Dr. Wilhelm Verwoerd makes address at Una O’Higgins O’Malley Lecture

Reconciliation as bridge-building is vital for continued peace in Ireland

Grandson of leading figure of apartheid regime discusses reconciliation as betrayal

Insights from combatants/survivors in Northern Ireland, South Africa and Israel-Palestine

22/10/19: Peacebuilder and ANC member Dr. Wilhlem Verwoerd explored the dynamics of betrayal when former enemies reach out across political divides at our second Una O’Higgins O’Malley Memorial Lecture in Dublin yesterday. Dr. Verwoerd drew on his personal journey of reconciliation from his family’s Afrikaner and apartheid heritage, to joining the ANC and through to his ground-breaking work on the troubling dynamics of betrayal typically evoked when former enemies dare to reach across deep, bloody political divides. Dr. Verwoerd also shared key insights from an international research project which gathered practical wisdom from reconciliation practitioners and former combatants/survivors in South Africa, Israel-Palestine and from the conflict in and about Northern Ireland. 

Dr. Verwoerds keynote Speech is available to view here

Following the keynote address, Dr Verwoerd then joined our panel consisting of Mr Seán Feenan, Dr Cathy Bollaert, Ms Deborah Erwin and Ms Audrey Carville (moderator).