Naomi Tutu Addresses URI-UN on

“Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds”

May 28, 2009 • Danny Kaye Visitors Center, UNICEF

Naomi Tutu, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, came to UNICEF on May 28^th at the invitation of the United Religions Initiative at the UN to speak about “Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds.”

The meeting, held in the lovely Danny Kaye Visitors Center, opened with a warm welcome from Stephen Hanmer, Partnerships Manager for Civil Society Partnerships Outreach at UNICEF. Deborah Moldow, facilitator of URI-UN, led a meditation on opening to the heart of Africa, followed by a moment of silence and a shared prayer: “May Peace Prevail in Africa. May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

Monica Willard, UN Representative for the United Religions Initiative, gave a brief introduction to the mission of the URI, and also the URI-UN’s focus on the 2009 International Year of Reconciliation. She then introduced a clip from a moving video about reconciliation in Rwanda entitled, “As We Forgive,” which featured Rwandan President Kigali explaining the release of thousands of prisoners who had confessed to taking part in the 1994 genocide. For more information, please see www.asweforgivemovie.com.

Monica then welcomed the guest of honor, Ms. Tutu, whom she met while working together as representatives of Nobel Peace Laureates on the board of the educational organization, Peace Jam.

Naomi began by talking with humor about her role in creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission during the meetings that took place in her father’s house while she served the tea.

She spoke about how truth was an essential component for reconciliation – whether dealing with a national shame or the misbehavior of teenagers like her own. And yet truth did not come easily, even when it was the only condition for perpetrators to be given amnesty from any further civil or criminal proceedings. Still, lies were often heard from those who could not face their own complicity in an evil system.

For a divided people to heal from tragedy, they needed to own their own country’s story, including both its pride and its sorrow. She spoke movingly about what it was like to grow up in a place where her experience was so different from that of her white neighbors that she actually rooted for any sports team that opposed South Africa.

She made it clear that truth and reconciliation were important steps toward peace, but should never be considered an end result. Reparations are still being sorted out in South Africa, where countless victims are still waiting to receive the remains of loved ones to give them a proper burial. But at least South Africans have united in facing their past together, a powerful beginning to breaking the cycle of violence and vengeance that can play out for generations, or even centuries.

Naomi took questions from the audience about a wide variety of concerns. A young man interning at the UN asked about programs for youth, and Naomi introduced Dawn Engle to speak about Peace Jam’s campaign to gather One Billion Acts for Peace (see www.peacejam.org).

Stephen Hanmer responded to a question regarding the rehabilitation of child soldiers, a challenge that UNICEF has been addressing in numerous countries. One questioner was Malak Shabazz, daughter of American civil rights leader Malcolm X, who greeted Naomi as a sister with a hug.

Naomi was asked the role that faith communities took in the reconciliation process in South Africa. She replied that – even as an Archbishop’s daughter – she could only give a mixed answer because while some of the churches had been very supportive, others bore much complicity during the apartheid years.

Deborah closed the event by asking everyone to take one of the flags of Africa that decorated the room. There were just about the same number of people as African countries (55), and all spread out into a big circle. Focusing on sending peace to each nation, the participants announced the name of the country whose flag they were holding, one by one across the continent. Then all repeated the words of the opening prayer, “May Peace Prevail in Africa. May Peace Prevail on Earth!”

Everyone enjoyed some light refreshments (provided by a small grant from the URI Multiregion) and a chance to visit personally with Naomi. We were all so grateful for the opportunity to hear this wise and warm woman offer her unique perspective on the deeper aspects of reconciliation.

This event was co-sponsored by the Values Caucus and the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, NY.

 Naomi Tutu Addresses URI-UN on

“Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds”

May 28, 2009 • Danny Kaye Visitors Center, UNICEF

Naomi Tutu, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, came to UNICEF on May 28^th at the invitation of the United Religions Initiative at the UN to speak about “Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds.”

The meeting, held in the lovely Danny Kaye Visitors Center, opened with a warm welcome from Stephen Hanmer, Partnerships Manager for Civil Society Partnerships Outreach at UNICEF. Deborah Moldow, facilitator of URI-UN, led a meditation on opening to the heart of Africa, followed by a moment of silence and a shared prayer: “May Peace Prevail in Africa. May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

Monica Willard, UN Representative for the United Religions Initiative, gave a brief introduction to the mission of the URI, and also the URI-UN’s focus on the 2009 International Year of Reconciliation. She then introduced a clip from a moving video about reconciliation in Rwanda entitled, “As We Forgive,” which featured Rwandan President Kigali explaining the release of thousands of prisoners who had confessed to taking part in the 1994 genocide. For more information, please see www.asweforgivemovie.com.

Monica then welcomed the guest of honor, Ms. Tutu, whom she met while working together as representatives of Nobel Peace Laureates on the board of the educational organization, Peace Jam.

Naomi began by talking with humor about her role in creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission during the meetings that took place in her father’s house while she served the tea.

She spoke about how truth was an essential component for reconciliation – whether dealing with a national shame or the misbehavior of teenagers like her own. And yet truth did not come easily, even when it was the only condition for perpetrators to be given amnesty from any further civil or criminal proceedings. Still, lies were often heard from those who could not face their own complicity in an evil system.

For a divided people to heal from tragedy, they needed to own their own country’s story, including both its pride and its sorrow. She spoke movingly about what it was like to grow up in a place where her experience was so different from that of her white neighbors that she actually rooted for any sports team that opposed South Africa.

She made it clear that truth and reconciliation were important steps toward peace, but should never be considered an end result. Reparations are still being sorted out in South Africa, where countless victims are still waiting to receive the remains of loved ones to give them a proper burial. But at least South Africans have united in facing their past together, a powerful beginning to breaking the cycle of violence and vengeance that can play out for generations, or even centuries.

Naomi took questions from the audience about a wide variety of concerns. A young man interning at the UN asked about programs for youth, and Naomi introduced Dawn Engle to speak about Peace Jam’s campaign to gather One Billion Acts for Peace (see www.peacejam.org).

Stephen Hanmer responded to a question regarding the rehabilitation of child soldiers, a challenge that UNICEF has been addressing in numerous countries. One questioner was Malak Shabazz, daughter of American civil rights leader Malcolm X, who greeted Naomi as a sister with a hug.

Naomi was asked the role that faith communities took in the reconciliation process in South Africa. She replied that – even as an Archbishop’s daughter – she could only give a mixed answer because while some of the churches had been very supportive, others bore much complicity during the apartheid years.

Deborah closed the event by asking everyone to take one of the flags of Africa that decorated the room. There were just about the same number of people as African countries (55), and all spread out into a big circle. Focusing on sending peace to each nation, the participants announced the name of the country whose flag they were holding, one by one across the continent. Then all repeated the words of the opening prayer, “May Peace Prevail in Africa. May Peace Prevail on Earth!”

Everyone enjoyed some light refreshments (provided by a small grant from the URI Multiregion) and a chance to visit personally with Naomi. We were all so grateful for the opportunity to hear this wise and warm woman offer her unique perspective on the deeper aspects of reconciliation.

This event was co-sponsored by the Values Caucus and the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, NY.