“What Will You Do with Our Stories?” Truth and Reconciliation in the Solomon Islands

Abstract: The Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was the first TRC in the Pacific Islands. Its goals and activities – truth-seeking, reconciliation and the production of a report with a narrative of the conflict that focused on human rights violations – reflect the normative values of global transitional justice discourses. In this paper I draw on interviews with former staff of the TRC and my own experiences of working for the TRC to explore the implications of importing international transitional justice mechanisms into the local Solomon Islands context, and to draw attention to the cultural limitations of truth-telling. I argue that in order for peacebuilding tools to be effective in Solomon Islands, a strong commitment to, and understanding of, local context is required; transitional justice mechanisms must resonate with local understandings and practices of conflict resolution and peacemaking. The TRC has the potential to play a positive role in building peace.... https://www.ijcv.org/index.php/ijcv/article/view/3047

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: “What Will You Do with Our Stories?” Truth and Reconciliation in the Solomon Islands ; volume:8 ; number:1 ; day:03 ; month:02 ; year:2014 ; International journal of conflict and violence ; 8, Heft 1 (03.02.2014)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Louise Vella

Further information

• DOI: 10.4119/ijcv-3047
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2020062210584346311675
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:46 AM CEST