Second International Conference on Genocide, Truth and Justice
Organized by Liberation War Museum, Dhaka, Bangladesh
July 30-31, 2009, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Background
In 1971, Bangladesh emerged as an independent, secular and democratic nation through a bloody nine-month struggle from the shackles of a theocratic-militaristic State of Pakistan. In the struggle, to establish the rights of her people, Bangladesh became the victim of one of the worst genocides, costing the lives of three-million Bengali, of the 20th century. Indeed, the issues of genocide remain at the core of the history of liberation of Bangladesh.
Experts ((National Geographic, January 2006) refer 20th century as the ''century of mass murder'' and according to Rummel's data, during this period more than 200 million people have been systematically murdered. Many hoped that the end of the World War II would put to an end of the nightmare of the holocaust and to an end of the age of "mass murder." But, genocide and mass murder continued unabated. One of the most brutal instances of premeditated mass killing was committed upon the people of Bangladesh, most notably upon the marginalized sections of society in the nine months of 1971. Immediately after the genocide in Bangladesh, million perished in Cambodia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, former Yugoslavia, and Guatemala at the hands of forces of hatred. The same specters of killing machines continue its mission in Sudan and other places throughout the globe.
Keeping the above horrific events in perspective, the Liberation War Museum, Dhaka, Bangladesh, hosted an International Conference on Genocide, Truth and Justice in March, 2008. The Second Conference is going to be held on 30th and 31st July, 2009 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The conference will address how societies victimized by genocide can move forward while emphasizing truth, justice and reconciliation and how world community can prevent such brutality from recurring in future.
Contemporary issues to be addressed at the Conference
The world body came to realize that there are many dimensions to the issues of genocide. Genocide is more than a historical event for societies victimized by acts of inhumanity. Not only do the post-genocidal societies face immense difficulties in moving forward, but they also fear the possibilities of genocide recurring. Ongoing massacres in Darfour, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo only reinforce such fear and demand that the issue of genocide be addressed now more than ever in order to learn from history, and move the tormented society forward, and also to ensure that history does not repeat itself again in any corner of the globe.
Currently, many private and public institutions across the world are working tirelessly to address the issues of genocide collectively to uphold justice and achieve peace through reconciliation. For example, on the question of justice, there are many recent developments such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), UN-sponsored Prosecution (ICTY, ICTR), Mixed Tribunals (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cambodia), National Prosecution, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa), etc.
Indeed, the world must come together to address the crimes perpetrated through various genocidal acts.
Objectives of the Conference
In Bangladesh the issue of genocide is a burning topic as it was not addressed properly in its various dimensions and the question of justice and reconciliation has yet to be resolved at national and international level. Increasingly through its work, the Liberation War Museum has been faced with the unresolved legacies of the genocide in Bangladesh. In its role as a catalyst for debate and dialogue, the Liberation War Museum, plans to host a conference that focuses on these issues within a national framework whilst drawing on international experiences of genocide to understand how we as a society can address some of the unresolved legacies of our past and build sustainable, peaceful societies.
In order to carry the task forward a second conference has been planned to be held in July, 2009. this Conference has been arranged in the backdrop of national election held in December, 2008 where the people overwhelmingly voted for an agenda of change, that includes holding the trial of the perpetrators of genocide and war crimes of 1971. The conference will seek:
It is achieving this broader goal that the conference seeks to fulfill the following objectives :
w To draw on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Genocide Convention and reflect upon the national and the international community's experiences and understanding of genocide;
w To bring together the research and understanding of genocide perpetrated in different parts of the world at different phases of history and provide a broader perspective to them;
w To highlight the unresolved issues of truth, justice and peace into the public discourse of Bangladesh and assist the effort of the government to organise the war crimes trial.
w To start a process of identifying the perpetrators of genocide in Bangladesh and develop a broad platform/ network to ensure that justice is meted out to those responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity;
w To develop strategies for advocacy, lobbying, and awareness around the recognition of the Bangladesh genocide and related unresolved issues of justice and truth seeking;
w To establish institutional linkages of sites of memory, academic centres of Bangladesh with other similar organizations and initiate coordinated research programmes and studies;
Discussion Opportunities
The planned conference will help to broaden the understanding and concepts behind different activities and practices relevant to genocide. The interaction with reputed international academics, legal experts, activists and the exchange of experiences among different nations with history of genocidal atrocities will assist in the ongoing effort towards truth seeking, promoting justice and a culture of peace and reconciliation.
This conference will also assist in recalling the Bangladesh genocide back onto the global agenda. Moreover, the Conference will raise awareness amongst citizens of Bangladesh and expatriate Bangladeshis around the need for truth and justice initiatives and strengthen the initiative to bring the war criminals of the 1971 war of independence to justice. Further it will highlight the Bangladesh experience in contributing to the national and international fields of genocide and conflict studies. It will also provide impetus to deepen the genocide studies in Bangladesh and facilitate the creation of a Centre for Genocide and Peace Studies.
The Conference will focus on three themes
a. Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes
b. Beyond Violence : Trial Justice and Peace
'Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes' will focus on
a. Documentation and Archiving Genocide
b. Genocide and Complicity
c. Trauma and Tribulation of the Victims
e. Comparative Genocide Studies
'Beyond Violence : Trial, Justice and Peace' will deal with
a. Global Research and Studies on Genocide : Building an Alliance
b. International Criminal Court, Transitional Justice and Genocide Trial
c. Bangladesh Genocide and Trial of the Perpetrators
d. Preventing Genocide
Registration and Call for Papers
The conference will be held from 30th to 31st July, 2009 and academics, jurists, educators, artists, researchers, activists are being invited to submit paper on the themes of conference.
A number of prominent personalities are being lined up to deliver keynote speeches at the conference.
The registration fee for the conference is $200.00 for the participants. This fee will cover attendance to the sessions, lunch and tea, ticket to cultural programme and a copy of the intended book. Hotel rooms will be blocked out near the venue at preferential prices. The student attendees can apply for a waiver of registration fee.
Those presenting papers will not need to pay the registration fee. In case of need local hospitality will be provided to the presenters.
The interested persons are requested to make submission by 30 June, 2009.
Participants
Important personalities, such as representatives from the International Criminal Court and International and legal prosecutors involved in different war crime tribunals, will be invited. Academics and researchers of reputable institutions as well as UN bodies such as the International Council of Jurists will also be invited. In addition, representatives from Yugoslavia, South Africa, Rwanda, Cambodia and other nations will share their experience and views on genocide.
Audience
A special program to involve the local population including witnesses, victims of genocide and members of young generation will be arranged. Students and faculty members from the departments of Peace and Conflict Studies, History, Law, Sociology, International Relations, Political Science, Women Studies etc. will attend plenary sessions of the Conference.
Impact and Future Steps
By engaging the participants on the issue of genocide we hope to broaden the concept of the participants as well as contribute in establishing network and contact among them which will enrich the international community. For Bangladesh (on the question of genocide, truth and justice) the international perspective and understanding generated by the Conference will be of much help in addressing the problem.
The Liberation War Museum itself is expected to be greatly benefited from the Conference in terms of new ideas gained from the exchanges with people from across the world and also in highlighting the new role of Museum as a platform for international exchange on a burning question from the nation's past.
For Contact and Further Information
Liberation War Museum
5 Segun Bagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Phone : 88-02-9559091 u Fax : 88-02-9559092
E-mail : <mukti@citechco.net>
Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh
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