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Outcomes and Testimonials
PATHWAYS TO RECONCILIATION AND GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS
Joint Statement on Conference Conclusions, 6 September 2005
The international conference “Pathways to Reconciliation and Global Human Rights” held in Sarajevo 16–19 August, organized by the Globalism Institute of RMIT University in Melbourne, and the UNDP in Sarajevo, brought together more than 200 academics and practitioners both from within Bosnia-Herzegovina and globally.
During their deliberations the conference participants acknowledged that reconciliation in BiH has to do with both (a) dealing and coming to terms with gross human rights violations and injustices in the past and (b) transforming the process of state-building into genuine nation-building. Forging a common identity that respects differences for the peoples of BiH arose as one of the crucial underlying themes.
Ten years after the signing of the Dayton Accords it is clear that the issue of reconciliation has received insufficient attention and that greater emphasis is now necessary in the interest of stability and sustainable development. Such a process should be nationally led, although assistance from the international community will be critical for the success of the process.
Five major recommendations emerged during the discussions of international and national academics and practitioners:
1. Holding individuals who have committed war crimes accountable is a prerequisite for reconciliation. While the establishment of the War Crimes Chamber is a major step forward in this regard, the bulk of the cases will be left to local lower-level courts, which have not been adequately prepared for this monumental task. Consequently, we recommend that the capacity of lower level courts should be strengthened in order to deal with war crimes in an effective manner. Better witness-protection programmes should be an essential part of this important effort.
2. There is an urgent need to set up a broad-based mechanism for establishing the truth. We recommend that such a mechanism should take the form of a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Forum’ linking local NGOs to a national forum supported at the highest level. This we conclude would contribute in the longer term to creating an atmosphere of trust amongst the people of BiH. The design of this process should be distinctly Bosnian, including a broad consultation process at community level, and support by politicians across parties and other eminent leaders.
3. The country’s constitutional structure, while designed to end the war, was singled out as a fundamental obstacle to reconciliation, principally because it forces the people of BiH to identify with one of the three ethnic groups. This obligatory identification has deepened, and will continue to deepen, the divisions between the people of BiH. Consequently, we recommend that the Dayton constitution should be critically reviewed from the angle of reconciliation and any subsequent reforms should seek to counter this enforced segregation.
4. Particular sadness and fear was expressed over the current education system which is divided among the three constituent groups. Rather than seeking a future which builds upon one harmonious State, continuance of such a system will foster and encourage the ethnic division for the future generations, alongside three “truths”. We therefore recommend urgent attention be paid to seeking re-integration of the education system, including developing a common curriculum that acknowledges those “three truths“, but seeks to transcend particularistic politics.
5. Finally, the participants acknowledged the interdependence of today’s world as a central opportunity and challenge in the search for sustainable peace and security. Thus, Bosnia and Herzegovina should be encouraged to draw on global resources and experience, in the field of reconciliation and by embracing and acknowledging the importance of interdependence, recognize that the quest for truth and ultimately reconciliation is important not just for the citizens of BiH but for the whole region, the wider European family and beyond. From our various experiences we therefore recommend the establishment of a Global Truth and Reconciliation Forum which has as its primary purpose the facilitation of global learning from past national forums, and providing support and expertise to national and local initiatives.
Endorsed By:
Gordon Bacon, International Aid Worker
Benjamin Barber, University of Maryland, United States
Beriz Belkic, Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kathryne Bomberger, International Commission on Missing Persons, Sarajevo
Ian Campbell, Salvation Army International
Howard Dean, Democratic National Committee, United States
Massimo Diana, United Nations Development Program, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jakob Finci, La Benevolencija, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vince Gamberale, CHF international
Sandy Gifford, Refugee Health Research Centre, La Trobe University, Australia
Sacha Goldman, International Ethical, Political and Scientific Collegium
Zdravko Grebo, Centre for Post-Graduate Studies, University of Sarajevo
Isabel Guterres, Truth, Reconciliation and Reception Commission of East Timor
Nazif Hasanbegovic, Platform CMC, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Haris Hromic, Carnegie Young Leader, Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs, New York
Micheline Ishay, University of Denver, United States
Paul James, Director of the Globalism Institute, Australia
Ida Kaplan, Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture, Australia
Paul Komesaroff, Global Reconciliation Network, Australia
Slavo Kukic, Mostar Univerisity, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zoran Kulundzic, Dayton Project
H.E. Ambassador Mirza Kusljugic, Former Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations
Maja Marjanovic, Dayton Project
Fadila Memisevic, Society for Threatened Peoples, Sarajevo
Kemal Pervanic, Author
Stefan Priesner, United Nations Development Program, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Modjtaba Sadria, Chuo University, Japan
Mirsad Tokaca, Research and Documentation Center, Sarajevo
Ahmed Zilic, Council of Europe, Directorate General of Human Rights
Asta Zinbo, International Commission on Missing Persons, Sarajevo
Miodrag Zivanovic, University of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Testimonials and Messages of Support for the Conference
We were grateful to receive the following messages of support, provided here in PDF format, for the conference and its outcomes:
The Honourable Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria
The Honourable Sir William Deane
The Honourable Justice Marcus Einfeld AO QC
His Royal Highness Prince Hassan of Jordan
Mr Vaclav Havel
His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffrey, AC CVO MC (Retd), Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Dr Ron McCoy, Professor Gunnar Westberg and Dr Tilman Ruff of the Medical Association for Prevention of War
(Australia)
Justice Richard Goldstone
Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth
Professor MS Swaminathan
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