THE STATE OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN AFRICA – Transitional Justice and Education in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges for Peace, Resilience and Sustainable Development

The Eighth African Transitional Justice Forum was convened in Port Louis, Mauritius, on 11-12 September 2024, continuing the forum's critical role in advancing transitional justice across the continent. Organised by the African Union Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, the forum brought together key stakeholders, including African Union member states, national human rights institutions, regional economic communities, practitioners, academics, victim support networks and civil society actors, to engage in meaningful discussions on the state of transitional justice in Africa.

Framed by the African Union's 2024 theme, "Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality Learning," the forum aimed to underscore the synergy between transitional justice and education as transformative pillars for sustainable peace, social cohesion and reconciliation. Participants explored how education can catalyse positive change, fostering reconciliation, transformative justice and a more resilient social fabric. This focus provided a profound opportunity to address historical injustices and reinforce societal foundations for lasting peace.

Forum outcomes include:

• Education as a Catalyst for Peace and Justice: The forum recognised education as a transformative tool to instil a culture of peace, human rights and resilience. Integrating peace and justice education across all elementary to tertiary levels in Africa was recommended.
• Advancing Gender Equality through Education: Emphasis was placed on education's role in promoting gender equality, empowering women to participate actively in transitional justice processes, and attaining sustainable peace across the continent.
• Leveraging Diversity for Development: The forum embraced Africa's rich diversity as a strength, advocating for its use as a unifying force to drive regional and national development.
• Prioritising Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS): The importance of MHPSS for conflict-affected victims, survivors and communities was highlighted, and a call was made to integrate MHPSS into educational programmes for African children and youth.
• Collective Responsibility in Transitional Justice: Transitional justice was affirmed as a shared societal responsibility, requiring widespread education and awareness to ensure its effective implementation.
• Reparations as a Cornerstone of Justice: Reparations were acknowledged as a fundamental component of transitional justice, essential for addressing victims' and survivors' needs and promoting reconciliation.
• Addressing Land and Memory Issues: The forum underscored the need to address Africa's historical and contemporary land injustices and carefully manage memory preservation as an integral part of transitional justice processes.