Documentation training for activists from Afganistan and Nepal

ICTJ and USIP organized documentation training with the support of Truth, Justice, and Memory Studies on August 15 - 19, 2011 in Istanbul. In sum, 31 human rights activists (19 from Afghanistan, 6 from Nepal and 6 from Turkey) participated in the training. The training covered the following topics: the introduction of country contexts; the essentials of documentation; advocacy; documentation strategy; the essentials of documenting gender-based violations; Burma’s documentation experience; and Martus software. On Saturday, the participants visited the Saturday Mothers’ protest. [1] The activists and trainers came to a consensus on further cooperation and sharing experience after the training had finished. Although each of these three countries has a different history and different dynamic of conflict, the participating civil society organisations can learn from each other in the area of transitional justice.

[1] Saturday Mothers are the families of missing persons who demand the punishment of responsible state officials and the recognition of the truth.