Human Rights Film Series. In My Country, Thursday 9 February 2012

"A beautiful and important film about South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It will engage and influence not only South Africans, but people all over the world concerned with the great questions of human reconciliation, forgiveness, and tolerance." Nelson Mandela

In 1996 the South African government established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to investigate abuses of human rights under apartheid. Under the chairmanship of Archbishop Desmond Tutu the TRC was mandated to investigate acts committed between 1960 and 1994. In accordance with the African principle of ‘Ubuntu’, which strives to create harmony amongst all people, rather than seeking retribution, the Commission set up a series of hearings throughout the country to help heal the wounds of apartheid. The hearings would serve as a forum for perpetrators of murder and torture during the apartheid era to come forward and confront their victims. By telling the unvarnished truth and expressing contrition, they might be granted amnesty, if they could prove that their crimes were politically motivated – that they were only following orders.

The film introduces the theme of HRLC’s 13th Annual Student Human Rights Conference Dealing with the Past: Transitional Justice and Human Rights, which will take place on Saturday 18 February 2012. Further information is available on our website http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/hrlc/events/annualstudentconference.aspx or by email: HumanRightsConference@nottingham.ac.uk

Registration and further information on the Conference will be available on the evening. We hope to see you there!

Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxcWCd-reew

All are welcome and admission is free.