ICTJ in the News

September 1, 2008

Reparations and Sustainable Development: From Acknowledgement to Social Inclusion

Development Times

DT: Mr. Correa, can you tell us what would be the role of reparations in a post-conflict society? What is their developmental value?

C.K.: "Well, reparations should be a concrete expression of acknowledgment of what the victims suffered and are still suffering as a consequence of violence and human rights violations. When the state is the perpetrator of such violence it has a very important component of recognizing the crimes committed and the suffering caused. The authorities might have changed but the state responsibility remains. Reparations contribute to the provision of a shared inclusiveness of all people by recognizing victims as human beings, as equal citizens and right bearers. This is a basic component of reconciliation and stability. After the exclusion suffered by victims, expressed through violence and denial of their basic rights, societies have to make concrete efforts to make them feel included. This includes material and symbolic efforts, or phrasing it better: material measures that must be accompanied by sensitivity and symbolism that acknowledge the suffering caused.

One basic requirement for development is to guarantee equal rights to all citizens as a foundation that provides sustainability. Reparations can contribute to sustainable development based in justice and equality. It can contribute to provide access to a basic standard of living, especially in societies where those conditions don't exist. But authorities should not disregard their obligation to repair victims by only providing them basic socioeconomic rights that every citizen is entitled to, and specific efforts should be made to improve the conditions of victims, individuals and communities. Addressing the harm suffered by specific communities or regions can also contribute to generate conditions for the development of those that - without such collective reparations - would continue to be marginalized by a society that grows in an unequal way." 

DT: To what extent does the political system in Bosnia and Herzegovina support reparation processes and what is their function? 

C.K.: "I don't feel prepared to answer this question. However, the political system in BiH makes difficult to define and implement comprehensive policies and to acknowledge responsibility - one of the foundations of a reparations program." 

DT: What would be the relation between the truth finding process, reparations and the state? 

C.K.: "Truth finding could help to provide the acknowledgment of what happened and why reparations are needed. If the truth seeking process includes victims and their access to truth telling, it could help people feel that their suffering is recognized. It can also provide legitimacy for the overall policy, so the general society may better understand it. This is especially important in a context where people only see the victims of their side. Also victims need not only to be repaired by the State, but to feel that their fellow citizens know and understand what they have gone through, so it is important for a reparations program to be based on a shared understanding of the crimes committed. 

DT: In the end, please tell us what would be your recommendations for the reparation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina? 

C.K.: "To be comprehensive, i.e. not excluding victims based on their ethnic background, and to be implemented in both entities. It should also encourage self sustainability and not dependency on the State or public services. The reparation process in BiH is based on the degree of disability; it does encourage people to feel handicapped even though they have important capacities to put to work. This criteria also excludes those who may have suffered serious harm but without physical disability. It should especially acknowledge the suffering of women and children."

"Reparations and Sustainable Development: From Acknowledgement to Social Inclusion" originally appeared in the Development Times.