Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability

by Audrey Kim

Founded in 2011 by Professor Elazar Barkan and Veronika Burget, the Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability (AHDA) aims to connect scholars and practitioners and facilitate historical dialogue. Based at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights, AHDA connects journalists, scholars, artists and film directors, activists, and NGOs who are dedicated to discussion of past conflicts and their resolution. Discussion of the legacy of the past is critical for reconciliation and democratization, especially in post conflict societies.

“If societies coming out of conflict or dictatorship want to break the cycle of violence, they have to acknowledge the past. Perpetrators and victims have different stories of the past, and if you do not acknowledge their narratives, you are excluding them from society. If people do not feel acknowledged, they do not feel part of the national group project. Not acknowledging their past is another abuse of their identity,” said Burget.

A variety of actors may contribute to historical dialogue, including academics and journalists, NGO activists, film makers and artists who deal with human rights abuses in a creative way. AHDA plays a crucial role in connecting these actors to one another and facilitating more cohesive communication. Burget noted that there “is a gap in the sphere of historical dialogue and dealing with the past as societies come out of conflict. There are many protagonists in the field, such as journalists, scholars, artists, but this society is very disconnected. We are founding the first convening body that brings practitioners and scholars together for dialogue.”

In its first year, AHDA has been developing projects and has made significant progress in building networks and facilitating exchange. In mid-December 2011, AHDA affiliates met in Germany at the conference “The Role of Adult Education in Working with the Past and Reconciliation Processes.” On its website, AHDA has compiled a comprehensive list of affiliated organizations and resources to enable more discussion and communication, which is available at the link provided below.

Historical dialogue and accountability reconcile identity issues and different narratives of the past. According to Burget, “An important point of historical dialogue is that… projects can trigger societal discussion of the past and society reaches another level of democracy because it is ready to discuss.” In the long term, this reconciliation of identities and narratives helps societies progress and democratize peacefully. http://hrcolumbia.org/ahda/index

Published in RightsNews Volume 30, no. 2, February, 2012.
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