Justice and Coexistence Work in West Africa, 06 09

1
Justice and Coexistence Work in West Africa, 06
- 09

• Closing the Gap Between the Promise of Democracy
  and Reality on the Ground

2
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).

3
Why West Africaas 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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
SenegalJanuary 2006Brandeis Institute for
International Judges1st West African Judicial
Colloquium
7
Ghana October 20072nd West African Judicial
Colloquium
8
Ghana November 2008The Role of Judiciaries in
Promoting Gender Justice in Africa
9
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.

10
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.

11
Ghana - June 2007
Gender, Justice, and Reconciliation
12
Liberia - February 2008Transitional Justice,
Reconciliation, and Coexistence

13
Ghana - October 2008Democracy, Coexistence,
and Conflict in West Africa
14
Nigeria - January 2009Faith, Ethnicity, and
Governance Coexistence Sensitive Policy and
Partnerships in Nigeria
15
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 CIs first policy recommendations,
  Coexistence-sensitive 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
  CIs ongoing work.

16
Short-term Goals of Centers 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.

17
Short-term Goals of Centers 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.