February 22 - 23, 2008

CDD/CI Workshop
"Transitional Justice, Reconciliation, and Coexistence"

Concept Note / Agenda / Participant List / Conference Report (forthcoming)

Workshop participants with Liberian Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Olubanke King-Akerele

This workshop was a culmination of fact-finding trips and interaction with individuals and organizations in the West Africa region conducted by CDD-Ghana to assess the existing transitional justice discourse in the sub-region. These were followed by a capacity building workshop in June 2007 in Accra, Ghana under the theme: ‘Gender, Justice and Reconciliation.’

The February workshop in Liberia brought together 23 non-state actors, particularly NGOs and other civil society organizations working in the areas of transitional justice, as well as those dedicated to peacebuilding and conflict resolution in West Africa, to learn and share experiences about how transitional justice processes can become more coexistence-sensitive. It provided a forum where participants could enhance their knowledge about inter-group relations, how to develop and apply coexistence strategies, and explore ways to ensure that justice mechanisms and coexistence efforts become more complementary. Also present during some of the sessions were two members of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as a representative from the International Center for Transitional Justice. The workshop also had the honor of the participation of the Liberian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Olubanke King-Akerele, who was present during the discussion on policy recommendations. The workshop was co-facilitated by Prof. Cynthia Cohen, of the Slifka Program in Intercommunal Coexistence at Brandeis University, Wahab Abdul Musah, from CDD-Ghana, and Kanio Bai Gbala, of the Transitional Justice Working Group of Liberia.

Through country presentations, break-out groups and other focused deliberations, participants shared experiences and lessons from transitional justice processes in the various countries in the region. Participants from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone presented summaries of the concluded and ongoing transitional justice processes in their countries (see box). The country presentations aimed to describe the various approaches to transitional justice that happened in each country, and to outline the effects of these processes on coexistence and inter-group relations, and vice versa. Participants presented the successes and challenges of these processes and made recommendations based on lessons learned. The presentations were used to foster discussion about ongoing and future transitional justice mechanisms, and ways to make them more inclusive and respectful of different groups.

The group suggested recommendations, reflecting on such broad experiences, to guide and provide a framework of reference for governments, civil society, and other practitioners in the sub-region and internationally. The same recommendations are currently being refined and will be shared with policymakers, local and international funders, and communities to reinforce the formulation, implementation, and management of various transitional justice activities particularly in countries where processes are actively ongoing e.g Liberia. The enthusiasm and recommendations from the conference will ultimately reinforce the shape and discourse involving transitional justice, coexistence, and reconciliation in a region previously ravaged by decades of violent conflicts. From among the participants, a strong sub-regional network is emerging through which knowledge, resources, and activities can be coordinated and supported to improve individual, organizational, country and regional practice in transitional justice for a more peaceful West Africa.