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Diaspora Mobilizations for Transitional Justice: Ethnic and Racial Studies

Ike Bell

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Diaspora communities have played a significant role in mobilizing for transitional justice, the process of addressing past human rights violations and promoting reconciliation. This article explores the role of diaspora communities in three cases of transitional justice: Argentina, Guatemala, and South Africa. In each case, the diaspora community played a vital role in raising awareness of the human rights violations, advocating for justice, and supporting the victims and their families.

Diaspora Mobilizations for Transitional Justice (Ethnic and Racial Studies)

by Harris Mylonas

5 out of 5

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Argentina

The Argentine diaspora played a key role in the mobilization for transitional justice after the military dictatorship that ruled the country from 1976 to 1983. The dictatorship was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 30,000 people, as well as the torture and imprisonment of thousands more.

After the dictatorship ended, the Argentine diaspora in Europe and North America began to organize and campaign for justice. They formed groups such as the Argentine Human Rights Assembly and the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, which lobbied for the prosecution of those responsible for the human rights violations. The diaspora also provided financial support to human rights organizations in Argentina and organized protests and demonstrations to raise awareness of the issue.

The Argentine diaspora's efforts played a vital role in the eventual success of the transitional justice process in Argentina. In 1985, the Argentine government passed a law that allowed for the prosecution of those responsible for the human rights violations. Since then, hundreds of former military officers have been convicted of crimes against humanity.

Guatemala

The Guatemalan diaspora also played a key role in the mobilization for transitional justice after the country's long civil war, which lasted from 1960 to 1996. The war was marked by widespread human rights violations, including the deaths of an estimated 200,000 people, the vast majority of whom were indigenous Mayans.

After the war ended, the Guatemalan diaspora in the United States and Canada began to organize and campaign for justice. They formed groups such as the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission and the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala, which lobbied for the prosecution of those responsible for the human rights violations. The diaspora also provided financial support to human rights organizations in Guatemala and organized protests and demonstrations to raise awareness of the issue.

The Guatemalan diaspora's efforts played a vital role in the eventual success of the transitional justice process in Guatemala. In 1999, the Guatemalan government signed a peace agreement that included a provision for the creation of a truth commission. The truth commission, which was supported by the United Nations, investigated the human rights violations that occurred during the war and published a report in 1999 that found that the Guatemalan government was responsible for the majority of the violence.

In 2003, the Guatemalan government passed a law that allowed for the prosecution of those responsible for the human rights violations. Since then, a number of former military officers have been convicted of crimes against humanity.

South Africa

The South African diaspora also played a key role in the mobilization for transitional justice after the end of apartheid. Apartheid was a system of racial segregation that was in place in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Under apartheid, black South Africans were denied basic rights, including the right to vote, the right to education, and the right to own land.

After the end of apartheid, the South African diaspora in Europe and North America began to organize and campaign for justice. They formed groups such as the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party, which lobbied for the prosecution of those responsible for the human rights violations that occurred during apartheid. The diaspora also provided financial support to human rights organizations in South Africa and organized protests and demonstrations to raise awareness of the issue.

The South African diaspora's efforts played a vital role in the eventual success of the transitional justice process in South Africa. In 1994, the South African government passed a law that allowed for the prosecution of those responsible for the human rights violations that occurred during apartheid. Since then, a number of former apartheid-era officials have been convicted of crimes against humanity.

The diaspora communities in Argentina, Guatemala, and South Africa played a vital role in the mobilization for transitional justice in their respective countries. The diaspora communities raised awareness of the human rights violations that had occurred, advocated for justice, and supported the victims and their families. The diaspora communities' efforts played a key role in the eventual success of the transitional justice processes in these countries.

Diaspora Mobilizations for Transitional Justice (Ethnic and Racial Studies)

by Harris Mylonas

5 out of 5