Into the Real World and Reality : Off To Field Work in Guatemala Uncovering the Mass Graves of Genocide

Have you ever experienced the pain of not being able to say goodbye to someone, or even worse, not knowing if your family, friends or loved ones are alive or deceased? Even if you thankfully have not experienced this, you can imagine just what it would be like. Mass atrocities of group persecution that have amounted to a genocide have happened and continue to be committed around the world, far beyond WWII's Holocaust . The most unfortunate part is that they are preventable and would not happen at all if we did not continue to discriminate, promote hate speech or blame groups.

Recently I was accepted into a November field work and training in uncovering intentionally-hidden Guatemalan mass graves, and to learn intensively on how to best document in acquiring evidence to these mass atrocities. The International Field Initiatives and Forensic Training is multi-disciplinary initiative which supports the justice system and moreover to help provide a sense of closure to the families who have lived in morning and fear for their lives for decades of which their state has failed to do so.  Providing  support and reconciliation to those affected by genocide, particularly the Mayan indigenous who  have been under continuous persecution and near extermination, is imperative to the healing and mourning process. It is important because like around the world fear and grievance continue the cycle of violence and conflict.  Prominently occurred during the country's Civil War (1960-1996), internationally it has been neglected to consider that just because a declared war has stopped does not mean the violence and pain has stopped.

  Below is an excerpt from International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (1948):
"Article II:  In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious groups, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
Article III:  The following acts shall be punishable:
(a) Genocide;
(b) Conspiracy to commit genocide;
(c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide;
(d) Attempt to commit genocide;
(e) Complicity in genocide. "

So Why EFI-IFIT?
Over the course of completing my undergrad in Conflict Studies and Human Rights, I have become increasingly aware of how much I feel the drive to work hands-on in this field by actively making a difference in improving not just individual's lives but for societies as a whole. Being made of the current global concerns in peace and conflict resolution initiatives, I have been seeking out realistic and attainable initiatives and career work. I had learned about the International Field Initiatives and Forensic Training from a couple fellow participants in the Third Annual Professional Training Program on the Prevention of Mass Atrocities, where we had the pleasure of meeting Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire and discuss initiates on child soldiers, the use of hate speech in media in provoking cases of genocide, Boko Haram and ISIS. After researching the program and weighing the options, it was the first time I really felt that this was for me, combining perfectly my interest in archaeology, human right protection, forensics, and counselling.

I look foreward to sharing my learning and experience with you!
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