You are here:

• About us
• Mission and values
• Management and governance
• Our academic experts
• University structure
• Charitable status
• Schools and colleges
• Our history
• Our location
• Internationalisation
• Community and social engagement
• Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • Centre for Real-World Learning
  • The Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace
    • Our partners
    • Centre News
      • 60 Years of Hidden Genocide?
      • Centre Launch
      • Effective and Sustainable Reconciliation
      • A Moment of Truth: The Kairos Palestine Document
      • Exploring concerns of Tibetans refugees in India with the Tibetan Centre of Conflict Resolution
      • The Holy Land
      • Murder in the Name of God
      • Protecting Planet Earth
      • Exploring the Role of Faith in Public Life
      • Israel/Palestine Dialogue Group
    • People Profiles
    • Future Events
    • Founding Patron
    • About the Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace
  • Theological partnerships
• Academic quality
• Art at Winchester
• Winchester University Press
• Catering for life
• Environmental sustainability
• Universities Week 2012

Centre Launch

The Centre was extremely delighted to welcome Bishop Joseph C. Humper to give the inaugural lecture commemorating the official launch of the Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace.

 
The event entitled 'Blood Diamond: The Truth' explored the decade of rebel violence in Sierra Leone which has left it one of the poorest country in the world, with Bishop Humper addressing the questions of, What went wrong? How can another bloodbath be prevented? Can the truth ever reconcile a nation?

Amongst his many other achievements Bishop Humper as a member of the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone was instrumental with other religious leaders in brokering a peace deal to end the civil war, and in recognition of his work was invited to Chair the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission which has since made a series of recommendations to help prevent future conflict reoccurring.

“I am honoured and delighted to be able to welcome Joseph Humper to the University,” said Dr Brian Walker, Director of the Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace, who’s PhD research took him to war-torn Sierra Leone nearly 10 years ago. “Bishop Humper is a key figure in the peace process. I’m looking forward to hearing his views on what he thinks went wrong in Sierra Leone and how effective and sustainable reconciliation can be secured within and between communities that have experienced so much suffering and unimaginable poverty.

Winchester Centre of Religions and Reconciliation and Peace are presently working closely with Bishop Humper and the Inter Faith Council of Sierra Leone to help found a centre of reconciliation in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, and carry on their excellent work in the area of reconciliation

Please click here to download a transcript of Bishop Humper’s inaugural lecture.