Publikation

The transformation of post-conflict societies is undoubtedly a long and complex process. Experience gained over the past decades suggests that restoring justice by different means, truth-seeking mechanisms and the public recognition of past wrongs as well as institutional reform and the facilitation of new social relationships are central to this process. It ultimately has to involve all layers and structures of a society. Since the mid 1990s, combinations of measures in these fields are referred to as "transitional justice". With its various mechanisms it enables state and civil society actors to link and ensure complementarity between their various activities. It is within this framework that we would like to situate civil society engagement for human rights in conflict transformation and explore a number of issues and challenges.

Conference Rome, June 4-6, 2009: “Human Rights in Conflict – the Role of Civil Society”

Paper for Panel on „Conflict Transformation and Civil Society Engagement“