Event: Civil Society and Transitional Justice Processes: How International Actors Can Promote a More Inclusive Approach (October 29, 2015 1:15pm to 3pm EDT, Webcast)

Webcast: Civil Society and Transitional Justice Processes: How International Actors Can Promote a More Inclusive Approach
Date: October 29, 2015 1:15pm to 3pm EDT (New York)
Location: Visit www.ipinst.org/webcast to watch live online

Opening remarks:
Ambassador Michele J. Sison, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations

Panelists:
Ambassador María Emma Mejía Vélez, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations
Ambassador Geir O. Pedersen, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations
Mr. Pablo de Greiff, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
Mr. Habib Nassar, Acting Executive Director, PILnet–Global Network for Public Interest Law

The panel will discuss the fact that, all too often, the key role of civil society in transitional justice (TJ) efforts has been overlooked. Research shows that most international assistance has gone to large, state- or UN-led institutions, such as criminal tribunals. State-led initiatives are crucial, but they sometimes sit apart from the society they are intended to transform, having little impact on changing attitudes, promoting trust, or attending to victims.

Most donors, for their part, lack strategies for supporting a long-term, inclusive, and locally owned set of transitional justice processes that will help prevent the recurrence of massive or systematic human rights abuse. Indeed, once the large-scale TJ institutions “close shop,” donors usually move on to other issues, leaving critical follow-up work unfinished.

Drawing on recent events in Colombia, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and elsewhere, this panel will discuss how international actors can support more inclusive and strategic engagements with TJ.

The event also marks the launch of Public Action Research’s website/report, Funding Transitional Justice (fundingtj.org), which is based on field research in Guatemala, Morocco, Cambodia, Uganda, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as financial data from OECD. The findings stem from interviews with more than 100 donors and civil society actors.

If you happen to be in NYC and would like to attend the event in person, please just RSVP to: Ms. Amanda Murchison, murchison@ipinst.org.