Specialty Tracks and Groups

Specialty tracks that relate to peace building - media, the next generation of leaders, and peace education - were developed at previous colloquia in 1999 and 2000. At this year's colloquium there were three specialty tracks for small groups of delegates with specific interests. One focused on transitional justice, another on the media, and a third was designed specifically for the Local Partner Representatives. Each of these tracks included a number of seminars and events that offered the opportunity for interested participants to take part in discussions around these topics.

Transitional Justice Specialty Track
Transitional justice - including a variety of legal, governmental, and societal mechanisms - emerges from the challenges post-conflict societies face as they move from violent conflict or authoritarian regimes to more legitimate and democratic systems.

Activities and mechanisms that address issues of transitional justice include:

• Public or official confrontation/condemnation of a former regime
• International tribunals that deal with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity
• Investigation and prosecution of human rights violations
• National "truth commissions"
• National "historical clarification commissions"
• National "reconciliation commissions"
• Community healing trauma counseling for political violence survivors
• Victim/offender mediation

At least one member of each new delegation from Cambodia, Guatemala, the Philippines, and Rwanda had expertise in transitional justice. Other delegates, returning from numerous conflict areas already in the Waging network, related their own experiences with transitional justice.

Media Specialty Track
Recent events continue to confirm the power of the media to shape our understanding of, and response to, conflicts around the world. A thorough understanding of this power and how to use it can greatly increase the impact of delegates' work. The Media Specialty Track offered a variety of media skills-building sessions, including in-depth discussions of the various media tools available to enhance peace building work; how to shape messages for the press; and hands-on training for using video, digital photography, and the Web. These meetings provided time to share and learn new skills from other delegates and trained media professionals.

Each incoming delegation had at least one member with media experience (as a writer, journalist, radio announcer, TV producer, etc.) who was invited to take part in the Media Specialty Group. They, along with other interested and qualified delegates and had the chance to learn how to use a variety of media (film, still photos, online publishing, etc.), investigate the role and power of the media in peace building (including a discussion with Harvard staff and fellows.). Media Specialty Group members were eligible to speak to local, national, and international media about Women Waging Peace, the colloquium, and their own peace building work in their home communities.

Local Partner Representative Specialty Track
Given the critical role of the Local Partner (LP) Organizations in the Waging network, we invited all LP Representatives to join us at this year's colloquium. This allowed them to discuss the vital role they play in the network and brainstorm program possibilities for the upcoming year.

This specialty track was designed with two main goals in mind: to enhance the role of the Local Partner Representative in the Waging network and to promote good working relationships between all Representatives and Waging staff. Three gatherings werescheduled to provide time for Local Partners to share their successes and challenges and review specific skills that will help tackle some of the tough issues they face throughout the year.

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