Africa Judges and Jurists Forum provided technical support and participated in the Accra Summit on Reparatory Justice, held from November 14th to 17th, 2023, in Accra Ghana. Attended and addressed by several high-level representatives of African and Caribbean governments, representatives of organs of the African Union, academics and civil society from Africa and the diaspora, the summit came up with critical resolutions including recommending the African Union Commission to appoint a committee of experts and a Special Rapporteur who will champion the cause for reparatory justice on behalf of the African Union. The Summit also recommended the establishment of a joint committee which will coordinate efforts between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the AU in pursuit of reparatory justice to redress injustices suffered by people of African descent as a result of the Trans-Atlantic slavery, colonialism and apartheid. A more detailed communique of the Summit can be found here.
During the Summit, Africa Judges and Jurists Forum was represented by its Secretary General, Advocate Martin Okumu Masiga, and Programs Director, Dr Justice Alfred Mavedzenge. Advocate Martin Masiga participated in a panel on “Legal and Political Perspectives on Reparatory Justice” During his presentation, Advocate Masiga highlighted that the international legal system does not offer much opportunity for people of African descent to obtain justice for slavery, colonialism, and apartheid. He suggested that justice for these crimes and human rights violations is likely to be obtained through a combination of robust political and legal action, coordinated jointly by the AU, CARICOM and Latin America. Advocate Masiga also called on the African Union to promote consciousness amongst the public on the need for reparatory justice. The President of Ghana, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo opened the conference by expressing both his personal and government commitment towards the pursuit of reparatory justice for people of African descent. Renowned Pan Africanist, Mr Brian Kagoro delivered a “Call to Action” during which he emphasised the need for people of African descent to unite and sustain the momentum in their demand for reparatory justice.
Background
The Accra Summit on Reparatory Justice was hosted by the President of Ghana and was co-convened by the African Union Commission and the Government of the Republic of Ghana. This Summit was held as part of the implementation of the 2023 African Union Assembly Decision AU/Dec.847(XXXVI), which mandated the Government of Ghana to hold an international summit to discuss and make recommendations on how the AU can pursue reparatory justice. Earlier in July 2023 and with technical support from Africa Judges and Jurists Forum and the Economic Social and Cultural Council of the AU (ECOSOCC), the AU undertook a study visit to Barbados with the aim of exchanging information on how CARICOM and AU can strengthen their collaboration in pursuit of reparatory justice. The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum is a network of eminent African judges and jurists who are committed to promoting the rule of law and development and is providing this support to the AU as part of its Access to Justice Program.
For more information:
Advocate Martin Okumu Masiga, Secretary General of AJJF, email: okumu-masiga@africajurists.org , mobile: +256 753 954 308, Twitter: @mokumas
Dr. Justice Alfred Mavedzenge, Programs Director, email: justice-mavedzenge@africajurists.org , mobile: +27 79 388 9990, Twitter: @Dr_JAMavedzenge