Programme of the international conference

Transcription

1 Programme of the international conference MEMORY, TRUTH AND JUSTICE IN CHECHNYA: The role of human rights archives in combating impunity Käfigturm Bern, 26 27th October 2011 Organised by the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) Sponsored by the Open Society Institute Photo: Zainap Gashaeva / Chechen Archive Contact & Information: Society for threatened peoples Switzerland (STP) Shoma Chatterjee (Project Coordinator), Schermenweg 154, CH Ostermundigen, Switzerland Tel: ++41 (0) / shoma.chatterjee@gfbv.ch / Website:

2 Introduction Understanding of the role archives have to play within the human rights paradigm has increased dramatically in the last decade. Archives preserve not only historical memory, but also historical accountability. In Chechnya, where a protracted war characterised by systematic abuses carried out with impunity has largely been forgotten, safeguarding documentation recording human rights violations and war crimes can provide a crucial entry-point for dealing with human rights in fragile contexts. In today s digital age moreover, moving imagery has become a key tool in the fight against human rights violations. This type of documentation plays an increasingly pivotal role at international legal fora, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Without proper handling and restorative care however, audiovisual materials can rapidly deteriorate - putting invaluable information about rights abuses at risk. In order to preserve such invaluable documentation, the STP has been working with award-winning Chechen human rights activist, Zainap Gashaeva, to create an audiovisual archive of the conflict in Chechnya since These videos are now stored safely in Switzerland, preserved and made available to researchers. The Chechen Archive is a testament to the memory of the people affected by the wars as well as a tool in the pursuit of greater accountability for the grave human rights violations which were committed. Grosny, Photo: Zainap Gashaeva / Chechen Archive Aim In marking the occasion of the 6 th UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, this conference seeks to elaborate implementable steps for the Chechen Archive and similar initiatives in the fields of producing, maintaining and using human rights archives for public and legal redress. By connecting human rights experts and documentation specialists in a series of expert panels and workshops, participants will have the opportunity to exchange, discuss and develop sustainable strategies on how archives of human rights violations can be used as an instrument to combat impunity and serve the affected communities to safeguard collective historical memory. To ensure space for open discussion and exchanges, the conference will be held under Chatham House rules.

3 Programme overview Wednesday, 26th October (part I) pm: Welcome lunch for conference participants 1.15pm Keynote: Why are we here? Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold, President Society for threatened Peoples / Association Chechen Archive pm Roundtable: Producing and maintaining audiovisual documentation of human rights violations best practices and lessons learned Participants: Ruslan Bazgiev, Collaborator Campaigns and Projects, Society for threatened Peoples, Switzerland Grace Lile, Director of Operations and Archives, WITNESS, USA Csaba Szilagyi, Head Human Rights Program, Open Society Archives, Hungary Alyona Kozlova, Archivist, Memorial, Russia Moderator: Shoma Chatterjee, Collaborator Campaigns and Projects, Society for threatened Peoples, Switzerland This session will bring together archive experts and activists working in the field of human rights documentation. The aim of the session is to discuss best practices in archival methodology for audiovisual documentation; legal issues concerning security and access to sensitive data; and international standards for documenting human rights violations and witness testimonies pm: Presentations and framework for discussion pm: Coffee break pm: Discussion and summary of conclusions 4.30pm: Close Grosny, Photo: Chechen Archive

4 Wednesday, 26th October (part II) pm Podium discussion: The role of human rights archives in combating impunity This session will bring together prominent experts working in the field of archives, transitional justice and human rights in fragile contexts. The aim of the session is to discuss the role of Switzerland and international institutions in supporting archives and their role in dealing with the past. The growing significance of documentation, in particular moving imagery, to advocate for accountability and combat impunity for grave human rights violations will also be addressed. 5.30pm: Open and film screening 6 7pm Podium speakers: Walter Kälin, Professor of international and constitutional law, University of Bern, Switzerland Elisabeth Baumgartner, Senior Advisor, Dealing with the Past Program, Swisspeace, Switzerland Zainap Gashaeva, Award-winning Chechen Human Rights Activist, Collaborator Society for threatened Peoples, Russia/ Switzerland Moderator: Gregor Sonderegger, Deputy Head of News, Swiss National Television, Switzerland pm: Discussion 7.30pm: Reception and close Grosny, Photo: Chechen Archive

5 Thursday, 27th October 9am: Summary and wrap-up of previous day 9.15am 12.30pm Panels: Memory, truth and justice preserving a peoples story of repression and advocating for accountability Participants: Tanya Lokshina, Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch, Russia (to be confirmed) Ilya Utmelidze, Collaborator and Legal Advisor of the Natalya Estemirova Documentation Centre, Norway Elena Ivanova Mijango Guzmán, Archive Researcher, Guatemalan National Police Archive, Guatemala Moderator: Irena Brezhna, Author, Journalist and Chechen Expert, Switzerland am Panel I: The right to know - preserving the historical record for public redress This session will bring together experts to discuss the role and obligations of a State to safeguard historical memory and make documentation of State repression available for public redress. The aim of the session is to explore possibilities for preserving the historical record and the role of civil society in advocating for accountability by analysing best practices in these fields am: Discussion am : Coffee break 11am 12pm Panel II: The right to justice accountability for crimes committed with impunity Participants: Andreas Schüller LL.M. (adv.), European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Germany Usam Baysaev, Collaborator of the Natalya Estemirova Documentation Centre, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Chechnya Minkail Ezhiev, Head of the Human Rights Centre of the Chechen Republic, Chechnya Moderator: Marcel von Arx, Programme Officer Dealing with the Past, Swisspeace, Switzerland This session will bring together experts in the fields of transitional justice, universal jurisdiction and State review mechanisms at the international level. The aim of the session is to analyse possibilities for the international community to pursue greater accountability for human rights violations when the State in question is unwilling or unable to do so itself pm: Discussion 12.30pm: Lunch pm Next steps: A common vision for fighting impunity in Chechnya Participants will be presented with a summary of the preceeding two days sessions and be invited to join discussion groups on the main themes of the conference. The aim of this session is to elaborate concrete steps and an implementable strategy for fighting impunity in Chechnya. Moderator: Angela Mattli, Head of Campaigns and Projects, Society for threatened Peoples, Switzerland 4.30pm: Farewell

6 Conference registration form International conference MEMORY, TRUTH AND JUSTICE IN CHECHNYA: The role of human rights archives in combating impunity October 26th and 27th, Käfigturm Bern, Switzerland Please send registration form to: Society for threatened peoples Switzerland (STP) Schermenweg 154 CH-3072 Ostermundigen or via Fax: or via Registration information: Name:... Organisation:... Address:... Country:... address / telephone:... Please indicate the sessions you would like to attend: Session 1: Roundtable: Producing and maintaining audiovisual documentation of human rights violations best practices and lessons learned October 26th, pm Session 2: Public podium discussion: The role of human rights archives in combating impunity October 26th, pm Session 3: Panel I: The right to know - preserving the historical record for public redress October 27th, am Session 4: Panel II: The right to justice accountability for crimes committed with impunity October 27th, 11 am pm Session 5: Working groups: Next steps: A common vision for fighting impunity in Chechnya October 27th, pm Please note that the number of participants is limited. The deadline for registration is 12th October There is no conference fee, but there will be a collection to cover the costs of the conference.