Children, Education and Reconciliation, Innocenti Working Paper No. 2010-10. Florence, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

Alan Smith

Children, Education and Reconciliation, Innocenti Working Paper No. 2010-10. Florence, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

Research output: Non-textual form › Web publication/site

Abstract

This paper examines truth and reconciliation commissions that have made reference to a longer-term role for education in coming to terms with the past and contributing towards future reconciliation. The countries reviewed are Guatemala, Liberia, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Timor-Leste. Some have developed strategies for children‟s participation and made recommendations for inclusion in the formal school curriculum. However, recommendations regarding a role for education have usually been very general in nature, with little specification of what is expected of educators in practical terms and little follow-through by education authorities. The paper therefore identifies a number of challenges if education is to have a role in truth and reconciliation. It also identifies potential areas for educational development and recommendations for future actions.

Original language	English
Publisher	UNICEF
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 2010

Bibliographical note

Reference text: Abrams, Elliot; Robert I. Rotberg and Dennis Thompson (eds) (2001) ‘Truth v. Justice: The Morality of Truth Commissions’ Policy Review, Princeton University Press.

Bakker, Christine (2003) ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in Guatemala and Peru: The Children’s Perspective’ complete date and source

Bar-Tal, Daniel (2000) ‘From Intractable Conflict Through Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation: Psychological Analysis’ Political Psychology, Vol. 21, No. 2

Beristain, Carlos Martin (1998) ‘The value of memory’, Project for the Reconstruction of a Historical Memory in Guatemala. Retrieved October 2007 from:
http://www.fmreview.org/text/FMR/02/07.htm.

Boraine, Alex (2000). A Country Unmasked: Inside South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Oxford University Press.

Blumenson, Eric (2006) ‘The Challenge of A Global Standard of Justice: Peace, Pluralism, and Punishment at the International Criminal Court’ Suffolk University Law School Faculty Publications. Paper 22. The Berkeley Electronic Press. Retrieved October 2007: http://lsr.nellco.org/suffolk/fp/papers/22

Brouneus, Karen (2003) ‘Reconciliation- Theory and Practice for Development Cooperation’ SIDA.

Chaitlin, Julia (2003) ‘Narratives and Storytelling’, Beyond Intractability. Retrieved October 2007: http://beyondintractability.org/essay/narratives/

Gibson, James L. (2003) ‘Overcoming Apartheid: Can Truth Reconcile a Divided Nation?’ Institute for Justice and Reconciliation

Hamber, Brandon and Grainne Kelly (2005) ‘A Place for Reconciliation? Conflict and locality in Northern Ireland’, Democratic Dialogue Report 18. Retrieved October 2007:
www.brandonhamber.com/publications/Report%20A%20Place%20for%20Reconciliation.pdf

Hayner, Priscilla (2002) ‘Justice in Transition: Challenges and Opportunities’, International Center for Transitional Justice. Presentation to the 55th Annual DPI/NGO Conference Rebuilding Societies Emerging from Conflict: A Shared Responsibility. United Nations, New York, NY.

Hayner. Priscilla. (2004) ‘Truth Commission’, The Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Vol. 3, pp1045-1047. Retrieved October 2007:
http://ictj.org/static/TJApproaches/Truthseeking/macmillan.TC.eng.pdf

International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) ‘Part 9: Community Reconciliation’ from CAVR Final Report. Retrieved September 2007:
www.ictj.org/static/Timor.CAVR.English/09-Community-Reconciliation.pdf
International Save The Children Alliance (2008) Where Peace Begins. Education’s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, London.

Irin News (18 June 2002) ‘RWANDA: Gacaca courts system becomes operational’, Irin News. Retrieved September, 2007:
http://irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=28376&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA

(18 January 2005) ‘RWANDA: Investigations begin for Gacaca genocide trials’, Irin News. Retrieved October 2007: http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=451062005

(21 September 2006) ‘RWANDA: Community service for tens of thousands of genocidaires’, Irin News. Retrieved October 2007:
http://irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55661&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA

Popkin, Margaret and Naomi Roht-Arriaza (1995) ‘Truth as Justice: Investigatory Commissions in Latin America’, American Bar Foundation.

