FIFTEEN African experts have been appointed to spearhead the African Union’s efforts to strengthen transitional justice on the continent.
As part of the AU Transitional Justice Policy, members of the reference group will provide ‘strategic advisory and quality control on various interventions of transitional justice in Africa.’
Each of the five regions of the continent will be represented by three members on the reference group, who will serve for a period of three years. The decision was taken at the eighth African Transitional Justice Forum in Port Louis, Mauritius, last month.
This year’s theme focused on the link between transitional justice and education, and how these two can contribute to building better societies.
Patience Chiradza, AU Director for Governance and Conflict Prevention, noted: ‘When applied to education, transitional justice can help transform a society by addressing historical injustices, fostering inclusivity, and promoting a culture of human rights.’
The Chairperson of the Board of the Johannesburg-based Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, Tefo Raditapole, told the forum: ‘The three decades of transitional justice practice on the continent impose on us the need to reflect on the successes, challenges, and the role of learning and education in mobilising societies and communities for peace, building resilience, and empowering the future.’
Maneesh Gobin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General of Mauritius, stressed: ‘If we are to adopt policy measures and institutional mechanisms to overcome cases of post-conflict divisions and inequalities, we have to incorporate education into policymaking.’
The AU Special Envoy for the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide and other Mass Atrocities in Africa, Adama Dieng, said at the gathering: ‘States have the primary responsibility to protect their citizens and ensure their well-being. If they fail in this duty, they lose the moral authority to claim taxes. When national institutions fail to protect civilians, regional and international justice mechanisms must step in to uphold international accountability.’
One of the members of the reference group is Dr Baba Jallow, former Executive Secretary of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission in The Gambia. He told Africa Briefing: ‘I very much look forward to working with colleagues on this group to achieve our goals. There’s a lot of important transitional justice work to be done in Africa. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in that work.’
