Documenting & Archiving from a Dealing with the Past Perspective (virtual, 6 afternoons)

Course content:

Documentary evidence plays an important role in dealing with the past processes. It is indispensable for truth seeking, accountability, reparations, institutional reforms, vetting, memorialization and history. However, if the creation, collection, management, and preservation of such evidence is not properly done, records and archives documenting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law can be at risk of losing their value and thus prevent their future usability.

Course objectives:

• Acquire a comprehensive understanding of documenting and archiving practices to support the right to know, the right to reparations, the right to justice as well as the guarantees of non-recurrence.
• Familiarize yourself with documentation and archival principles, technical requirements, and practices.
• Reflect on ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the creation, management, access, and preservation of records and archives for dealing with the past processes.
• Exchange with experts and practitioners and become part of a community of practice.

In this course, participants will acquire a comprehensive understanding on how documenting and archival practices can support dealing with the past processes. Additionally, topics related to documenting and archiving principles, good practices for the creation and capture of information, arrangement and description, access, preservation and protection will also be introduced. Finally, participants will also learn about ethical and legal responsibilities, such as informed consent, information privacy, the right to be forgotten and do no harm. 

This course is perfect for civil society and governmental actors who want to update their skills in a practice-oriented manner. Course materials are introduced by drawing on concrete examples, which allows participants to gain valuable knowledge for their daily work.

This course is designed for:

• professionals engaged in Dealing with the Past processes and Conflict Transformation with interest on understanding the contributions of documentation and archives to these topics
• practitioners and academics interested in complementing their own experiences with current conceptual insights and practical knowledge

Is this course designed for you? If you are unsure, do not hesitate to contact us for personal advice.

Tuition fee: 1'500 CHF

Please apply here before 31st of May 2025: https://www.swisspeace.ch/courses/short-courses/documenting-and-archiving-from-a-dealing-with-the-past-perspective