Training session about the "Mechanisms for Establishing and Telling the Truth about the Past" Belgrade 26th and 27th May 2008

May 28th 2008

Introduction

The Research and Documentation Centre (RDC), the Humanitarian Law Center (FHP) and Documenta in cooperation with the International Centre for Transitional Justice organized a training session about the "Mechanisms for Establishing and Telling the Truth about the Past in Belgrade , Serbia . The intent was to create a strong group of activists who throughout regional consultations would plan the establishment of a Regional Commission for the Establishment of Facts about War Crimes in Ex-Yugoslavia. The training focused on the features of truth commissions, their mission, the advantages and disadvantages of different models, and gave comparative examples of truth commissions from around the world.

This training session was the next step after three regional forums, numerous consultations and work shops that these three organizations had organized in cooperation with regional NGOs on the problematic of the establishment of a truth commission. The establishment of such a body that would investigate serious human rights violations is an important precondition for building a democratic society in post-conflict countries.

First day

The Trainer, Mr. Mark Freeman from the International Centre for Transitional Justice, gave an opening statement on the structure and goals of the training session and then introduced the idea of a Truth Commission and other bodies that deal with the problematic of human rights violations. This included the 10 basic characteristics that a truth commission has and its mission to contribute to the truth and justice in a post-conflict region. The truth commission can also be the first step towards victims' reparations and contributes to public debates more sensitive to human dignity. Numerous truth commissions where established in post-conflict regions none of them alike. Thus the trainer concluded the first day session with an introduction to the work of various truth commissions from around the world . The participants had the opportunity to get some practical knowledge about the operation of these truth commissions, knowledge which can later be used for the needs of a Regional Commission for the Establishment of Facts about War Crimes in Ex-Yugoslavia. Given the possibility to interact and discuss the issues the participants showed great interests in the problematic and extensive knowledge on the matter as well.

Second day:

After having exhausted the part on the characteristics and the mission of a truth commission as well as a brief introduction to the experiences that other post-conflict regions had with serious human rights violations, the next step was to analyze the importance of public hearings. Public hearings have shown to be a valuable feature of truth commissions because they tend to create an atmosphere where the victim is most important, and are a way to restore victims' dignity. On the other hand, public hearings are highly dependant on the security constellation of society and the financial capacity of a truth commission. In order to get a clearer picture on the significance of public hearings and the magnitude of truth commissions in general, the trainer showed a documentary on truth commissions established in Morocco , East Timor, and Peru . The documentary clearly showed the results of a truth commission which had a big impact on victims' lives, whether by providing victims with some form of reparation or simply by giving them an opportunity to tell the truth about what happened to them or to their loved ones.

At the end of its mandate every truth commission submits a final report which usually gives certain recommendations for the government of the respective country. In some cases a follow-up body is created to monitor the implementation of the recommendations, a process in which civil society has an important role as well. The final report is of immense importance because it represents a record (impartial and detailed) which in some cases can be used in court and as an educational tool for future generations.

After the comprehensive lecture on truth commissions, a more practical part followed. A discussion was opened with the target of finding practical solutions to the establishment of a Regional Commission for the Establishment of Facts about War Crimes in Ex-Yugoslavia. The most topical dilemma among the participants was the capacity and the will of governments to come to an agreement about how such a commission would work in the territory of Ex-Yugoslavia. The two hour debate was filled with different questions, dilemmas and answers.

Conclusion

After the detailed two hour debate, a conclusion was made that the establishment of a Regional Commission for the Establishment of Facts about War Crimes in Ex-Yugoslavia was absolutely necessary in order to get to the precise facts on the events in the region and to help the process of reconciliation. All the participants were divided in working groups with a different focus: media, youth, victims, campaign, public fund-raising and civil society organizations. After the end of the training session, the board members of the Coordination Group and the members of the working group met to discuss further details on the establishment of a Regional Commission for the Establishment of Facts about War Crimes in Ex-Yugoslavia. Argentina, Uganda, Nepal, Chile, Chad, Germany, El Salvador, Sri Lanka, Haiti, South Africa, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nigeria, Korea, Uruguay, Panama, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Peru, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Congo, Paraguay, Morocco and the truth commission soon to be established in Canada.

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