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	Inheriting the Struggle for Truth by International Center for Transitional Justice   Why Truth About the Past Matters to Youth Today.   Disappearances, killings, torture, displacement, and repression. The repercussions of these terrible crimes are felt long after they are committed. Yet, politicians are often reluctant to carry out the difficult work of uncovering the truth about past atrocities, claiming that the society cares only about the future. But in reality, the burden of a past filled with human rights violations weighs heavily on societies, and in particular on youth.   In recognition of March 24, the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations, ICTJ asked young advocates in six countries why seeking the truth about the past matters to them. We are honored to present Elsa Saade of Lebanon, Ghada Louhichi of Tunisia, Julián Barajas of Colombia, Prativa Khanal of Nepal, Tamara Cremo of Canada, and Touré Issoumaila of Cote d’Ivoire with a platform to be heard globally on this issue. What they have to say concerns us all.   Common to all of them is a practical interest in the truth about the past: if the facts are unknown and the causes left unaddressed, how can they be sure that the same violence won’t be repeated?   Knowing the truth, says Touré, is fundamental “to living in tranquility.” When political violence erupted after the 2010 elections in Cote d’Ivoire, he vividly recalls that people were terrified. “I was afraid of dying,” Touré says, “of seeing myself beaten like a dog in the street.” What tranquility can there be in his country if government and society were to act as if nothing had happened, and the facts were never explained?   The young may experience the consequences of violence even if the abuse was not suffered directly by them. Tamara, of Canada, knows that her grandmother was taken away from her family to live in “Indian Residential Schools,” where she was forbidden to speak her language or to use her traditional name, and where she was told she was worthless. Generations later, Tamara still feels that fear in “seeing the ongoing effects of residential schools in communities today.”   Prativa, of Nepal, speaks to the relentless worry and doubts caused by cases of enforced disappearance. She explains that “the families of victims are forced to endure continued mental trauma for years after the incident has passed; whenever there is a knock at the door late at night, these families continue to hope that it might be their beloved sons, daughters and fathers returning home. To resolve this issue once and for all, it is imperative that the State seeks the truth about what happened.”   At the same time, these youth acknowledge that the truth may be hard to hear. As Elsa, of Lebanon, shares, “I’m ready for the truth, to find out whether [he] died violently or in peace. I prefer to know and live knowing than to have my heart die waiting.”   Another common theme in the discussion is the potential of truth seeking to facilitate mutual recognition in a divided society. According to Julián, of Colombia, official silence shows a lack of respect for victims. In his view, “To stop hiding the truth and to shed light on the acts of cruelty that have taken place can create a higher social consciousness…a society that promotes respect for others.”   In Tunisia, Ghada recognizes that some politicians say that the country is not prepared for the truth and that it’s “not the right time.” The fact is, she reminds us that her country is going through momentous transformation and that some victims of yesterday’s oppression are now parliamentarians and policymakers, who have made the historic decision to create a truth commission.   Building a new life sounds like an empty formulation when fear is still present and the consequences of past abuse are visible through marginalization and poverty. Moreover, the anxiety that untreated conflicts may reemerge, just as violent as before, haunts young activists, who are looking for new ways to address social trauma.   Societies have the right to know the truth about past abuses, and within societies, the young have a unique interest in the facts being revealed and examined. Elsa, urges us to “keep it in your mind: an incomplete past leads to a broken future —know the truth.” As ICTJ marks the International Day for the Right to the Truth, we invite you to join the voices of these six youth in their calls for truth.   * The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) is an international non-profit organization specializing in the field of transitional justice. Visit the related web page
	Shutting down community voices will weaken Government’s ability to make effective reforms by HRLC, ACOSS Australia   22 Dec 2014   Shutting down community voices will weaken Government’s ability to make effective reforms reports Dr Cassandra Goldie.   The Australian Council of Social Service today expressed deep concern at the extensive funding cuts to community sector organisations announced yesterday, including to policy and advocacy work. ACOSS believes this will severely weaken the Federal Government’s ability to engage with the community on the important reforms that lie ahead and deliver an inclusive growth agenda.   “Cutting support for vital community expertise and voices is a major mistake. Community voices play a crucial role in providing on-the-ground advice and an important link connecting communities with government decision-making processes,” said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.   “Peak bodies working in housing and homelessness and disability, among other areas, have all been advised they will not be receiving Government funding for their work in the future, despite the core areas of need and policy priority that they represent.   “Treasurer Joe Hockey has declared that 2015 will be a year of community consultation, yet the government is dismantling the very mechanisms that will allow that to happen effectively.   “It is shocking that the Government would wait until the eve of Christmas to deliver this news, at the very time many community organisations are the most stretched with demands for help.   "We know that 80% of frontline agencies are struggling to meet growing demand for services with 2.5 million people now living below the poverty line. Most of them have been living in a state of uncertainty since the budget decision to withdraw around a quarter of a billion dollars from the Department of Social Services portfolio. Now we are finding out that the very groups that advocate for those services, and the people living in poverty and disadvantage that they represent, will be shut down in the new year.   “This is a major blow to a sector that makes an enormous contribution to our society, not only in providing a lifeline for people and communities in need, but evidence and policy advice to government.   “A strong, independent civil society is essential to a functioning democracy. Defunding these expert voices clearly diminishes our capacity to represent and advocate for the people that we are here to assist. Governments need fearless and frank advice, now arguably more than ever. Business needs community expertise to help us search for common ground on what works. The Australian public needs informed, and sometimes robust public debate. Community organisations are essential to each of these processes.   “The Prime Minister has identified the Cabinet Reshuffle as an opportunity to reset and refocus. We call on the incoming Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Scott Morrison, to reset this decision on funding cuts, recognising that these expert voices in the community sector will be of unique value to his role, bringing independent community views about practical, workable solutions to some of our biggest national challenges.   “The Government has been criticised for being unable to gain public support for many of its unfair budget measures which overwhelmingly impact upon people on the lowest incomes. Now is the time for the Government to listen to these concerns and bring the community together in forging a reform path which is fair and sustainable.   “We urge the Minister to work in partnership with us to enable everyone to participate in our society and have a strong social protection system for anyone who falls into hard times. This is the mark of a strong civil society and will be the measure by which the Government will be judged,” Dr Goldie said.   http://www.acoss.org.au   17 October 2014   Safeguarding our democracy by standing with civil society, by Hugh de Kretser.   When people are free to speak their minds and hold their leaders accountable, governments are more responsive and more effective…If you want strong, successful countries, you need strong, vibrant civil societies: President Obama, remarks at the Clinton Global Initiative 23 September 2014, New York.   Across the globe, civil society advocacy is increasingly being threatened by laws and practices that criminalise protest, prevent association, threaten funding and curtail independence. While the most extreme conduct is occurring in nations like Russia, China and Egypt, the trend isn’t limited to repressive states or transitioning democracies.   In September, Hungarian authorities raided the offices and staff homes of an NGO that distributes Norwegian aid money against the backdrop of government claims of foreign political interference. In Canada, there are fears of politically motivated audits of environmental NGOs, and late last year, the Spanish Government sought to introduce anti-protest laws creating massive fines for minor offences.   Here in Australia, the past two years have seen a range of federal and state laws, policies and statements that signal a clear undemocratic trend towards stifling criticism and protest and restricting NGO advocacy.   Anti-protest laws have been introduced or passed in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. The NSW and federal Governments cut funding to Environment Defenders Offices after a campaign by the Minerals Council. Other community legal centres and Aboriginal legal services have had funding cut for law reform and policy advocacy. In 2012, the Queensland Government imposed gag clauses on NGOs.   In this environment, many government-funded NGOs are avoiding or watering down criticism of governments for fear of having their funding cut in retribution (highlighting the importance of non-government funding for organisations like ours).   Globally, the fight back is happening. Initiatives like the Community of Democracies, the Open Government Partnership, resolutions from UN Human Rights Council and the establishment and work of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association, are all seeking to reverse this trend.   Organisations like the Human Rights Law Centre across the globe are fighting for the core human rights that are vital to enable civil society and democracy to operate; freedom of speech, freedoms of assembly and association and voting rights.   In September, I was invited to join 28 other civil society leaders from around the world in a two week US Government “Standing with civil society” program that explored the importance of civil society freedom and that built the capacity of the participants to advance it. The program culminated in addresses by President Obama at the Clinton Global Initiative and the Open Government Partnership in New York.   President Obama recognised that criticism by NGOs can make governments uncomfortable but noted that “open and honest collaboration with citizens and civil society over the long term – no matter how uncomfortable it is – makes countries stronger and it makes countries more successful, and it creates more prosperous economies, and more just societies, and more opportunity for citizens”.   As I write this, my colleague Anna Brown, along with 16 other human rights advocates, is attending a workshop in Kenya on litigating rights to peaceful assembly and association with Maina Kiai, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association.   This global experience puts Australia’s democratic success in context. Australia has strong and stable democratic institutions and practices and a strong and vibrant civil society. But we can’t take our success for granted. The struggle for basic democratic rights in other nations reinforces not only the importance of what we have and its universality, but also the vital need to resist attempts to wind back what we have achieved over many years.   http://hrlc.org.au/safeguarding-our-democracy-by-standing-with-civil-society/ Visit the related web page
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