Panel Discussion to Highlight Perspectives from Colombian and Kenyan Truth Commissions, Those in Exile

Panel Discussion to Highlight Perspectives from Colombian and Kenyan Truth Commissions, Those in Exile

Washington, D.C. – April 6, 2023 – Humanity United in partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs and its Kroc Institute for Peace will hold a panel discussion where speakers will share their distinctive perspectives, roles, experiences, and lessons learned as part of multiple truth commission inquiries.

The event, Overcoming Violence in Wounded Societies: Perspectives from the Colombian and Kenyan Truth Commissions, will take place at 11 a.m. EST on Wednesday, April 12 at the Keough School’s Washington Office. Those interested in attending can register to attend in person or via Zoom.

The panel will feature widely acclaimed peacebuilder Francisco de Roux, the former chair of Colombia’s Truth Commission; Tecla Namachanja Wanjala, former vice and acting chair of Kenya’s Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission and a visiting research fellow at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies; and two Colombian attestants to the armed conflict. The discussion will be moderated by Leslie Wingender, Director of Peacebuilding at Humanity United.

“It is significant to witness who is part of this event: it should not be lost on us that we will engage in a deep discussion with those who have left their country due to the armed conflict and built a life in the US and they will be speaking with the former Presidents of the Colombian and Kenyan Truth Commissions, two individuals equally committed to healing their societies.” said Leslie Wingender, Director, Peacebuilding at Humanity United. “The event itself is the meeting of various perspectives and engagements, each in their own way and yet part of a broader common purpose to seek truth and healing.”

Following the panel discussion, Humanity United invites all attendees to a special photo exhibition featuring work from FotoDiásporas, which showcases works and narratives of 15 Colombians and their experiences of being forced to live in exile. Two of the panel speakers were part of this project and will be there to speak to attendees about their work.

For more information, visit the event page.

About Humanity United

Humanity United is a philanthropic organization dedicated to cultivating the conditions for enduring peace and freedom by supporting partners who are working to advance human dignity and change the systems that enable violent conflict and human exploitation around the world. Together, we strive to foster a more inclusive, free, and peaceful world where all people have an opportunity to flourish.