No future without the past

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The Great Lakes Region in Central Africa, rich in natural resources, has faced immense suffering due to massive crimes against humanity, war, and genocide. The conflicts in Burundi, the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and ongoing wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have resulted in millions of deaths and displacements, with rape employed as a strategic weapon. An interdisciplinary and holistic approach is taken by thirty internationally recognized scientists and prominent civil society members who analyze the roots of these conflicts. They explore avenues for peace-building and democratization, discussing the roles of international and local actors, as well as the objectives of human rights organizations and associations representing women, youth, and survivors. Key questions addressed include how to confront the past, achieve justice, overcome trauma and ethnic stigmatization, and foster healing and reconciliation. The urgent need for these discussions highlights the complexity of addressing historical grievances while promoting a sustainable future for the region.