about the greatest challenges they face in securing justice.

03/29/17
In Focus

Great Lakes Region: To Prevent New Conflicts Involve Victims

As Burundi and South Sudan teeter on the verge of renewed conflict, with warnings of possible genocides, a new report from ICTJ on the African Great Lakes region asserts that there are lessons to be learned from neighboring countries that may be relevant in preventing new conflicts. The report calls for a clear understanding of victims’ needs and demands, a thorough political analysis and identifying realistic opportunities for acknowledgment and accountability, among other measures.

03/28/17
Press Releases

Victims Fighting Impunity Transitional Justice in the African Great Lakes Region

In many countries of the African Great Lakes region, state-led approaches to transitional justice have been created by wide-ranging agreements or policies that have been later forgotten or only partially implemented. Even when implemented, they are often subject to years of delay and/...

by

Aileen Thomson and Kasande Sarah Kihika

Report

Men and Boys Are Victims Of Sexual Violence, Too

The taboo around sexual violence against men and boys can leave victims in the shadows, write ICTJ's Kelli Muddell and Sibley Hawkins. Without acknowledgment of these crimes, efforts to address injustices of the past will be hard-pressed to develop inclusive and effective responses.

03/27/17
In Focus

Public Hearings: Platforms of Truth, Dignity, and Catharsis

On the International Day for the Right to Truth we spotlight one of the most powerful ways truth commissions can reassert victims' dignity: public hearings. These open events can have a potentially cathartic power for victims and their families, but also the public at large by generating solidarity and empathy for the suffering of others in societies deeply polarized and traumatized by atrocities and denial.

03/24/17
In Focus

"The Earthquake That Builds": The Impact of Public Hearings in Tunisia

In Tunisia, the Truth and Dignity Commission's public hearings have fundamentally altered the dialogue around the past in Tunisia. To mark the International Day for the Right to Truth ICTJ Director of Communications Refik Hodzic sat down with two women whose work has been critical to the success of the commission – ICTJ Salwa El Gantri and TDC Commissioner Ibtihel Abdellatif – to discuss what they have taken away from public hearings so far.

03/24/17
In Focus

Tunisia Hosts Public Hearings to Mark International Day for the Right to Truth

In Tunisia, public hearings have fundamentally changed public dialogue about the past. The Truth and Dignity Commission will hold special session scheduled to coincide with the International Day for the Right to the Truth on March 24th. Watch live here:

03/24/17
In Focus

Empowering Victims in Kenya on International Day for the Right to Truth

The right to the truth carries special resonance in Kenya, and so on March 24th Kenyan state agencies, survivors, civil society organizations, and international partners will join together in Nairobi to observe the International Day for the Right to the Truth. It provides an opportunity not just for remembrance, but also for greater dialogue between the government and victims about the implementation of reparations programs and of the findings presented in the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission's final report.

03/23/17
In Focus

No Legacy for Transitional Justice Efforts Without Education

Education, as a critically important institution that is widely considered to be both formative and transformative, is something that transitional justice cannot afford to overlook. Transitional justice in its early years did not directly engage with education, but today this has chan...

by

Elizabeth A. Cole

Briefing Paper

The Power of a Transitional Justice Approach to Education

This paper explores the power of a transitional justice approach to education reconstruction in post-conflict settings. Its central question is how the aims of transitional justice can guide educational reform processes after conflict or periods of massive human rights violations, wit...

by

Lynn Davies

Briefing Paper

A Foundation of Lies: Relatives for Justice Unpacks the Truth about the Irish Conflict

As ICTJ looks back on its 15 years of work, join us in celebrating our allies across the globe who struggle for human rights, against impunity. To honor their efforts in the trenches of this struggle, we will bring you their stories in the weeks and months to come. This is the story of Mark Thompson, CEO of Relatives for Justice, a group struggling for truth and justice in Northern Ireland.

03/13/17
In Focus

LIVE: Tunisia Public Hearings Continue with Focus on Violations of Digital Freedom

Tunisia's Truth and Dignity Commission continues its public hearings, focusing on violations of digital freedom.

03/11/17
In Focus

LIVE: Tunisia Public Hearings Resume with Focus on Women

At 3 pm, Eastern Time, Tunisia's Truth and Dignity Commission is scheduled to resume its public hearings with a session focusing on violations against women. Watch the livesteam below and follow us on twitter at @theICTJ for live coverage.

03/10/17
In Focus

Anil Soni Joins Advisory Board of ICTJ

ICTJ is pleased to announce that Anil Soni, Head of Global Infectious Diseases at Mylan, has joined its Advisory Board. "We are honored to welcome Anil Soni as the newest member of ICTJ’s leadership. As a respected figure in the global health community with ample experience at international NGOs, he...

