Features

September 2, 2008

Gender and Transitional Justice in Africa: Progress and Prospects

On September 4-5, ICTJ is hosting a conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on "Gender and Transitional Justice in Africa: Progress and Prospects." The sessions will draw together key civil society actors to analyze the experiences and lessons from recent examples of gender and TJ mechanisms. Addressing past injustices is a critical element in women's struggle for human rights, especially in those societies emerging from civil war and authoritarian environments, but to date these have been dealt with in an ad hoc basis.

Identifying the voices and experiences of gender civil society activists in Africa offers an opportunity to explore how TJ mechanisms that support gender sensitivity have actually been experienced by women, and how much they have actually contributed positively to women's struggles for justice and a true historical record.

The conference seeks to identify ways to strengthen the voice of African civil society organizations concerned with gender in TJ and to share knowledge, skills and insights as to developments in the field on the continent.

These questions will be the basis of presentations and discussions during the meeting:

• How effective have recent war crimes prosecutions in Africa been in dealing with gender based human rights violations that occurred during conflicts?

• What has been the significance of truth commissions in Africa in recording and addressing gender-based human rights concerns?

• What role have reparations played in addressing gender based violations and how can they be strengthened?

• How can security sector reform help to advance gender and transitional justice?

• Do traditional justice mechanisms have a role to play in increasing women's access to justice or do they reinforce stereotypes?

• Have TJ mechanisms truly addressed issues of women's vulnerabilities during both conflict and in the post-conflict setting?

Those attending include, among others, Yasmin Sooka (former South Africa TRC commissioner); Yasmin Jusu Sheriff and Jamesina King (former commissioners of the Sierra Leone TRC); Leymah Gbowee (Liberian peace activist); Betty Murungi (Kenyan activist) and Jenni William, (Zimbabwean activist).