Integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Transitional Justice A Pathway for Breaking the Cycle of Violence and Creating Sustainable Peace

The aftermath left by civil unrest and human rights violations within a conflict-stricken country is indescribable. The ramifications of armed conflict include large-scale destruction of critical infrastructure, widespread environmental damage from chemical weapons and entire communities experiencing severe physical and psychological injuries. After the guns have been 'silenced' and treaties signed, countries often undergo an extensive transitional process where affected governments and their citizens move from a history of trauma and pain towards a future of lasting peace, justice and reconciliation. This process is known as transitional justice (TJ) and involves holding perpetrators accountable for war crimes, and providing victims with justice while attempting to right past wrongs that may have potentially led to unrest.

While many transitional justice mechanisms in the continent are centered around institutional and legal reforms, the aspect of mental health here is often overlooked or saved for 'later'. This is of great concern, considering that the trauma of war also leaves deep psychological scars on victims and the perpetrators. Some of these scars manifest physically in the form of crying spells, disruptive sleep, suicidal attempts or substance abuse while others, like memory loss, intrusive thoughts and paranoia, remain unseen.

Youth under the age of 30 account for 70% of the Sub-Saharan African population [1]. Expectedly, the 2019 African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP) highlights children and youth as essential population groups to consider in transitional justice processes. This recent involvement of young people in transitional justice is also because children and youth are often the most exposed to conflict and its ramifications either as victims or as forced perpetrators.

Untreated trauma amongst affected youth, can hinder reconciliation efforts and perpetuate cycles of violence, hindering a country's ability to rebuild and move forward. That being said, integrating mental health support into transitional justice strategies that are inclusive of the youth is key to fostering sustainable healing and peace.

The data collected by Impunity Watch (IW) and the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) from 4 countries as part of their collaborative research project[2] show that African youth understand the importance of prioritising mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in their daily lives and also in times of crises such as armed conflict. Therefore, greater efforts must be made to create spaces for the youth within their communities to share their perspectives and insights on how the integration of mental health and psychosocial support into transitional justice should take place. This can be facilitated through focus group discussions, interviews, policy dialogues, etc., where the youth can collectively listen in and collaborate on ideas and recommendations which would help shape the MHPSS integration onto TJ to take a more youthful approach. Such data from the youth will also add relevance and improve the applicability of toolkits and guidelines on the integration of MHPSS to local transitional justice work.

Accountability is an essential pillar of transitional justice. It is imperative for those who have committed atrocious human rights violations to be convicted and face justice – not only to restore law and order but also to improve the public's trust in the State and its justice system. Nonetheless, legal proceedings of this nature can become triggering for youth survivors and witnesses of these crimes, bringing painful traumatic memories and worsening pre-existing mental health issues. To resolve this, extensive psychosocial services must be readily available for youth to utilize throughout the legal proceedings and beyond. These can be in the form of brief individual counselling before and after court proceedings for stress debriefing, local support groups consisting of young war survivors and long-term therapeutic services for survivors and their families after conviction and sentencing. Such interventions ensure that critical transitional justice measures uphold accountability while protecting the emotional well-being of young survivors.

All this will require governments to take a leading role in the interweaving of youth mental health support into the giant-sized fabric of transitional justice. This must begin with States understanding that conflict-stricken youth are aware of an essential element needed for their normal functioning – accessible mental health support for all who need it. In addition, governments must invest in MHPSS interventions and resources that involve encouraging a stronger presence of qualified mental health practitioners within communities and broadening indigenous MHPSS programmes that will sufficiently reach both urban and rural communities affected by conflict. It is often here that young people are exposed to the severity of armed conflict and have limited constructive outlets to process and express trauma.

Lastly, the active involvement of the youth in the integration of mental health into transitional justice mechanisms is a crucial step towards healing past wounds and forging ahead towards a peaceful future. The inclusion of mental health and psychosocial support in this regard allows governments and societies to provide necessary spaces for healing and redress, breaking the cycle of violence and creating sustainable peace. In the end, transitional justice without robust mental health interventions is similar to applying a strip bandage to a gaping wound in the minds and hearts of many young people affected by armed conflict and violence.

[1] United Nations (2023). Young People's Potential, the Key to Africa's Sustainable Development, https://www.un.org/ohrlls/news/young-people%E2%80%99s-potential-key-africa%E2%80%99s-sustainable-development

[2] CSVR & Impunity Watch (2023). The role of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in transitional justice – Perspectives from African youth in DRC, Mali, Burundi and South Sudan, https://www.csvr.org.za/the-role-of-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-mhpss-in-transitional-justice-perspectives-from-african-youth-in-drc-mali-burundi-and-south-sudan/