About the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation
The Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) is a non-governmental organization seated in The Hague, the World Capital of International Justice. IHJR is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of academia and advocacy. Since its inception in 2004, IHJR has been committed to promoting reconciliation, tolerance, and understanding in historically divided societies. To this end, IHJR uses the innovative and effective methodology of shared narratives to engage key local stakeholders in dealing with their past. The organization consists of a devoted group of full-time staff and interns who work passionately to further the Institute’s mission.
IHJR is overseen by an international Executive Committee and an Advisory Board. Two internationally renowned judges chair these two bodies: Justice Richard J. Goldstone and Judge Hisashi Owada, President of the International Court of Justice.
Vision
Many ethnic and nationalist conflicts today are rooted in unresolved historical disputes and injustices. These events are frequently misunderstood and manipulated to serve partisan political ends, often serving public propaganda to fuel prejudice, hatred and destructive nationalist sentiments. The IHJR believes that in confronting and overcoming these distortions of historical reality, reconciliation, tolerance and understanding of “the other” can contribute toward laying the groundwork for stable peace.
Mission
The IHJR seeks to promote reconciliation, tolerance and understanding in divided societies by dispelling public myths of disputed historical legacies. To this end, the IHJR engages respected scholars and public opinion leaders from opposing sides of a conflict to work together to create and disseminate shared narratives that provide reliable facts and commentary as a basis for public debate and discussion. Through these collaborative efforts, the IHJR also seeks to develop networks of engaged citizens from academia, civil society and the media, that work together to confront and avert the misuse of disputed historical legacies.
The IHJR
The Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) works with educational and public policy institutions to organize and sponsor historical discourse in pursuit of acknowledgement, and the resolution of historical disputes. Founded in 2004, the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) is an independent, nonprofit institution based in The Hague.
Recent News
Newsletter
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Annual Reports
2011 has been a fruitful and eventful year as during which the Institute has been able to make a meaningful contribution to the field of transitional justice. This annual report draws special attention to the outcomes of IHJR projects. The year 2011 was marked by the release of 8 volumes on shared history of the former Yugoslavia, the Middle East, Kenya, considerable progress on the project in Armenia and Turkey and a diverse range of dissemination activities.
Also available:
Center for History, Democracy and Reconciliation
The CHDR is an outcome of the IHJR Project in the Former Yugoslavia.