03/09/17

Hope for Justice in Syria from an Unlikely Source

Six years into the carnage in Syria , atrocious crimes run rampant, with savage abuses committed against all groups in the devastated country, and the murderous regime, abetted by powerful allies, is still in power. The UN Security Council remains deadlocked and unable to take any steps towards...

03/09/17
In Focus

Reflections on the Struggle for Justice: Olivier Kambala wa Kambala

To mark 15 years of ICTJ, we asked staff past and present for memories that stand out to them - moments that throw the stakes of our work into sharp relief and resonate with them years later. Olivier Kambala wa Kambala, an ICTJ Program Associate from 2005 to 2010, talks about the thirst for justice he saw on a visit to Guinea, and how the political situation rendered quenching it impossible.

03/07/17
In Focus

In South Africa’s Date with Destiny, Mandela’s Legacy Is a Beacon to Follow

South Africa Parliament faces a historic moment. In this op-ed, ICTJ's Vice President Paul Seils remembers the great hope that marked the ICC’s emergence: "No country embodied that hope and that reality more powerfully and more inspiringly than South Africa."

03/03/17
In Focus

Reflections on the Struggle for Justice: Reshma Thapa

To mark 15 years of ICTJ, we asked staff past and present for memories that stand out to them - moments that throw the stakes of our work into sharp relief and resonate with them years later. Reshma Thapa, former ICTJ senior program associate in Nepal (2009- 2013), looks back on one particularly poignant dance shared among women in a small village.

02/28/17
In Focus

ICTJ Report Says Georgia Ripe for Transitional Justice

A new ICTJ report finds that the time is ripe for Georgia to take meaningful steps to reckon with the dark chapters of its recent past and ensure that abuses never happen again. The report warns that while political conditions in the country may not be perfect, waiting longer to acknowledge victims and deal with the past may lead to more abuses and a possible conflict in the long run.

02/27/17

Assessing the Prospects for Transitional Justice in Georgia

Since Georgia’s independence in 1991, successive governments have struggled to deal with endemic corruption, organized crime, and various disputes along its borders, which sometimes sparked into armed conflict. Efforts to combat corruption and organized crime through its “zero-toleran...

by

Howard Varney

Report

AU Strategy for Collective Withdrawal from the ICC a Non-Starter

The Africa Union's resolution to collectively support a strategy to withdraw from the ICC looks more like a machination of those who have instrumentalized an argument against the court to protect themselves from the long arm of justice, write ICTJ's top experts on Africa.

02/16/17
In Focus

Reflections on the Struggle for Justice: Cristián Correa

To mark 15 years of ICTJ, we asked staff past and present for memories that stand out to them - moments that throw the stakes of our work into sharp relief and resonate with them years later. Cristián Correa, Senior Associate in ICTJ’s Reparative Justice Program, shares a story about a Chilean mother's thirst to tell her daughter the truth about their past.

02/14/17
In Focus

Panel Discussion Explores Women's Experiences in War

A panel of policy and media experts discusses women's experience in war and the responsibility of media covering their stories at the New York City premiere of a new documentary.

02/06/17
In Focus

ICTJ Names Human Rights Leader Juan E. Méndez to Colombia Justice Committee

ICTJ has named the globally recognized jurist and human rights expert Juan E. Méndez as its delegate to the Colombian Selection Committee created by the 2016 peace agreement signed between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

02/03/17
Press Releases

Moving Documentary Film on Children Born of War in Northern Uganda Released by ICTJ and MediaStorm

NEW YORK, February 2, 2016 – A short documentary film depicting the devastating effects of stigma and discrimination against children born of wartime sexual violence, and their mothers, in northern Uganda was released today by the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and MediaStorm....

02/02/17
Press Releases

I Am Not Who They Think I Am: New ICTJ and MediaStorm Film Confronts Stigma Facing Children Born of War

I Am Not Who They Think I Am , a new film by ICTJ and MediaStorm, exposes the stigma facing children born of conflict and their mothers and advocates for their right to reparations and redress from the state.

02/01/17
In Focus

Prosecuting the Plundering of Natural Resources in Eastern DRC to Stem Violence

Potential political interference, poor evidence gathering and difficulty accessing remote areas are some of the main challenges to prosecuting economic and environmental crimes related to armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Overcoming these challenges was the focus of a two-day workshop for judges and prosecutors in Goma and Bukavu, organized by the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), in collaboration with the United States Institute for Peace.

01/30/17
Press Releases

Human Rights Movement Must Come Together to Resist Trump’s Agenda

Donald Trump is on a road to undermine the progress that decades of struggle has achieved - the time for action and resistance is now. The human rights movement must come together to resist his agenda, writes ICTJ President David Tolbert.

