Justice and Coexistence
Work in West Africa, ’06 - ’09
Closing the Gap Between the Promise of Democracy
and Reality on the Ground
Ethics Center Programs in Justice and in
Coexistence
• Programs in International Justice and Society aim to
promote judicial dialogue and to disseminate information
about international justice and human rights worldwide.
• Coexistence International facilitates the creation of
coexistence networks, develops resources for practitioners,
and promotes the use of a coexistence ‘lens’ in
complementary fields (governance, transitional justice).
2
Why West Africa
as a focus?
• West Africa is a region where judiciaries are under-funded
and under-supported but whose judges are eager to learn
and to exchange experiences with colleagues, particularly
those in the international sphere. Many other actors in the
region are working for judicial reform.
• Most countries in the region have suffered from some form
of violent conflict in the past decade. Many of these
societies still struggle with how to manage deep-rooted
societal divisions within the context of democracy.
3
The “Justice Gap”
• Formal separation of powers in most countries but
judicial independence often threatened.
• International treaties signed but not implemented.
• Impunity for international crimes.
• Insufficient continuing legal education.
• Problems of access to justice for marginalized
populations.
• Women particularly disadvantaged.
4
The “Coexistence Gap”
• Profound distrust in governments and judiciaries.
• Frustration that laws and recommendations go
ignored.
• Democratic “essentials”, as implemented, can
intensify identity-based divisions.
• Lack of attention paid to root causes of conflict and
divisions in a society.
• Justice system perceived as inaccessible to many,
further exacerbating tensions within society.
5
Senegal
January
2006
Brandeis Institute
for International
Judges
1st West African
Judicial Colloquium
6
Ghana – October 2007
2nd West African Judicial Colloquium
7
Ghana – November 2008
The Role of Judiciaries in Promoting
Gender Justice in Africa
8
Know Your Rights!
• A project that aims to provide information about human rights
to African populations in their own languages.
• “Community dialogues”: pilot activity in Senegal for women
who want to learn about human rights.
• Sutura: Wolof word meaning "discretion.” A moral attribute so
central to Senegalese society that individuals often conceal
facts or events that could bring shame on themselves or their
family members. Sutura can impede justice in situations of
sexual violence.
9
The Impact of our Justice Work
• Judicial dialogue for high court judges from 17 countries in
the region.
• Helped participants to expand their networks and receive
more training.
• Buy-in from regional law faculties and civil society
organizations.
• Effectiveness maximized through partnership with
international organizations and foundations.
• Wide distribution of event proceedings.
• Linked Brandeis alumni in the region to justice initiatives.
10
Ghana - June 2007
Gender, Justice, and Reconciliation
11
Liberia - February 2008
Transitional Justice, Reconciliation,
and Coexistence
•
12
Ghana - October 2008
Democracy, Coexistence, and Conflict
in West Africa
13
Nigeria - January 2009
Faith, Ethnicity, and Governance: Coexistence
Sensitive Policy and Partnerships in Nigeria
14
The Impact of our Coexistence Work
• Encouraged practitioners from various fields to introduce a
coexistence lens into their work.
• Developed network of approx. 200 coexistence advocates in
West Africa.
• Facilitated the creation of nascent coexistence networks in
Cameroon and Nigeria.
• Launched CI’s first policy recommendations, Coexistencesensitive Approaches to Transitional Justice. Formally
received by Liberian TRC.
• Disseminated coexistence research, publications, and
lessons in English and French to a range of organizations.
• Involved Brandeis students from the region in CI’s ongoing
work.
15
Short-term Goals of Center’s Justice
Work
• Work with partners to establish permanent judicial
training center in West Africa.
• Facilitate spread of “best practices” for judicial
reform and civil society action.
• Disseminate information on international law and
human rights in multiple languages.
16
Short-term Goals of Center’s
Coexistence Work
• Expand regional network of coexistence advocates
and support national networks.
• Advocate for coexistence-sensitive approaches to
transitional justice.
• Provide training and technical assistance on
coexistence-sensitive approaches to transitional
justice and governance.
17