ICTJ in the News

August 1, 2005

Ugandans eager for ICC action

Vermont Guardian

KAMPALA -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced plans to issue indictments against Ugandan rebel leaders. To broaden discussion in anticipation of the ICC's first intervention, the International Center for Transitional Justice and the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley, have released a report, Forgotten Voices: A Population-Based Survey on Attitudes about Peace and Justice in Northern Uganda, based on interviews conducted in April and May 2005, with more than 2,500 Ugandans.

The report is the first comprehensive survey of the people most affected by the conflict -- residents of the northern districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Lira and Soroti, many of whom are routinely terrorized by rebel attacks. It also is the first study of its kind to be conducted in the midst of an ongoing conflict.

Among the findings are some of the highest levels of exposure to traumatic events ever reported, including killings, abductions, mutilations and sexual violations, the organizations claim. Forty percent of the survey respondents said they had been abducted by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA); 45 percent had witnessed the killing of a family member; and 23 percent had been physically mutilated at some point during the conflict.

Respondents expressed strong support for transitional justice mechanisms, including a truth commission, reparations and the ICC. More than 80 percent said that they want to speak publicly about the abuses they have suffered. When asked what should happen to LRA leaders, 66 percent favored punishment, but 25 percent suggested forgiveness, confessions to the community and compensation. Of those who had heard of the ICC, most believed that the court would contribute to peace (91 percent) and justice (89 percent).

War has raged between the LRA and government forces for 19 years. LRA fighters have killed and mutilated civilians, abducted as many as 30,000 children and many more adults to serve as soldiers and sex slaves, and displaced up to 1.6 million civilians, who now live in refugee camps.

The Ugandan government has tried both military action and mediation to end the conflict, without success. In December 2003, Pres. Yoweri Museveni referred the situation in Northern Uganda to the ICC, which is expected to issue indictments against top LRA leaders. Due to talks between the rebels and government officials this spring, some observers say that conditions have never been a better for peace.