INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SOCIAL
ACTION EPISCOPAL COMMISSION AND
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
This document certifies the Institutional Cooperation Agreement
entered into by the Social Action Bishopric Commission (CEAS),
on the hand, represented by María Laura Vargas Valcarcel,
Executive Secretary of CEAS, identified with DNI 25675464,
with legal domicile on Av. Salaverry 1945, Lince, Lima, and
on the other hand, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
created by the President of the Republic through Supreme Decree
065-2001-PCM, of June 4th, 2001, as amended by Supreme Decree
101-2001-PCM, represented by its President, Salomón
Lerner Febres, identified with D.N.I. 08771655, appointed to
such position through Supreme Resolution 330-2001-PCM with
legal domicile on Av. Salaverry N° 2802, San Isidro Lima,
hereinafter, the COMMISSION, under the following terms and
conditions:
FIRST: PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT
Episcopal Commission for Social Action (CEAS)
The Episcopal Commission for Social Action (CEAS) is a service
organization of the Peruvian Catholic Church Episcopal Conference
created to promote, consult on and coordinate social pastoral
initiatives, nationwide. It organizes its actions around the
promotion and defense of human rights.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a high level entity
created by the Executive Power through Supreme Decree 065-2001-PCM
of June 4th, 2001, as completed by Supreme Decree N° 101-2001-PCM,
to clarify the process, tasks and responsibilities related
to terrorist violence and violations of human rights from May
1980 to November 2000, by both terrorist organizations and
members of the State. It makes proposals for strengthening
peace and creating harmony among Peruvians.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has become the ideal
mechanism to process and clarify the serious violations of
human rights occurred during the violence period –it
needs all the support and cooperation of public and private
institutions and of citizens at large. In addition, it must
direct its efforts at analyzing the causes of violence, contributing
to the making of justice by competent entities and preparing
proposals for institutional reform and the comprehensive redressing
of victims.
SECOND: OBJECTIVE OF THE AGREEMENT
This agreement establishes the framework for cooperation between
CEAS and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the achievement
of the following general objectives:
- Promoting the process of finding the truth, the rule of
law and the redress of victims that will lead to stronger
National
Reconciliation and democratic government .
- Promoting respect
for human rights in Peru, with an emphasis on the restitution
of violated rights as a result of violence
in Peru.
- Contributing recommendations for legal, institutional
and educational reforms; and to prepare proposals for
programs to compensate
victims of violence.
- Promoting and disseminating the
work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to enhance
its significance
for national life and
embrace the largest possible number of sectors in
society. To this effect, an action plan and projects detailing
the work of both institutions will be prepared.
THIRD: COOPERATION AREAS
The cooperation areas are referred to the following issues:
- CEAS has heard cases of human rights abuses during the
political violence since 1983. CEAS has committed to systematize
and
make available to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
the information from its archives according to the criteria
established
by Article 3 of Supreme Decree 065-2001-PCM.
- CEAS operates
a Social Pastoral Diocesan Offices (OPS) around Peru, many
of which have also received complaints on human
rights abuses connected to political violence. CEAS commits
to train their personnel to systematize their archives
and open them to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- CEAS is the official organ of the Peruvian Episcopal Commission
for Social Pastoral. CEAS will coordinate with OPS and
Catholic parishes in the regions of the country affected
by political
violence for the following objectives:
a) Disseminating
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s
objectives among these groups.
b) Sensitizing the pastoral
agents and social leaders in these areas so that they
will encourage the victims of violence and
their families to declare before the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission.
c) Complementing Commission representatives’ work
(directly or through the OPS) to collect these testimonies
in affected
areas.
d) Training pastoral agents and social leaders (directly
or through OPS staff) to provide emotional and psychological
assistance
to the victims declaring for the Commission.
- CEAS has experience in preparing teaching materials for
group work on social pastoral topics. CEAS will help in turning
Commission
conclusions into popular initiatives and to disseminate these
materials through Catholic parishes around the country.
FOURTH: SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS Specific agreements will be prepared by cooperation areas.
The agreement’s scope and duration, and the obligations
of the parties will be established in the agreement. Additional
areas of cooperation and their scope may also be identified.
FIFTH: FUNDING
This agreement will not create any financial liabilities to
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The parties are free
to request the economic and financial support they need, be
it from either public or private, national or international
sources.
SIXTH: TERM OF THE AGREEMENT
This agreement shall be effective for 18 months as from its
signing and until the COMMISSION completes its mandate, unless
one of the parties notifies the other party in writing and
one month advance its intention of terminating the agreement.
SEVENTH: OPERATION COORDINATORS
The following operation coordinators will help to comply with
the objectives of this agreement:
For the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission: Javier Ciurlizza Contreras, Executive Secretary
For the Episcopal Commission for Social Action (CEAS): Father
Mateo Garr, Deputy Executive Secretary
EIGHTH: INTERPRETATION
AND CONTROVERSIES This agreement is based upon the parties’ good faith.
Any controversies arising its interpretation, execution or
breach will be resolved by agreement of the parties.
In conformance with the contents and scope of this agreement,
the parties sign it in two equally valid copies in Lima on
the 9th day of October, 2001.
María Laura Vargas Valcarcel
Executive Secretary
Episcopal Commission for Social Action
Salomón Lerner
Febres
President
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
|
