About the workshop

The 20 year old conflict in northern Uganda reached the height of humanitarian costs during Operation Iron Fist, when the number of abductions doubled, night commuter numbers rose to 40,000, and internal displacement reached 1.8 million people.

Impressive networks of UN, academic, diaspora, youth and civil society partners formed in order to raise international awareness and galvanize a response. Partners worked across borders, disciplines and government/non-government boundaries to realize substantive changes in UN and state policies towards northern Uganda.

As a result of this effort, international awareness has grown, with some positive results. The situation has been brought to the attention of the UN Security Council, with the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs paying several visits to the region. Northern Uganda has become one of the first cases before the International Criminal Court. Campaigns for peace and justice pressured the Government of Uganda to pursue peace talks, first under Madame Betty Bigombe and presently under the Vice President of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar. The Amnesty Law, though threatened with repeal, continues to help resettle former combatants today. Finally, security has vastly improved in the north, making discussions of return of displaced persons possible, and increasing humanitarian access to a greater number of persons.

In light of these successes, the workshop will bring together advocates, diaspora, researchers, media, government and UN officials to assess the role of partners to date in promoting peace and justice in northern Uganda and to map out next steps. Given the important leadership role played by Canadians at the UN, specific attention will be given on what Canada and Canadians should do next.