International Save the Children Alliance (2006) ‘Rewrite the Future: Education for Children in Conflict-Affected Countries’, International Save the Children Alliance. Cambridge House, London.

Kaminer, Debra and Dan J. Stein, Irene Mbanga, and Nompumelelo Zungu-Dirwayi (2001) ‘The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa: relation to psychiatric status and forgiveness among survivors of human rights abuses’, British Journal of Psychiatry, 178, 373-377.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) (2002) ‘Creating Space for Traditional Peace-Building Mechanisms in Africa; Inter-Faith Peace Summit: Rediscovering Indigenous Conflict-Resolution Practices’. Retrieved October 2006:
www.lutheranworld.org/news/lwi/en/1088.en.html

Scharf, Michael P. (1997) ‘The Case for a Permanent International Truth Commission’, Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law Vol. 7, pg. 375. Retrieved October 2006:
www.law.duke.edu/journals/djcil/articles/DJCIL7P375.HTM

Shriver, Donald W. Jr. (1995) An Ethic for Enemies; Forgiveness in Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Traynor, Ian (10 July 2003) ‘Massacre children testify in Serb trial; Four Kosovans relive slaughter they survived in back garden’, The Guardian. Retrieved September 2006:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,995043,00.html

UNICEF (2006) ‘Children associate, as victims and witnesses, in post-conflict accountability processes. Children and truth and reconciliation commissions’ Retrieved September 2006:
http://unicef-irc.org/cgibin/unicef/research/main.sql?file=scheda_projects.sql&id=171

UNICEF (2003) Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report For the Children of Sierra Leone; Child-Friendly Version, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Accra, Ghana.

UNMIL (2006) ‘Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission inaugurated; SRSG Doss announces $500,000 donation from UNDP’

Wallis, Daniel (7 August 2006) ‘Ancient rituals may help end brutal war’, The Scotsman. Retrieved Sept 2007:
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1142012006

Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children (2005) Youth Speak Out: New Voices on the Protection and Participation of Young People Affected by Armed Conflict, New York.

Keywords

education
conflict
reconciliation
transitional justice
truth reconciliaion commission

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Cite this

@misc{c587a5669ab14005ba18cb35bb026ae6,

title = "Children, Education and Reconciliation, Innocenti Working Paper No. 2010-10. Florence, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre",

abstract = "This paper examines truth and reconciliation commissions that have made reference to a longer-term role for education in coming to terms with the past and contributing towards future reconciliation. The countries reviewed are Guatemala, Liberia, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Timor-Leste. Some have developed strategies for children‟s participation and made recommendations for inclusion in the formal school curriculum. However, recommendations regarding a role for education have usually been very general in nature, with little specification of what is expected of educators in practical terms and little follow-through by education authorities. The paper therefore identifies a number of challenges if education is to have a role in truth and reconciliation. It also identifies potential areas for educational development and recommendations for future actions.",

keywords = "education, conflict, reconciliation, transitional justice, truth reconciliaion commission",