01/27/17
In Focus

ICTJ Asks for Clarification Before Nominating its Representative for Colombia’s Selection Committee

ICTJ has formally accepted the invitation to participate in Colombia’s Selection Committee, reflecting its commitment to work for peace and victims’ rights in that country. It has not yet selected its delegate, contrary to prior reports.

01/27/17
Press Releases

Watch: Tunisia Truth and Dignity Commission Hears Public Testimony

On the 39th anniversary of Tunisia's "Black Thursday," the Truth and Dignity Commission continues its public hearings.

01/26/17
In Focus

Reflections on the Struggle for Justice: Pablo de Greiff

As we look back on 15 years of ICTJ's work , we recognize that our greatest asset is the people whose knowledge, experience, and dedication made our contribution possible. To celebrate all who have been part of ICTJ’s story over the years, we asked some of our former colleagues to share their...

01/26/17
In Focus

Light in the Darkness: "The Story Kitchen" Turns Victims into Reporters in Nepal

Jaya Luintel was a radio reporter in Nepal during the country's civil war, covering the conflict's impact on women. Now, she's helping female victims produce and broadcast their own stories to a national audience. Discover how her organization, The Story Kitchen, empowers women in Nepal.

01/22/17
In Focus

As Tunisia Confronts Truth About Abuses, ICTJ Gathers Officials to Discuss Criminal Justice

In Tunisia, efforts to seek criminal accountability have been characterized by an absence of strategy and the lack of political will. An ICTJ conference sought to address these issues and ease the confusion and political gridlock surrounding the Specialized Judicial Chambers.

01/19/17
In Focus

On Sixth Anniversary of Revolution, Tunisia Truth and Dignity Commission Holds Public Hearings

Six years to the day after Ben Ali fled the country, Tunisians are gathering around televisions, radios and computers for more victim testimony hosted by the Truth and Dignity Commission. Watch the livesteam below and follow us on twitter at @theICTJ for live coverage.

01/14/17
In Focus

Reflections on the Struggle for Justice: Caitlin Reiger

As we look back on 15 years of ICTJ's work, we recognize that our greatest asset is the people whose knowledge, experience, and dedication made our contribution possible. To celebrate all who have been part of ICTJ’s story over the years, we asked some of our former colleagues to share their reflections and memories of moments that stand out: moments that throw the stakes of our work into sharp relief. In the weeks and months to come we will bring you their stories in Reflections on the Struggle for Justice. Caitlin Reiger, ICTJ's former Deputy Director of Prosecutions (2005–2010), reflects on the humanizing power of testimony, on display in East Timor.

01/03/17
In Focus

Public Hearings Continue: Tunisians Testify to Violence, Corruption, and Marginalization

On December 17th, six years to the day after Mohamed Bouazizi set fire to himself and sparked the “Jasmine Revolution,” Tunisia’s Truth and Dignity Commission heard public testimony about events that unfolded during the revolution and the abuses of the regime it overthrew. Read victims' moving testimony about state violence, torture, corruption and marginalization as the country continues to grapple with its painful past.

12/21/16
In Focus

In Tunisia, 62,000 Voices Call Out for Justice

On January 14, Tunisia's Truth and Dignity Commission will resume public hearings. Salwa El Gantri outlines how ICTJ has worked with the TDC and civil society to amplify victims' voices.

12/19/16
In Focus

Tunisia's Truth and Dignity Commission Resumes Public Hearings - December 16

Following two days of historic public testimony last month, Tunisia 's Truth and Dignity Commission 's second set of public hearings continue. Watch the livesteam below and follow us on twitter at @theICTJ for live coverage.

12/16/16
In Focus

ICTJ at 15: A Word from President David Tolbert

Join President David Tolbert as we celebrate ICTJ at 15 years, during which there have been many pivotal moments, both for our organization and the struggle for justice globally.

12/15/16
In Focus

Profiles from the Front Lines of Transitional Justice: Jaqy Mutere Empowers Sexual Violence Survivors in Kenya

As ICTJ looks back on its 15 years of work, join us in celebrating our allies across the globe who join us in the struggle for human rights, against impunity. To honor their efforts in the trenches of this shared struggle, we will bring you their stories in the weeks and months to come. We begin with Kenya's Jaqy Mutere, who provides both an empathetic ear and a political voice to survivors of sexual violence.

12/15/16
In Focus

Reflections on the Struggle for Justice: Louis Bickford

As we look back on 15 years of ICTJ's work, we recognize that our greatest asset is the people whose knowledge, experience, and dedication made our contribution possible. To celebrate all who have been part of ICTJ’s story over the years, we asked some of our former colleagues to share their reflections and memories of moments that stand out: moments that throw the stakes of our work into sharp relief. First up: Louis Bickford, former Director of ICTJ’s Memory and Memorials Unit (2001–2009), reflects on testimony given during Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

12/15/16