EDITORIAL

The year 2011 has come to an end and the IJR is already preparing for 2012. In this issue of the newsletter, we feature the final events and publications of the year 2011: Africa’s Evolving Capacities of Conflict Management; the Ashley Kriel Youth Memorial lecture; IJR’s end of year picnic at Buitenverwachting; the Building an Inclusive Society programme’s multi- community-based dialogue on creating inclusive societies and promoting social integration and as a highlight at the end of the year, the release of the findings of the 2011 Reconciliation Barometer.

Even though the monthly newsletter will be on hiatus for the holidays, the IJR webpage continues to be available. We would like to use this last issue of the newsletter to express our gratitude to all our partners, stakeholders and friends.

Enjoy the read.

Ade Camngca
Communications and Public Relations Intern

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Further in this newsletter:
In the media /
Publications/
New appointments

In the Media

>> An ongoing search for Kenyas panacea - The adoption of the Rome Statute and the advent of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have significantly influenced democratic transitions and the rule of law in a number of African countries, but the specific intervention in Kenya by the ICC is only one tool for achieving long-term change in Kenya”. By Allan Ngari, Project Officer in the Justice and Reconciliation in Africa Programme.

>> The release of the latest data of the 2011 Reconciliation Barometer was extensively covered by the media, in print media, online and on TV. Find links to articles here

Publications

>> SA Reconciliation Barometer Survey: 2011 Report. The full report is available online at www.reconciliationbarometer.org

New Appointments

 

AFRICA’S EVOLVING CAPACITIES OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT:
African Regionalism and African Union Interventions

On the 26th of October 2011, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Helsinki Finland convened a seminar titled ‘Africa’s Evolving Capacities of Conflict Management’. The discussions and presentations focused on capacity building for African regionalism on reactive and proactive interventionism and the AU Peace and Security Council’s Engagement in the Horn of Africa. These were presented by Prof. Gilbert Khadiagala and Dr Tim Murithi, highlighting the increasing role played by regional and sub-regional organisations in Africa in the field of conflict management. Ideas were shared on how to build capacity of African institutions by conducting their operations in close cooperation with international organisations. Recent examples of such initiatives include the operation of the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS) in war-torn Côte d’Ivoire and the hybrid AU-UN mission in Sudan and South Sudan. Simultaneously, the AU Peace and Security Council has recently adopted a more interventionist approach to conflict management, particularly in the Horn of Africa.

ASHLEY KRIEL YOUTH MEMORIAL LECTURE:
“The Power of One”

The IJR together with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) hosted the 8th Annual Ashley Kriel Youth Memorial Lecture, themed The Power of One, on Friday the 11th of November 2011.

This year’s keynote address was delivered by South African gold medalist swimmerMs. Natalie Du Toit.

By acknowledging the efforts of youth and their potential as effective partners, this seminar serves as a step towards the creation of a more permanent dialogue between youth,on issues of mutual concern relating to national development.

In attendance were the government Departments of Trade and Industry and Social Development to inform young people of government and private sector-sponsored initiatives to inspire entrepreneurial thinking.

IJR STAFF CHRISTMAS PICNIC:

The IJR celebrated the end of the year at the Buitenverwachting Winery in Constantia, Cape Town. The day was filled with great food, entertainment and lots of laughter.The party culminated in a ‘Secret Santa’ gift exchange and ended with sports activities such as soccer and touch rugby for some, while others enjoyed the tranquil environment relaxing on the grass. The IJR would like to wish its staff, family and friends a peaceful festive season and a Happy New Year!

BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY:
Achievements of 2011

The IJR showcased the accomplishments of different communities towards building an inclusive society at Zwelethemba Multi-purpose Centre in Worcester on the6th of December 2011.

The event introduced IJR’s Building an Inclusive Society (BIS) programme to the community of Worcester. It provided a platform for different stakeholders to participate and celebrate their achievements on overcoming challenges and conflict during 2011.

The day’s activities included the learnings, skills and impact of working with young people on identity, understanding past and present history as well as artsand culture activities.

SOUTH AFRICANS WANT A UNITED NATION:
IJR Survey

“The survey is the only one of its kind in South Africa that measures progress in reconciliation since the transition to democracy in 1994”. (Sowetan)

The gap between rich and poor is the biggest impediment standing in the way of South African reconciliation. And, while historic racial divides still exist, 66% of ordinary South Africans want to cross boundaries and form a united nation.

These are among the findings of the 11th South African Reconciliation Barometer (SARB) conducted by the IJR and released this week. Through a series of focus groups and surveys the researchers measured public opinion on six indicators: political culture, human security, cross-cutting political relations, race relations, historical confrontation and dialogue.

This year, researchers also surveyed opinion on some of the ‘big questions’ debated in the public sphere. These ranged from attitudes on the power of the vote in local government elections to approval of the singing of struggle songs, Employment Equity (EE) policy and government re-naming initiatives.

Senior project leader for SARB, Kate Lefko-Everett, says income inequality was the most frequent response to the question, “What is the biggest division in South Africa?” This was followed by political party membership and then race. “That South Africa remains a deeply divided society is a discouragingly consistent finding of the SA Reconciliation Barometer (SARB) survey,” she said.

“However, there are positive signals of progress in reconciliation, social cohesion, nation-building, and democratic consolidation, and these should not be overlooked.” The government’s commitment to promoting social cohesion and national unity in its Vision for 2030 was cause for optimism. SARB found that most South Africans believed a united country was both desirable and possible and that levels of interaction and social relationships between people of different historically-defined race groups had gradually increased.

“There is a collective interest and commitment to moving ahead from the past, albeit less consensus on exactly how this will happen. We hope that the Vision for 2030 currently being developed by the National Planning Commission will provide us with direction on this challenge,” she said. Nearly half (46%) of South Africans agreed that reconciliation was “impossible” while people who were disadvantaged under apartheid continued to be poor.

www.reconciliationbarometer.org