Background
Across the Asia-Pacific region, the struggle for truth, justice, and accountability has intensified as advocates face mounting challenges in a rapidly changing landscape. The post-pandemic world has continued to expose deep fractures in governance, with many countries still grappling with the long-term effects of emergency measures that curbed civil liberties and expanded state power. The civic space remains under threat in several areas, with increased repression, surveillance, and militarization. Conflicts, coups, and authoritarian regimes have further contributed to instability, often leading to heightened levels of violence and the systemic use of sexual violence as a tool of war and repression.
New developments in transitional justice reflect both progress and setbacks. In Myanmar, post-coup violence continues to escalate, raising urgent questions about accountability for mass atrocities, by way of international mechanisms, but also challenges to ensuring sustainable solutions for local and national justice processes. In the Pacific Islands, the climate crisis now intersects with transitional justice issues, as displacement and resource conflict aggravate existing tensions. Meanwhile, across the region, human rights defenders face greater risks, including new anti-terrorism laws that target dissent.
Global conflicts, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine and the renewed violence in Gaza, have far-reaching effects on the region, influencing both domestic and international responses to human rights abuses and the need for robust mechanisms to document war crimes and pursue accountability on a global scale. China’s growing geopolitical influence is another critical factor reshaping the pursuit of justice in the Asia-Pacific. Advocates for human rights and transitional justice must navigate a delicate balance between pursuing justice and managing the shifting power dynamics shaped by these global conflicts and China’s expanding influence.
Compounding these challenges is the rise of strongman leaders, many of whom are linked to military regimes or former dictatorships. Across the region, recent elections have seen a surge in populist, authoritarian figures who prioritize national security over civil liberties and often justify the shrinking of civic space in the name of stability. This trend threatens the gains made in democratic transitions, with leaders in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand tightening control over media, civil society, and judicial independence. These regimes frequently undermine human rights institutions, stifling the voices of victims and survivors, and making the pursuit of justice for past atrocities increasingly difficult. As a result, civil society actors are forced to adapt to an environment where the risks of advocating for accountability and transparency are greater than ever.
Transitional justice remains relevant within this turbulent context. As reaffirmed by UN Secretary General: “We know that transitional justice has the greatest chance of success when it is inclusive, comprehensive and has victims at its heart,” Guterres said. “When it centres on truth and reparations, but also justice. When women participate fully. And when all victims of human rights violations can find meaningful redress https://kathmandupost.com/national/2023/11/01/in-parliament-un-chief-stresses-victim-centric-transitional-justice
This course will explore the evolving role of transitional justice in the Asia-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of survivor-centred approaches. It will critically examine how transitional justice mechanisms can fail to deliver the promises for truth, reparations, justice, and reform. Participants will learn from human rights practitioners and experts who are navigating these turbulent landscapes, pushing innovations in contexts where impunity re-emerges. The course will encourage debate, reflection, and cross-regional collaboration, offering participants the tools to confront the multifaceted challenges of transitional justice in their respective contexts.
As transitions to democracy and accountability remain protracted and nonlinear, strengthening knowledge and expertise across the region is crucial. This course aims to equip civil society actors with the skills to drive policy changes, advocate for victims’ rights, and advance innovative, context-specific solutions in their efforts toward peace and justice.
Objectives
The main objective of this training is to provide an understanding of transitional justice and emerging issues for civil society actors who seek to study and address challenges to justice and peace commonly faced during their work on advocacy with survivors’ groups. More specifically:
- Develop a concrete understanding of transitional justice and accountability, including urgent measures for victims, and locally-led innovations.
- Share best practices and lessons learned on transitional justice and victim-led initiatives.
- Increase familiarity with and ability to apply transitional justice to emerging issues such as gender-based violence, peace and tolerance, and natural resources conflict.
Topics and methods
The training materials and discussions developed during the sessions are experiences and empirical cases involving the participants’ activities. Strengthened by knowledge from other countries and the expertise of each resource person, the training material combines online expert presentations, group discussions, case studies, and experiential learning. Resource persons also participated in providing input on each theme of the discussion. Participants will benefit from the course, including attaining:
- A solid understanding of human rights, transitional justice, and emerging issues, particularly in Asian contexts.
- Training and facilitation led by experts from the field.
- An opportunity to network with participants and practitioners from Asia and beyond.
- A participatory and mutual learning environment.
The topics presented and discussed during the training are:
- Emerging innovations and best practices of Transitional Justice.
- State accountability and impunity: the rise of authoritarianism, militarism, and human rights violations in Asia.
- Right to truth and truth mechanisms.
- Prosecutions for serious crimes.
- Right to remedy and reparation, as well as support for victims.
- Working in partnership with survivors, community-based research, psychosocial healing, documentation, and national and international advocacy.
- Guarantees of non-recurrence and institutional reform.
- Cross-cutting themes and challenges: Gender and conflict, violent extremism, displacement, and natural resource conflicts.
Facilitators and resource persons
The course instructors and guest speakers will be present online, representing diverse fields of expertise, country contexts, and years of experience as human rights practitioners. AJAR also invites scholars to address current issues of interest in human rights and to share their expertise and experience.
Lead resource persons and facilitators
- Atikah Nuraini
- Rene Clemente
Guest Speakers
- Pizuar Hossain (Human rights expert, Bangladesh)
- Khin Ohmar (Human rights activist, Burma)
- Patrick Burgess (Transitional Justice expert, Australia)
- Danang Widoyoko (Activist, Indonesia)
- Benny Giay (Senior human rights expert, Indonesia)
- Jasmina Brankovic (Human rights activist, South Africa)
- Clara Sandoval (Human rights expert, Colombia)
- Yasmin Sooka (Human rights expert, South Africa)
- Pornpen Khongkachonkiet (Human rights lawyer, Thailand)