THE UNITED NATIONS, THE UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS

and the and the ARCHIVAL PURSUITARCHIVAL PURSUIT

Truth and Reconciliation CommissionVancouver, CANADA

March 2011

Tom A. ADAMIInformation Management Officer UNMIS

Setting the scene….

Human Rights! Archives! Who needs them?

July 1969 … Apollo 11 moon landing & Nigeria-Biafra war…

March 2011 … inequality and abuse of rights continues

… through the eyes of children

Images drawn by children affected by conflict in Chad in 2009

The long wait

Memories fade and things change but tomorrow is a different day.

… but who will help the helpers?

…….Rwanda, 1994.Rwanda, 1994

Is there a best practice model for a TRC?

Organisational impediments to KM systems

Staff turnover

Remote locations

Lag in infrastructure

Skill set of staff

Cost & investment

Centralised decision making processes of IT

Memory and memorials

Hope is what keeps it all in perspective and makes it worthwhile