Truth and Reconcilation Commissions: Not Just for Developing Countries

When I think about Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, the first examples that pop into my head are South Africa, Kenya, Cambodia; developing countries that have been plagued by conflict and need to find a way to air their grievances and start to move the country forward. Truth and Reconciliation Commissions are often viewed as an alternative to violence. They are a mechanism by with grievances can be aired and perpetrators of crime can take responsibility for their actions through the means of engaging in conversation. It is the idea that through talking with one another we can create a space in which we can begin to move past these grievances and begin to move forward.

Growing up in Canada, I learned about the treatment of aboriginal populations at the hands of colonialists and Canadians of European decent, and the mechanisms that the Canadian government has now put into place in an attempt to rectify these treatment of these people. However, I was surprised and excited to see that Canada has a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, specifically to deal with the subjection of aboriginal populations to Residential Schools; surprised because the idea of a truth and reconciliation commission in country that had not experienced violent conflict has not previously crossed my mind, and excited because I thought this is exactly what the world needs.

The fact that Canada is using a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as a way by which to air the grievances demonstrates first and foremost, the increasing trend of TRCs and the movement away from criminal processes as the sole mechanisms of reconcilation. There is a growing belief criminal processes leave a void in the reconciliation process. The render a verdict, creating an absolute right, risking the alienation of the other party in the process, which can further exacerbate tensions between groups. That's not to say that criminal justice is not important. It is tremendously important. It provides precedent and deterrence from the reoccurrence of these crimes, but they need to happen concurrently with TRC processes that help society heal as whole. TRC processes should continue to be embraces by ALL countries as a mechanism to achieve reconciliation and avoid future tensions.

http://peacemedia.usip.org/resource/winnipeg-national-event-truth-a...

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Comment by Stephen N. Rasp on October 25, 2012 at 12:36am: Lynne and Desire, nothing comes to mind to add to your comments. You both have nailed it. I have a great deal of admiration for people who can write so well.

Comment by DESIRE WILSON NJAMWEA on October 22, 2012 at 5:58am: well thought out, structured and executed TRC are a sure means of reconciliation and national harmony, however, if not, they kill the little hope in people's heart and minds to commit themselves in such processes and in the end, kill the use of such mechanisms in future for purposes of peace. Kenya's TRC is such an example! it has been riddled with controversy since its inception, it has been unable to meet its deadlines and worse of it all, it has acquired the perception that it is being used to cover the very same injustices it was meant to investigate!!! Kenyan's no longer have faith in it, its report will be just a mere formality that will not move the nation towards national reconciliation.

Comment by Lynne Winfield on October 20, 2012 at 9:07am: Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda is actively working towards the creation of an Institute for Racial Justice & Reconciliation. Bermuda is a small wealthy island in the Atlantic that has a 250 year legacy of slavery and 125 years of segregation which only ended in 1971 following the desegregation of schools. However this was followed by years of discrimination and prejudice, as you cannot overturn stereotypes and perceptions simply by changing legislation. Although since then Bermuda has come a long way, that legacy of 375 years of multi-generational trauma still impacts the Black community today in psychological and economical ways. Additionally that legacy continues to impact Whites attitudes and opinions, and this is evident in our 2010 census which continues to show economic inequality between the races in multiple ways. It is only through advocacy, education and raising awareness that both Blacks and Whites can more fully understand this hidden history and be open and willing to a truth-telling process which will help the last vestiges of structural racism, white privilege and internalised racism begin to disappear.

Comment by Stephen N. Rasp on October 20, 2012 at 2:30am: I can think of nothing that will help Stop Injustice more than TRCs. It is time that this beacon of Democracy that I live in embraces the TRC process.

Stephen

Comment by Sarah Federman on October 19, 2012 at 12:51pm: Good point! TRCs can be useful for "developed" countries- especially important -- because it's walking our talk and not just saying to other nations "since you're so screwed up you need this" -- the "truth" is we all need it, in our professional worlds and our personal worlds.

Sarah

www.languageofconflict.com

Comment by Shaya Gregory Poku on October 19, 2012 at 9:39am: I could not agree more. There is a real need for ‘developing countries’ to create institutionalized spaces for people “to air grievances and move forward.” As a dedicated peace practitioner and a US citizen with slave ancestors, it is one of my deepest hopes that the US will engage in a comprehensive Truth and Reconciliation process.

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