author = "Alan Smith",

note = "Reference text: Abrams, Elliot; Robert I. Rotberg and Dennis Thompson (eds) (2001) {\textquoteleft}Truth v. Justice: The Morality of Truth Commissions{\textquoteright} Policy Review, Princeton University Press. Bakker, Christine (2003) {\textquoteleft}Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in Guatemala and Peru: The Children{\textquoteright}s Perspective{\textquoteright} complete date and source Bar-Tal, Daniel (2000) {\textquoteleft}From Intractable Conflict Through Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation: Psychological Analysis{\textquoteright} Political Psychology, Vol. 21, No. 2 Beristain, Carlos Martin (1998) {\textquoteleft}The value of memory{\textquoteright}, Project for the Reconstruction of a Historical Memory in Guatemala. Retrieved October 2007 from: http://www.fmreview.org/text/FMR/02/07.htm. Boraine, Alex (2000). A Country Unmasked: Inside South Africa{\textquoteright}s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Oxford University Press. Blumenson, Eric (2006) {\textquoteleft}The Challenge of A Global Standard of Justice: Peace, Pluralism, and Punishment at the International Criminal Court{\textquoteright} Suffolk University Law School Faculty Publications. Paper 22. The Berkeley Electronic Press. Retrieved October 2007: http://lsr.nellco.org/suffolk/fp/papers/22 Brouneus, Karen (2003) {\textquoteleft}Reconciliation- Theory and Practice for Development Cooperation{\textquoteright} SIDA. Chaitlin, Julia (2003) {\textquoteleft}Narratives and Storytelling{\textquoteright}, Beyond Intractability. Retrieved October 2007: http://beyondintractability.org/essay/narratives/ Gibson, James L. (2003) {\textquoteleft}Overcoming Apartheid: Can Truth Reconcile a Divided Nation?{\textquoteright} Institute for Justice and Reconciliation Hamber, Brandon and Grainne Kelly (2005) {\textquoteleft}A Place for Reconciliation? Conflict and locality in Northern Ireland{\textquoteright}, Democratic Dialogue Report 18. Retrieved October 2007: www.brandonhamber.com/publications/Report%20A%20Place%20for%20Reconciliation.pdf Hayner, Priscilla (2002) {\textquoteleft}Justice in Transition: Challenges and Opportunities{\textquoteright}, International Center for Transitional Justice. Presentation to the 55th Annual DPI/NGO Conference Rebuilding Societies Emerging from Conflict: A Shared Responsibility. United Nations, New York, NY. Hayner. Priscilla. (2004) {\textquoteleft}Truth Commission{\textquoteright}, The Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Vol. 3, pp1045-1047. Retrieved October 2007: http://ictj.org/static/TJApproaches/Truthseeking/macmillan.TC.eng.pdf International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) {\textquoteleft}Part 9: Community Reconciliation{\textquoteright} from CAVR Final Report. Retrieved September 2007: www.ictj.org/static/Timor.CAVR.English/09-Community-Reconciliation.pdf International Save The Children Alliance (2008) Where Peace Begins. Education{\textquoteright}s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, London. Irin News (18 June 2002) {\textquoteleft}RWANDA: Gacaca courts system becomes operational{\textquoteright}, Irin News. Retrieved September, 2007: http://irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=28376&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA (18 January 2005) {\textquoteleft}RWANDA: Investigations begin for Gacaca genocide trials{\textquoteright}, Irin News. Retrieved October 2007: http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=451062005 (21 September 2006) {\textquoteleft}RWANDA: Community service for tens of thousands of genocidaires{\textquoteright}, Irin News. Retrieved October 2007: http://irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55661&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA Popkin, Margaret and Naomi Roht-Arriaza (1995) {\textquoteleft}Truth as Justice: Investigatory Commissions in Latin America{\textquoteright}, American Bar Foundation. International Save the Children Alliance (2006) {\textquoteleft}Rewrite the Future: Education for Children in Conflict-Affected Countries{\textquoteright}, International Save the Children Alliance. Cambridge House, London. Kaminer, Debra and Dan J. Stein, Irene Mbanga, and Nompumelelo Zungu-Dirwayi (2001) {\textquoteleft}The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa: relation to psychiatric status and forgiveness among survivors of human rights abuses{\textquoteright}, British Journal of Psychiatry, 178, 373-377. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) (2002) {\textquoteleft}Creating Space for Traditional Peace-Building Mechanisms in Africa; Inter-Faith Peace Summit: Rediscovering Indigenous Conflict-Resolution Practices{\textquoteright}. Retrieved October 2006: www.lutheranworld.org/news/lwi/en/1088.en.html Scharf, Michael P. (1997) {\textquoteleft}The Case for a Permanent International Truth Commission{\textquoteright}, Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law Vol. 7, pg. 375. Retrieved October 2006: www.law.duke.edu/journals/djcil/articles/DJCIL7P375.HTM Shriver, Donald W. Jr. (1995) An Ethic for Enemies; Forgiveness in Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Traynor, Ian (10 July 2003) {\textquoteleft}Massacre children testify in Serb trial; Four Kosovans relive slaughter they survived in back garden{\textquoteright}, The Guardian. Retrieved September 2006: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,995043,00.html UNICEF (2006) {\textquoteleft}Children associate, as victims and witnesses, in post-conflict accountability processes. Children and truth and reconciliation commissions{\textquoteright} Retrieved September 2006: http://unicef-irc.org/cgibin/unicef/research/main.sql?file=scheda_projects.sql&id=171 UNICEF (2003) Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report For the Children of Sierra Leone; Child-Friendly Version, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Accra, Ghana. UNMIL (2006) {\textquoteleft}Liberia{\textquoteright}s Truth and Reconciliation Commission inaugurated; SRSG Doss announces $500,000 donation from UNDP{\textquoteright} Wallis, Daniel (7 August 2006) {\textquoteleft}Ancient rituals may help end brutal war{\textquoteright}, The Scotsman. Retrieved Sept 2007: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1142012006 Women{\textquoteright}s Commission for Refugee Women and Children (2005) Youth Speak Out: New Voices on the Protection and Participation of Young People Affected by Armed Conflict, New York.",

