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African women mobilize to build peace
from the article by Yvette Moore on United Methodist Women:
….Women from Mozambique described ways they are working to create a culture of peace in their country after years of war.
“Since the signing of the peace agreement in 1992, we can live in peace,” Rute Uthui of United Methodist Women of Mozambique said through an interpreter. “In the church since last year we always talk about peace and the maintaining of peace on the radio and in the news. Our women’s group meets every Thursday, and we never walk out without talking about peace and what we can do to maintain it.
"We are facing now criminality. When those people are caught, some want to beat them, but we say, talk to them—punish them according to what they’ve done—but not the violence, talk to them about peace.”
Apr 08, 2013 Country:Mozambique, Region: Africa, National Reconciliation
Kenya: The quest for restorative justice – analysis
from the article by Kisuke Ndiku for Indepth Aftica:
In recent assessments it has emerged that young people are contributors to certain types of violence in Kenya. It has been argued that young people “are being used” to perpetrate violence.
Asked why this is the case, some government administrative staff indicate unemployment as one factor, followed by idleness and substance abuse. Faith-based clerics, meanwhile, point to manipulation, a lack of gainful employment and easy money.
Asked why they themselves participate in acts of violence, young people point out that they have lack meaningful sources of livelihoods, and do anything they can to relieve themselves of the uncertainty they face.
Feb 25, 2013 Policy, Country:Kenya, Juvenile, Region: Africa
Sudan: UNAMID supports the promotion of juvenile restorative justice in Zalingei
from the article on All Africa:
The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) concluded on 30 January 2013 a two-day workshop on restorative justice for juvenile offenders in Zalingei, Central Darfur. The workshop, which was attended by more than 32 participants, including teachers, police officers, civil servants and members of the civil society, was part of the efforts of the UNAMID's Human Rights Section to strengthen the capacity of the juvenile justice system players in applying restorative justice standards more effectively when dealing with children and young people in conflict with the law.
Feb 22, 2013 Country:Sudan, Juvenile, Practice, Region: Africa
The gods are angry
from the article by George Ayittey in the Wall Street Journal:
....There are more than 2,000 African ethnic groups but despite the incredible diversity there are striking commonalities among them. Whereas Western jurisprudence emphasizes punishing the guilty, the widespread African tradition stresses restitution and reconciliation or "restorative justice"—the basis of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commissions established after the dismantling of Apartheid.
Africa's economic heritage featured free village markets. There were rudimentary free markets in Timbuktu, Kano, Salaga, Onitsa, Mombasa and elsewhere before the advent of the colonial era.
Whereas the West practiced majoritarian, or representative, democracy, ancient Africans practiced participatory democracy, where decisions were taken by consensus at village meetings variously called asetena kese by the Ashanti, ama-ala by the Igbo, guurti by the Somali, dare by the Shona, ndaba by the Zulu or kgotla by the Tswana.
Nov 19, 2012 Region: Africa, National Reconciliation, Indigenous
Mediating criminal matters in the Ethiopian criminal justice system: The prospect of restorative justice
from the article by Jetu Edossa in Oromia Law Journal:
In Ethiopia, the use of mediation process as a traditional method of dispute resolution has been practiced for centuries. Even today in rural areas, particularly criminal dispute resolution processes dealing with victims and criminal offenders are widely practiced and deep rooted with varying degrees among the different ethnic groups in the country. For instance, the use of mediation process through Jaarsaa Biyya or Jaarsaa Araara among the Oromo and the other ethnic groups has been used.
Sep 07, 2012 Country:Ethiopia, Potential, Theory, Region: Africa, Indigenous
Gacaca: A successful experiment in restorative justice?
from the article by Charlotte Clapham on e-International Relations:
....The twofold reparative function of restorative justice is, however, crucial and so the extent to which gacaca’s emphasis on ‘truth-telling’ realised its desired outcome is subject to debate. To draw on Johnstone’s conception of restorative justice once again, the fact that gacaca failed to offer something positive, in the form of compensation, to meet the needs of the victims meant part of its reparative function was undermined.
Aug 16, 2012 Limitations, Theory, Country:Rwanda, National Reconciliation, Indigenous, Region: Africa
Rwanda: Kagame commends Gacaca courts
from the article by Jean-Christophe Nsanzimana on allafrica.com:
The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis and its aftermath, said president Kagame, presented us with challenges that tested us all to limit. Among these challenges was redress for victims, perpetrators' accountability for their crimes and restoring harmony among Rwandans.
While Rwanda could have chosen the path of vengeance, or of general amnesty, Kagame said the people had chosen the hard but best way of justice and reconciliation. That is a victory to celebrate, he said on Monday during the official closing of the participative justice of Gacaca courts which started in June 2002.
Jul 19, 2012 Country:Rwanda, Region: Africa, National Reconciliation
Parole, release and restorative justice: Minister and National Council for Correctional Services
from the Summary of the Parliamentary Monitoring Group meeting:
The meeting provided an opportunity for the Portfolio Committee (PC) to engage with the Minister and the National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS) on matters of parole and release, with particular emphasis on the position of those sentenced to life imprisonment (lifers) and the role of the restorative justice processes.
May 25, 2012 Offender, Reentry, Practice, Community, Country:South Africa, Region: Africa
Taylor war crimes verdict incomplete justice
from the article by Carina Ray in the Bradenton Herald:
The conviction of former Liberian President Charles Taylor amounts to only partial justice.
While many Sierra Leoneans are relieved to see Taylor finally convicted for his destructive role in their country's brutal civil war, his wanton destabilization elsewhere in West Africa hardly figured in the criminal proceedings against him.
May 18, 2012 Country:Liberia, Region: Africa, Country:Sierra Leone, National Reconciliation
Activists berate Traditional Courts Bill in South Africa
from Sipho Khumalo's article in The Mercury:
The controversial Traditional Courts Bill, which its critics say will take the country back to the era of bantustans, is set to come under scrutiny at a series of public hearings in KwaZulu-Natal.
The sponsor of the bill, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, argues that the legislation seeks to affirm the recognition of traditional justice and its values based on restorative justice and reconciliation.
May 02, 2012 Human Rights, Country:South Africa, Court, Region: Africa, Indigenous
