Minutes of the Transitional Justice Working Group Meeting — Erbil — 5 آب 2003 Arabic

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 concept of forgiveness, The possibility of a Truth (and Reconciliation) Commission, Establishing monuments, memorials, and museums. 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. Subcommittee for Accountability and Reconciliation Subcommittee for Compensation Subcommittee for Legal Reform Subcommittee for Investigations 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: Introduction of Transitional Justice Working Group members Last Week’s Minutes Overview of Transitional Justice Workshop held on August 4, 2003 Establishment of Transitional Justice Subcommittees: Accountability and Reconciliation Subcommittee Legal Reform Subcommittee Compensation Subcommittee Investigations Subcommittee Election of Iraqi chairpersons for each Subcommittee Set time and place for ongoing subcommittees