As longstanding partners with the community of Atiak, we at the Justice and Reconciliation Project felt it was important to join the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the Lord’s Resistance Army’s massacre here today.
As an organization, we envision a just and peaceful society and believe that it is only by involving and empowering grassroots communities that this can be achieved.
We also believe in the use of commemoration as an important tool. It can be used to help people heal and reconcile. It can also be used to advocate for justice as well as redress for victims and the wider community.
As such, we see the theme of “moving towards economic empowerment amidst torture” as chosen for today, as a call for us all to continue to work together as community members, local and national government, non-governmental organisations and other partners.
As we remember the loss of our loved ones on 20 April 1995, we ask that we all continue to join hands to work for justice and reconciliation. JRP remains committed to support justice, accountability and reconciliation efforts of conflict affected people and we shall always be there for and with victims.