year = "2010",

language = "English",

publisher = "UNICEF",

}

TY - ADVS

T1 - Children, Education and Reconciliation, Innocenti Working Paper No. 2010-10. Florence, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

AU - Smith, Alan

N1 - Reference text: Abrams, Elliot; Robert I. Rotberg and Dennis Thompson (eds) (2001) ‘Truth v. Justice: The Morality of Truth Commissions’ Policy Review, Princeton University Press. Bakker, Christine (2003) ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in Guatemala and Peru: The Children’s Perspective’ complete date and source Bar-Tal, Daniel (2000) ‘From Intractable Conflict Through Conflict Resolution to Reconciliation: Psychological Analysis’ Political Psychology, Vol. 21, No. 2 Beristain, Carlos Martin (1998) ‘The value of memory’, Project for the Reconstruction of a Historical Memory in Guatemala. Retrieved October 2007 from: http://www.fmreview.org/text/FMR/02/07.htm. Boraine, Alex (2000). A Country Unmasked: Inside South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Oxford University Press. Blumenson, Eric (2006) ‘The Challenge of A Global Standard of Justice: Peace, Pluralism, and Punishment at the International Criminal Court’ Suffolk University Law School Faculty Publications. Paper 22. The Berkeley Electronic Press. Retrieved October 2007: http://lsr.nellco.org/suffolk/fp/papers/22 Brouneus, Karen (2003) ‘Reconciliation- Theory and Practice for Development Cooperation’ SIDA. Chaitlin, Julia (2003) ‘Narratives and Storytelling’, Beyond Intractability. Retrieved October 2007: http://beyondintractability.org/essay/narratives/ Gibson, James L. (2003) ‘Overcoming Apartheid: Can Truth Reconcile a Divided Nation?’ Institute for Justice and Reconciliation Hamber, Brandon and Grainne Kelly (2005) ‘A Place for Reconciliation? Conflict and locality in Northern Ireland’, Democratic Dialogue Report 18. Retrieved October 2007: www.brandonhamber.com/publications/Report%20A%20Place%20for%20Reconciliation.pdf Hayner, Priscilla (2002) ‘Justice in Transition: Challenges and Opportunities’, International Center for Transitional Justice. Presentation to the 55th Annual DPI/NGO Conference Rebuilding Societies Emerging from Conflict: A Shared Responsibility. United Nations, New York, NY. Hayner. Priscilla. (2004) ‘Truth Commission’, The Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, Vol. 3, pp1045-1047. Retrieved October 2007: http://ictj.org/static/TJApproaches/Truthseeking/macmillan.TC.eng.pdf International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) ‘Part 9: Community Reconciliation’ from CAVR Final Report. Retrieved September 2007: www.ictj.org/static/Timor.CAVR.English/09-Community-Reconciliation.pdf International Save The Children Alliance (2008) Where Peace Begins. Education’s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, London. Irin News (18 June 2002) ‘RWANDA: Gacaca courts system becomes operational’, Irin News. Retrieved September, 2007: http://irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=28376&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA (18 January 2005) ‘RWANDA: Investigations begin for Gacaca genocide trials’, Irin News. Retrieved October 2007: http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=451062005 (21 September 2006) ‘RWANDA: Community service for tens of thousands of genocidaires’, Irin News. Retrieved October 2007: http://irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55661&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA Popkin, Margaret and Naomi Roht-Arriaza (1995) ‘Truth as Justice: Investigatory Commissions in Latin America’, American Bar Foundation. International Save the Children Alliance (2006) ‘Rewrite the Future: Education for Children in Conflict-Affected Countries’, International Save the Children Alliance. Cambridge House, London. Kaminer, Debra and Dan J. Stein, Irene Mbanga, and Nompumelelo Zungu-Dirwayi (2001) ‘The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa: relation to psychiatric status and forgiveness among survivors of human rights abuses’, British Journal of Psychiatry, 178, 373-377. