Objective 

The Regional Network for Historical Dialogue and Dealing with the Past, which was active between 2013 and 2018. During this period, we aimed to contribute to historical dialogue and reconciliation efforts in the Caucasus and the Middle East regions by building a regional collaboration network, and in this context, we worked closely with Columbia University's Institute for the Study of Human Rights.

Background

Our first activity aimed at creating a regional network in this field was a workshop called "A Network for Historical Dialogue and Reconciliation," held in Istanbul from October 24 to 26, 2013. The meeting was attended by representatives from a total of 14 institutions working in the fields of historical dialogue, reconciliation, accountability, peace, conflict resolution, human rights, and transitional justice from Turkey, as well as Cyprus, Armenia, Lebanon, Croatia, Palestine, and Israel. As a result of this first workshop, practical steps were taken to establish a regional organization called the "Regional Network for Historical Dialogue and Dealing with the Past" (RNHDP) to bring together academics, activists, and NGOs from the region. These steps include:

• Website: Establishing a website providing information about the activities and members of the regional network. 
• Thematic workshops: Regularly organizing thematic workshops. 
• Summer schools: Preparing weekly intensive educational programs. 

Activities 

Within this framework, between 2013 and 2017, we regularly organized thematic workshops and summer school programs with the participation of NGO representatives from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus regions. We took the "Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability (AHDA)" at Columbia University's Institute for the Study of Human Rights as a model that shaped the regional network.

1. Website 

A regional website providing information about member institutions and their work was established at http://dealingwiththepast.org/ in 2014. This site not only provides information about conflicts in the region but also includes information about civil society organizations that have participated in the network's activities. 

2. Thematic Workshops

The aim of thematic workshops was to create a space for discussion and collaboration where NGOs from the Middle East and the Caucasus regions working in the fields of peace, conflict resolution, human rights, and transitional justice could share knowledge and experience. We have organized two workshops for this purpose so far: 

• "Truth and Encounters: Dynamics of Dialogue Spaces," January 15-16, 2015, Istanbul. 
• "Mapping Forced Disappearances and Losses in the Caucasus, Middle East, and North Africa," January 27-28, 2017, Istanbul.

3. Summer Schools 

As part of our regional collaboration network, we organized summer school programs with the participation of young NGO professionals from the region. The content of the 2015 and 2016 summer schools consisted of conceptual and practical discussions on historical dialogue and transitional justice. 

Current Status 

Today, as part of our activities within the Regional Network for Historical Dialogue and Confrontation with the Past, we no longer organize regular workshops and summer school programs. The main reason for this is our difficulty in securing regular funding for these activities. However, we continue our regional solidarity, learning, and relationship-building efforts. In this regard, our new strategy is to focus on a single issue and develop regional relationships around it. The starting point for this approach was the second thematic workshop we held on January 27-28, 2017, regarding forced disappearances and losses. It was discussed that a comparative analysis on the issue of disappearances would provide an important knowledge base for solidarity activities. 

As a result of the consensus of those who attended this workshop, we decided to produce a publication on forced disappearances and losses in the Caucasus, Middle East, and North Africa. As a result of this process, our book titled "Any Hope for Truth? A Comparative Analysis of Forced Disappearances and Missing Persons in the Caucasus, Middle East, and North Africa" was published in 2018. Today, we continue our efforts to strengthen learning and solidarity in the countries covered by the book, and as part of this effort, we regularly conduct working visits to the countries discussed in the book. The first of these visits took place in November 2019 in Cyprus.