African Futures Lab, Reform Initiatives (external link), African Union ECOSSOC (external link), African Jurists and Judges Forum (external link), Pan African Lawyers Association (external link) and Minority Rights Group (external link) are working on a range of reparatory justice initiatives have collaborated to organize this event. Importantly, four affected communities from across Africa have partnered with civil society organizations to share their stories, draw attention to their campaigns and build alliances for justice, accountability and reparations. The event will happen alongside a series of other activities and engagements in Ethiopia as part of this year’s AU theme of the year.
The event will also feature a session to examine the role and influence of lawyers and the imperative of combining law, public advocacy and mass mobilization for the achievement of reparatory justice and healing. In addition, the event will be a networking opportunity for various actors in the continent to connect with each other and share information about upcoming activities and actions relating to the theme of the year.
Objectives
- To elevate the campaigns and advocacy efforts of affected communities in the fight for reparatory justice.
- To build stronger alliances between affected communities and civil society organizations.
- To support coordination efforts in the popularization of the AU Theme of the Year
- To foster connections and networks between CSOs, affected communities and AU member States.
- To strengthen the role of legal professionals in advancing reparatory justice through strategic litigation, advocacy, and the use of regional and international legal frameworks.
The event is expected to be attended by up to sixty (60) people from different sectors and geographies. The organizers will invite representatives from African and international media organizations, civil society, academia, government, philanthropy and social movements. The event will take place outside of the AU headquarters to ensure ease of access and participation. It will be open to all, but seating will be provided on a first-come first-served basis.