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) (2002) ‘Creating Space for Traditional Peace-Building Mechanisms in Africa; Inter-Faith Peace Summit: Rediscovering Indigenous Conflict-Resolution Practices’. Retrieved October 2006: www.lutheranworld.org/news/lwi/en/1088.en.html Scharf, Michael P. (1997) ‘The Case for a Permanent International Truth Commission’, Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law Vol. 7, pg. 375. Retrieved October 2006: www.law.duke.edu/journals/djcil/articles/DJCIL7P375.HTM Shriver, Donald W. Jr. (1995) An Ethic for Enemies; Forgiveness in Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Traynor, Ian (10 July 2003) ‘Massacre children testify in Serb trial; Four Kosovans relive slaughter they survived in back garden’, The Guardian. Retrieved September 2006: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,995043,00.html UNICEF (2006) ‘Children associate, as victims and witnesses, in post-conflict accountability processes. Children and truth and reconciliation commissions’ Retrieved September 2006: http://unicef-irc.org/cgibin/unicef/research/main.sql?file=scheda_projects.sql&id=171 UNICEF (2003) Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report For the Children of Sierra Leone; Child-Friendly Version, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Accra, Ghana. UNMIL (2006) ‘Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission inaugurated; SRSG Doss announces $500,000 donation from UNDP’ Wallis, Daniel (7 August 2006) ‘Ancient rituals may help end brutal war’, The Scotsman. Retrieved Sept 2007: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1142012006 Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children (2005) Youth Speak Out: New Voices on the Protection and Participation of Young People Affected by Armed Conflict, New York.

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - This paper examines truth and reconciliation commissions that have made reference to a longer-term role for education in coming to terms with the past and contributing towards future reconciliation. The countries reviewed are Guatemala, Liberia, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Timor-Leste. Some have developed strategies for children‟s participation and made recommendations for inclusion in the formal school curriculum. However, recommendations regarding a role for education have usually been very general in nature, with little specification of what is expected of educators in practical terms and little follow-through by education authorities. The paper therefore identifies a number of challenges if education is to have a role in truth and reconciliation. It also identifies potential areas for educational development and recommendations for future actions.

AB - This paper examines truth and reconciliation commissions that have made reference to a longer-term role for education in coming to terms with the past and contributing towards future reconciliation. The countries reviewed are Guatemala, Liberia, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Timor-Leste. Some have developed strategies for children‟s participation and made recommendations for inclusion in the formal school curriculum. However, recommendations regarding a role for education have usually been very general in nature, with little specification of what is expected of educators in practical terms and little follow-through by education authorities. The paper therefore identifies a number of challenges if education is to have a role in truth and reconciliation. It also identifies potential areas for educational development and recommendations for future actions.

KW - education

KW - conflict

KW - reconciliation

KW - transitional justice

KW - truth reconciliaion commission

M3 - Web publication/site

PB - UNICEF

ER -

Children, Education and Reconciliation, Innocenti Working Paper No. 2010-10. Florence, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Cite this