Negotiating without those affected? Reconciliation without justice?
Berlin
10 October 2025, 5:00 pm
European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
Zossener Str. 55-58 (Staircase D), 10961 Berlin
Registration: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/events/register/
A discussion on the German-Namibian handling of genocide and colonial crimes
Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial forces committed the first genocide of the 20th century against the Ovaherero and Nama in present-day Namibia. More than a century later, negotiations between Germany and Namibia began in 2015, but the resulting reconciliation agreement—still unsigned—has faced broad rejection from descendants of affected communities.
For years, Ovaherero and Nama representatives, supported by civil society in Namibia, the diaspora, and beyond, have demanded justice and reparations. However, governments have ignored their sustained pressure. Scholars, activists, and human rights organizations in both countries have criticized the negotiation process, especially the exclusion of victim associations and Germany’s refusal to recognize the genocide and negotiate reparations directly with the Nama and Ovaherero Indigenous Peoples.
On this evening we want to discuss, what the lasting impacts of the genocide and shortcomings of the proposed agreement are and how international and human rights law supports the claims of the Nama and Ovaherero peoples human rights. At stake is not only the recognition of colonial crimes but also the possibility of community-centered and integral reparations, linked to broader calls from international human rights bodies, such as the African Union, that strengthen the global reparations movement.
Conversation with Paul Thomas (Spokesperson of the Nama Traditional Leaders Association), Almaz Teffera (Researcher, Human Rights Watch), Andrea Pietrafesa (Legal Advisor, ECCHR) and moderated by Yannick Müller .
The event will be simultaneously translated from English to German and German to English.
A joint event organized by the Alliance “No Amnesty on Genocide” and NTLA, with special thanks to ECCHR, GfbV, WÖK, Decolonize Berlin & Attac.
The link to the livestream will follow shortly.
