Traditional justice and reconciliation after violent conflict. Learning from African experiences Luc Huyse & Mark Salter International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Stockholm, 2008
Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: In this book an attempt is made to find out what -African -tradition-based approaches in peacemaking can contribute to transitional justice and reconciliation policies.The publication consists of various contributions: an introductory and concluding chapter, both written by Luc Huyse, a worldwide expert on transitional justice, and five case studies dealing with traditional justice mechanisms in different African contexts.In his introduction Luc Huyse gives an overview of post-WWII transitional justice mechanisms, where the emphasis on retributive justice has gradually shifted to a concern for restorative justice.In between these two models (prosecution on the basis of a trial vs. reconciliation on the basis of a more community-oriented process) there exists a whole range of transitional justice policies in which ingredients ofboth extremes are combined -all of which adapted to particular national experiences and cultures.In addition, in a lot of transitional justice processes, also the role of traditional mechanisms is taken into account nowadays.In order to avoid ethnocentrism, local authors have been engaged for this project, in which five African countries (Rwanda, Mozambique, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Burundi) are compared regarding the indigenous instruments they employ in their programmes of transitional justice.In the final part of this chapter, Huyse talks about reconciliation, accountability, truth telling and reparation as the instrumental objectives of transitional justice policies.He also hints at a few typical attributes ofinformal justice systems in sub-Sahara Africa, such as the communal dimension of these mechanisms, the fact that civil society is often an important stakeholder and the great diversity and adaptability of the various initiatives.When designing a policy of transitional justice, combining various strategies (traditional, state-organised, internationally sponsored) is usually a tremendous challenge, especially since a great number of political and cultural actors have to be taken into account.The case studies in this book want to throw light on the way in which this challenge has been dealt with in various African countries, in the aftermath of a violent and traumatic past.
Source: AVRUG-bulletin/Afrika Focus
Author: Annelies Verdoolaege
Language: English
Topic: War, Law, and Justice
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4235618890