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"In Search
of Truth and Responsibility - Towards A Democratic Future"
The international conference "In Search of Truth and Responsibility
- Towards A Democratic Future", held in Belgrade's Hotel Intercontinental
on May 18-20 2001, was the first such opportunity to discuss these
issues since the dramatic events of September 24 and October 5
2000.
The participation of a large number of experts
from around the world, the Balkans region and our country was
not the only reason for the importance of this conference. It
also marked the launch of the long and painful process of confronting
truth, examining responsibility, and ultimately working towards
reconciliation in the entire region of southeast Europe. Most
people in Yugoslavia and Serbia, as well as experts in the field,
are more willing than ever before to face up to what has been
happening in our immediate past. At the same time, public awareness
is growing ever stronger that if we do not confront our past it
will be impossible to bring about the necessary democratic reforms
and modernisation of our society as a whole.
The varied experiences of truth and reconciliation
commissions from Latin America, South Africa and Asia suggest
there is no universal model for responding to the challenges of
the past. Also of value are the diverse experiences of post-Communist
Eastern European countries in embarking on the process of adopting
democracy and confronting their own pasts, with varying degrees
of success. Clearly, justice in times of transition is a notion
which cannot be automatically replicated or applied.
However, there exists a consensus: namely that,
in both social and political terms, one cannot strive towards
a better future if burdened by the lies and concealed crimes which
strike at the heart of humanity itself.
The conference "In Search of Truth and Responsibility
- Towards A Democratic Future" gave us the opportunity to examine
and reconsider the various ways in which truth and reconciliation
commissions have worked. This in turn will have a far-reaching
and profound impact on the wider public debate about this issue
within Yugoslav society.
Over one hundred experts from home and abroad
participated in the event, which was opened by Yugoslav President
Vojislav Kostunica and the director of the Institute for Justice
in Transition, Alex Boraine.
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The conference "In Search of Truth
and Responsibility - Towards A Democratic Future"
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Opening
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Message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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Vojislav Kostunica "About Truth and Reconciliation"
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Veran Matic's speech at the opening of
the conference
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Holthuis Hans - Registrar of the ICTY,
The Hague
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Recommendations
of the participants
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Events
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Prague workshop 17 November 2001
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Legislation/Terms of Reference for Truth
Commission in:
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El Salvador (word 26.1K)
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Guatemala (word 28.2K)
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Sierra Leone (word 71.8K)
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South Africa (word 261K)
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Final Report of the Truth Commission
in:
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Argentina (conclusions and recommendations
only, word 30K)
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Chile (summary only, word 174K)
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Guatemala (conclusions and recommendations
only, word 230K)
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El Salvador (zip-word 240K)
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Academic articles regarding the subject
of transitional justice
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Neil J. Kritz, Senior Scholar on the
Rule of Law, United States Institute of Peace (word 201K)
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Stephan Landsman, DePaul University College
of Law (word 107K)
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Carlos S. Nino, Professor of Law, University
of Buenos Aires (word 90K)
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Diane F. Orentlicher, General Counsel,
International League for Human Rights (zip-word 125K)
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Jose Zalaquett, Chairperson, International
Human Rights Internship Program (word 58K)
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Internet addresses
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Argentina (In Spanish)
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Argentina (In English – recommendations
and conclusions only)
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Chile (In English and Spanish)
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El Salvador (In English)
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Guatemala (In Spanish)
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Guatemala (In English)
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South Africa (In English)
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