Minutes of the Transitional Justice Working Group Meeting
August 5, 2003
The third Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) meeting of the Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice (OHRTJ) was held on August 5, 2003. Representatives from the following organizations were in attendance: the Iraqi Jurists Association, the Iraqi Lawyers Union, Criminal investigative Division (CID), the Iraqi Human Rights Society, Babylon Human Rights Society, Minister of Human Rights from Erbil, Iraqi Judges and Lawyers, representatives from the Ministry of Justice, representatives from political parties, the United Nations, and CPA representatives.
This meeting followed the August 4, 2003 day-long Transitional Justice Workshop. The group spent the first period of discussion fleshing out the concept of reconciliation and how best this approach can be place in an Iraqi context. The group discussed reconciliation in the form of the following areas:
The group agreed that reconciliation will play an important part of the process, but that accountability of perpetrators and compensation for victims are the priority. The more the group discussed reconciliation, the more interested was generated.
The subcommittee also established four subcommittees.
These subcommittees elected Chairpersons and designated a coordinator to oversee and help ensure the groups are working effectively and are well integrated with each others’ activities. The subcommittees plan to meet and develop concepts based on previous works, such as the Future of Iraq Transitional Justice Working Group materials. The subcommittees will report on their work at the 19 August meeting. The subcommittees also plan to expand their subcommittees into the regions and relay their work directly to the governing council in conjunction with the Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice.
TJWG Meeting,
OHRTJ
August 5, 2003
Agenda: