African officials, experts meet over truth commissions, peace process

A two-day high-level conference that deliberates on issues related to truth commissions and peace process in Africa kicked off on Monday at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

The conference has been hosted by AU, in partnership with the Kofi Annan Foundation, and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ).

It deliberates on "Challenging the Conventional: Can Truth Commissions Effectively Strengthen Peace Process?"

The conference has been organized with the aim of sharing, discussing, and reflecting on the experiences gained on truth seeking and peace processes.

It focuses on many of the critical issues that peace mediators and practitioners need to take into account when considering including a truth commission as part of a peace process.

The participants including, senior AU staff and its member states as well as international and national experts are expected to reflect on lessons learned from truth commissions that have emerged from peace processes in Africa and other continents.

In his opening remarks, Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, noted that the conference came at a right moment for AU.

"As we meet here today, we are actively working towards establishment of a Truth Commission for South Sudan and are supporting the Ministry of National Reconciliation in Mali with the establishment of a Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission for that country," said the Commissioner.

He also stated that AU is currently finalizing a Transitional Justice Framework, which is to be presented for adoption of its member states.

"The Transitional Justice Framework will lay a firm foundation for the organization to address issues of accountability, social justice, sustainable peace, healing and reconciliation," said Chergui.

"It will provides key provisions to improve the timeliness, effectiveness and coordination of efforts by states emerging from conflicts and oppressive rule," Chergui added.

Speaking on the occasion, Kofi Annan, Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation, truth seeking and reconciliation has now become an accepted, if not universal, feature of the architecture of post-conflict peace-building.

Stating that the number of truth commissions has grown rapidly, he said Africa is a continent where the most truth commissions have been established, over 18 to date, including the South Africa's landmark Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

David Tolbert, President of the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), reiterated that the conference explores the lessons learned from various African experiences on addressing the right to truth, and contributions of truth to societies emerging from conflicts that are committed to establishing peace and reinforcing their democratic institutions.

Source: XINHUA