CURRENT PROJECT

Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation

Advancing policy and practice through collaboration and mutual learning

A bridge from below | A bridge from below | Photo: Mohd KhairilX, Shutterstock.com

The Hub strengthens partnerships and advances the policy and practice of transitional justice through mutual learning and knowledge generation, capacity development and advice.

Timeframe: January 2022 - February 2024


After violent conflicts or authoritarian rule, the past remains present. It impacts the everyday lives of victims, survivors and their families as well as societies and politics, even decades later. Different measures to acknowledge and redress gross human rights violations, war crimes and other injustices – frequently referred to as
'transitional justice' – play an important role in paving the way from socio-political violence to peaceful co-existence, social cohesion, democracy and the rule of law. Wherever dealing with the past processes take place, they encounter many challenges, setbacks and compromises – with Germany being no exception in this regard.

The Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation is a joint initiative of the Berghof Foundation and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, in collaboration with partners from Germany and across the world. The Hub seeks to strengthen partnerships and to advance the policy and practice of transitional justice through dialogue and mutual learning, practice-oriented knowledge generation, capacity development and advice.

It does so by collaborating with a variety of actors from the global North and South and by linking German experiences in dealing with the past with current international transitional justice processes and debates.

Background

Background
In July 2019, the German government adopted the “Interministerial Strategy to Support Dealing with the Past and Reconciliation (Transitional Justice)” as part of the implementation of the government's “Guidelines on Preventing Crises, Managing Conflicts, Promoting Peace”.

The strategy aims to strengthen Germany’s engagement in the field of transitional justice, to further approaches and instruments as well as interministerial cooperation. Four priority areas are identified:

  1. linking dealing with the past with a prevention agenda
  2. empowering communities particularly affected by violence and transforming conflict narratives
  3. promoting gender equality in transitional justice processes
  4. using the multi-faceted experience gained from addressing Germany's past

Furthermore, the strategy highlights the importance of enhanced national and international partnerships between state, civil society and academia, collaboration and mutual learning.

Goals of the Hub
Against this background, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Berghof Foundation took the initiative to establish the Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation. The Hub seeks to strengthen partnerships and to advance the policy and practice of transitional justice. Its objectives are to

  1. facilitate networking and collaboration between relevant stakeholders on the national and international level
  2. strengthen and enrich mutual learning
  3. deepen knowledge of and advance approaches to dealing with the past and reconciliation processes
  4. enhance Germany’s engagement in the field of transitional justice and dealing with the past

Key actors and target audience
The Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation is built on a collaborative approach with partners from Germany and across the world, including a broad network of relevant German and international stakeholders. The envisioned shared space for mutual learning, knowledge generation and advice engages a diverse range of actors and target audiences, including:

  • German state and civil society actors that are active in transitional justice, remembrance work and civic education
  • Civil society organisations and research institutions that are active in the field of transitional justice
  • Hubs and platforms working on transitional justice and related issues in (post-)conflict contexts
  • Political decision-makers in Germany

Partners and Funding

The Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation is a joint initiative of the Berghof Foundation and the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development in collaboration with partners from Germany and across the world. It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

Activities

  1. Dialogue event (5 July 2022): Transitioning to the future - What's next for transitional justice in challenging times?
  2. Dialogue event (19 January 2023, Berlin and online): Enabling change - Gender-transformative approaches to transitional justice
  3. Conference (18-19 April 2023, Berlin): Agency – Power – Space: Exploring the transformative potential of transitional justice
  4. Dialogue event (19 April 2023, Berlin and online): Beyond box ticking - How people-centred transitional justice contributes to sustainable peace

Further reading

Key documents:

Selected Berghof publications:

 

 

 

Project lead

Natascha Zupan
Head of the Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation
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Team members

Matthias Auer
Beatrix Austin
Johanna Lober
Barbara Unger

 


Media contact

Florian Lüdtke
Media and Communications Manager
+49 (0) 177 7052758
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