Mr. Manuel Pereira, representing the Vice Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, delivering his speech on the “International Meeting on Archives and Memory for Conflict Reconciliation and Peacebuilding in Southeast Asia” in Cheongju, Republic of Korea. (photo/©mediaVMAP)
Cheongju, Republic of Korea – May 27 – 28, 2025 – The International Centre for Documentary Heritage (ICDH), in collaboration with UNESCO Jakarta Office, successfully hosted the International Meeting on Archives and Memory for Conflict Reconciliation and Peacebuilding in Southeast Asia.
Sr. Manuel Pereira representing, Vice-Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (VMAP), participated and also delivered VMAP’s speech during the international meeting saying “It is a great Honor for me to represent His Excellency, Adérito Hugo da Costa, Vice-Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of the IX Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste, On behalf of His Excellency the Vice-Minister, I wish to express our profound appreciation to UNESCO, and all our regional and international partners for their invaluable support in convening this platform for the exchange of experiences, lessons, and aspirations in advancing conflict reconciliation and peacebuilding”. Said Manuel Pereira.
On behalf of Vice-Minister, he also mentions about Timor-Leste’s transformative journey is nothing short of a long road from ashes to peace and stability. “Our country stands as living proof that reconciliation is a process that demands acknowledgment of past wrongs, a drive for remorse and forgiveness, and a shared commitment to break cycles of blame and violence, and this process lays the foundation for enduring peace”
The event brought together over 50 experts from seven Asian countries, including Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, to explore the role of documentary heritage in fostering peace and social cohesion.
The two-day meeting featured discussions on how historical records can contribute to collective memory and reconciliation in post-conflict societies. Experts shared case studies from Timor-Leste, Cambodia, and the Republic of Korea, highlighting efforts to document conflict histories and promote healing through archives.
Mr. Choi Yoon-Myung, Secretary-General of ICDH, emphasized the importance of preserving documentary heritage, stating, “This meeting was a valuable opportunity to reflect on the painful pasts shared across Asia and to pursue sustainable peace through collective memory”.
Participants engaged in sessions on archival practices, risk management, and international cooperation, aiming to strengthen expert networks across ASEAN and beyond. The meeting also explored strategies for joint research and UNESCO Memory of the World nominations, ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility of historical records.
Looking Ahead building on the outcomes of the meeting, ICDH plans to Institutionalize regular international conferences on documentary heritage, expand partnerships with regional memory institutions and promote sustainable cooperation through joint research initiatives.
The event underscored the critical role of archives in shaping narratives of reconciliation and fostering peacebuilding efforts across Southeast Asia.
And around 80 people attended the opening ceremony, including domestic and international documentary agency officials from seven Asian countries including East Timor, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, as well as Cheongju Mayor Beomseok Lee and officials from the Cheongju Early Printing Museum.
This conference was organized to seek ways to contribute to social integration and peace-building through documentary heritage.
(©mediaVMAP)