Mission
The Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) seeks to address unresolved historical legacies in multi-ethnic and multi-cultural societies with the goal of promoting understanding and inclusiveness. The IHJR is a research centre at EuroClio.
Vision
Unresolved historical disputes and injustices are a frequent source of tension or conflict in societies. Disputed historical legacies can be misinterpreted or manipulated to serve partisan political ends, often aggravating prejudice, hatred, and belligerent nationalist sentiments. They can contribute to tensions and discord at the community, national and even regional level. The IHJR was founded in the belief that addressing contentious or disputed historical legacies can promote understanding, tolerance, and reconciliation in divided societies and contribute toward peace-building processes.
Methodology
The IHJR engages respected scholars, public-opinion leaders, decisionmakers, and other stakeholders from diverse sides of a conflict to work together on multi-year projects designed to address contentious historical issues in a meaningful and impactful manner. To this end, the IHJR convenes conferences, seminars, and working groups, and disseminates its results in publications, exhibitions, public forums, and other forms of outreach.
What is Historical Justice?
The concept of Historical Justice refers to the collective sense on the part of a people or its representatives that historic wrongs have been appropriately and adequately addressed. Sources of historical injustice can include slavery, colonialism, political, social or economic oppression, violent or armed conflict, gross violations of human rights, and other transgressions. Historical justice can be achieved through measures such as public apologies, acknowledgment, commemoration or memorialization, and judicial processes. Material compensation is frequently part of these measures, and can include the payment of reparations, payment of punitive damages, and/or the restitution of land or other property.