2–3 June 2025 | Hybrid Conference
The African Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) is proud to participate in the African-Caribbean Dialogue on Justice through Reparations, a landmark international conference held from 2 to 3 June 2025. This timely dialogue is taking place during the African Union’s designated Year of Reparations, under the continental theme:
“Advancing Justice through Reparations: Reparations, Restoration, and Renaissance.”
Reparative justice is not a historical debate — it is a present-day demand for accountability, redress, and restoration for the enduring harms of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and exploitation. The AJJF stands at the forefront of this global movement, offering legal expertise and institutional support to shape a future rooted in memory, dignity, and justice.
AJJF Panel Contributions: Reparations Beyond the State
As part of the Panel 9: Reparations – Actors and Actions Beyond the State, two of AJJF’s key legal minds presented expert insights on expanding the reparations discourse beyond governments and formal institutions:
Henrietta Ekefre
Legal Advisor, Africa Reparations Programme, AJJF
Topic: Reparations Beyond the State: The Role of Grassroots Movements and Informal Networks in Seeking Justice for Colonial and Slavery Legacies
Henrietta explored how community-led activism, cultural memory, and informal advocacy networks have been instrumental in catalyzing reparatory demands — often where formal justice systems have failed to respond. Her contribution underscored the importance of bottom-up approaches to reparation and the moral force of collective memory and resistance.
Dr. Justice Mavedzenge
Programs Director, AJJF & Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Cape Town
Topic: The Role of the International Court of Justice in Advancing Africa’s Reparative Justice Agenda
Dr Mavedzenge provided a powerful legal analysis of the avenues through which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) can support Africa’s demands for reparation. He outlined precedents, legal mechanisms, and state strategies that could be leveraged to bring historic injustices before international legal forums.
A Global Coalition for Justice
This historic conference brought together over 40 expert contributions and was organized by a coalition of leading institutions, including:
- University of The Bahamas
- University of Pretoria – Centre for Human Rights
- University of Goma
- Bahamas National Reparations Committee
- AJJF – African Judges and Jurists Forum
- CARICOM
- United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
It also benefitted from the collaboration of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Held in hybrid format with live participation from South Africa and virtual attendees from the Caribbean and across Africa, the event allowed for meaningful cross-continental dialogue — with simultaneous English-French interpretation to ensure accessibility and inclusivity.
AJJF’s Ongoing Commitment
At AJJF, reparative justice is not just an advocacy point — it is part of our legal mandate. We continue to support the development of legal frameworks, policy tools, and public discourse that advance the cause of justice for people of African descent.
This conference reflects our core belief:
True justice cannot exist without repair — and repair must include truth, restitution, and systemic change.
As the African Union’s 2025 theme reminds us, this is not just a year of commemoration, but one of bold action toward Reparations, Restoration, and Renaissance.
Stay connected with AJJF as we continue to shape the legal and policy agenda for reparative justice across the African continent and in partnership with the global African diaspora.
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