Advocacy, Analysis, and Accountability: Developing Informed Approaches to International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law and Human Rights Law in the Asia-Pacific Region
Asia Pacific Transitional Justice and Human Rights
June 22 – July 3, 2009
Bali, Indonesia
In 2009, the Asian International Justice Initiative will hold its
second annual Summer Institute for International Humanitarian Law and
Human Rights in collaboration with the Indonesian National Human
Rights Commission in Bali, Indonesia. This two-week workshop is
designed for participants working across a broad range of fields and
disciplines related to international humanitarian law and human
rights. The workshop is best suited to people working within the Asia
Pacific region or with an Asia Pacific focus. Participants from
Southeast Asia are particularly encouraged to apply. Journalists, non-
governmental organization workers, investigators, monitors, government
agency workers, as well as lawyers and advanced law students from
across Asia as well as internationally will find the workshop relevant
to their work.
This year’s Summer Institute theme is “Transitional Justice and Post-
Conflict Human Rights”. The course focuses on the inter-relationship
between transitional justice and the establishment of robust human
rights institutions (both in the aftermath of violent conflicts and as
a preventative measure to safeguard against State instability and
civil unrest). It centers on the case study of Southeast Asia, asking
participants to analyze both in-country and regional dynamics, but
encompasses a comparative focus as well.
The goal of the course is to engage participants in the key debates
surrounding both: (i) the utility and effectiveness of transitional
justice mechanisms in the region (particularly those which are or have
been utilized in Indonesia, East Timor and Cambodia); and (ii) the
establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Body for the protection and
promotion of human rights. The aim will be to link a study of post-
conflict efforts towards establishing and maintaining peace with that
of ongoing national and regional human rights reform.
The course will ask participants to consider what lessons can be
learned by both the success (and challenges) faced by post-conflict
efforts when considering a rights-based approach to sustaining peace.
Some of the questions that the course will ask are: What is the
relationship (if any) between holding individuals accountable for past
abuse and a State’s support of ongoing promotion and protection of
human rights? Do internationalized trials really promote the rule of
law and have the powerful ‘demonstration effect’ they claim to have?
What is the relationship between establishing the truth and preventing
future atrocities? From a post-conflict perspective, what is the
benefit of building robust human rights commissions? Are they likely
to prevent future conflicts? Are rights-based approaches effective for
sustaining peace? These and many more questions will be debated
throughout the course, which favors an interactive format in which
participants are asked to engage actively in considering these issues.
Participants will be taught by a faculty of experts, predominantly
from the region.
To inquire about the program contact Penelope Van Tuyl, Coordinator,
atsummerinstitute@eastwestcenter.org.
To download a complete brochure and application form, Click below
Application
Brochure
Financial/Housing Form
About the Institute
This year's Summer Institute focuses more specifically on the theme of
'Transitional Justice and Human Rights', with the key focus being the
interrelationship between international(ized) criminal justice and
rights-based approaches to conflict resolution and prevention. The
goal of the course is to engage participants in the key debates
surrounding both: (i) the utility and effectiveness of transitional
justice mechanisms in the region (particularly those which are or have
been utilized in Indonesia, East Timor and Cambodia); and (ii) the
establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Body for the protection and
promotion of human rights. The aim will be to link a study of post-
conflict efforts towards establishing and maintaining peace with that
of ongoing national and regional human rights reform.
Summer Institute 2009 is held in partnership with Komnas-HAM, the
Indonesian National Human Rights Commission.
For more information, click here to go to the East West Center Summer Institute webpage
