Over 75 international experts, policy-makers, researchers and peace activists will attend two international summer schools running in parallel at the Magee campus this week.
Participants from 21 countries as far afield as Sri Lanka, Serbia, Romania, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Nigeria, Sweden, Australia and USA will join local practitioners and scholars for an intense week of reflection on state-of-the art learning and practice in managing, resolving and transforming conflict.
The summer schools are run jointly by INCORE and by the Transitional Justice Institute.
The Summer School on Transitional Justice is in its third year with this year’s theme focuses on ‘Gender, Conflict and Transition’.
The 11th INCORE International Summer School is well established and the international networking opportunities provided over the years has built into a network of nearly 600 practitioners worldwide.
Professor Brandon Hamber, INCORE Director said: “The INCORE Summer School continues to attract high quality delegates from around the world. This points to the ongoing significance of Northern Ireland and its peace process in international consciousness, and highlights that the University’s Magee campus remains synonymous with high quality conflict transformation work globally.”
"The Summer School is also significant in other ways, it ends on the day the World Cup begins in South Africa, and this year we have our own league of nations at Magee. In the year when the Derry is being considered as a City of Culture of 2013, this demonstrates how important the University is in this bid.”
TJI Director Professor Fionnuala Ni Aolain said: “The TJI Summer School focused on gender and transition issues brings much needed attention to an under-appreciated aspect of conflict and conflict transition in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.”
One of the high profile joint events is a lecture from Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on Wednesday, 9 June, entitled, 'Peace Processes and the Role of National Human Rights Institutions'.
Professor Christine Bell, Associate Director of the TJI, said: “We are delighted that Monica McWilliams will address this year’s International Summer School Lecture to give our participants an insight into the role of national human rights institutions in peace processes, with a particular focus on the Northern Ireland peace process.”
The TJI is also hosting an art exhibition at the Playhouse in Derry entitled “Our View”, with TJI Artist in Residence Rita Duffy.
INCORE’s week-long summer school includes modules on:
- Evaluation of Peacebuilding Programmes
- Interpersonal Reconciliation after Violent Political Conflict
- Peacemaking and Peacebuilding: Exploring the Lessons Learned from Northern Ireland.
TJI’s week-long programme examines such issues as:
- Truth Processes and Women
- Security Reform and Gender
- International Criminal Law for gender based crimes
- Social and Economic Rights in the context of transition.
INCORE also runs a Northern Ireland programme to provide participants with an opportunity to network with others, gaining a deeper insight into Northern Ireland.
The Summer School this year was also supported with bursaries for local participants sponsored by the Community Relations Council. The International Development Research Centre has also supported the participation of Colleen Duggan from the staff. She will be co-facilitating the Evaluation of Peacebuilding Programmes module.