18 May 2011 - 28 June 2011

Transitional justice is a widespread concept in the field of human rights work and advocacy today. It is part of the long term process of reconciliation in post-conflict and transition societies and it covers a range of activities and tools. Transitional justice aims at acknowledging past wrongdoings, severe human rights abuses or crimes against humanity and bringing its perpetrators to justice. Criminal prosecution, official investigation commissions, reparations and restitution programs as well as memorialisation efforts are part of these processes. The long term objective of reconciliation processes and transitional justice is to (re-)establish civic trust in state institutions, e.g. independent courts, police, parliaments and among the society as such. Thus it aims to establish stability and peace in war or conflict-torn societies after periods of severe injustice, violence or suppression.

Transitional justice and the process of reconciliation cover a range of formal and informal activities, institutions and mechanisms. To name a few: fact finding missions, truth and reconciliation commissions, history commissions, international tribunals or domestic courts, formal recognition and apologies, reparations and restoration, vetting of former civil or military servants, exhumation of victims, establishing memorials or reforming the security sector (police and military). The establishment of these mechanisms is part of international human rights and humanitarian aid policies and international law developed by the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union or the Organization of American States. Civil society actors, NGOs and development agencies are part of the whole process and help to establish commissions and share expertise.

This e-learning course will give a detailed introduction to the (increasing) number of political mechanisms, tools as well as legal instruments that promote and facilitate transitional justice and reconciliation processes. It will outline who the main actors and agents are in these fields, such as international organisations, NGOs or states. Participants will apply these mechanisms on case studies and develop their own tools and possibilities to contribute to these processes.

Course outline

Week 1. Concepts and evolution of transitional justice and reconciliation
Week 2. Legal and political basis for transitional justice and reconciliation
Week 3. Mechanism of long term reconciliation
Week 4. Institutions, actors and agencies
Week 5. Prosecution and combating impunity
Week 6. (Re-)establishing solid and peaceful societies

Level: professional , post-graduate graduate

Location: Internet (e-learning course)

Participants: practitioners and professionals who want to gain knowledge in the field of transitional justice, university students of international law, international relations, politics and other areas and NGO staff members. Participants should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.

Tuition, fee, lodging: The course tuition fee is US$ 435 (tuition for auditors is US$ 165). There are no discounted tuition rates or scholarships available for this course. Further information and application form can be found at: www.hrea.org/transitional-justice.

Contact Information:
Sandra Quintin
Distance Learning Programme
HREA
689 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-3302
USA
Tel: +1 617 301-4379
Fax: +1 617 249-0278
E-mail: applications@hrea.org
Web: http://www.hrea.org