Africa Group for Justice and Accountability

The Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) is an international, non-governmental group made up of public figures, academics, lawyers and human rights advocates. Its stated purpose is to advocate for justice and accountability for international crimes.[1]

It endeavours to build the capacity of African judiciaries to investigate and prosecute crimes. It has also issued public statements on global justice and human rights.[1]

History

The group was established in 2015 with a mandate to “strengthen justice and accountability measures in Africa through domestic and regional capacity building, advice and outreach, and enhancing cooperation between Africa and the International Criminal Court”.[2]

In 2016 it established five core operating principles, which it calls the Kilimanjaro Principles on Justice and Accountability.[1]

The Wayamo Foundation serves as AGJA´s secretariat.[3]

Members

There are currently 12 members.[4]

Activities and campaigns

“Fighting Impunity and Ensuring Accountability in East Africa” project

AGJA and its partner organisation, the Wayamo Foundation, are providing training to investigators, prosecutors and judges[7] on international criminal justice and transnational organised crime, organising public outreach activities,[8] and building diplomatic and political collaboration with regional and international stakeholders. In order to strengthen regional cooperation, AGJA and Wayamo support the establishment of an East African network of Directors of Public Prosecution and Heads of Criminal Investigation Departments.

Capacity Building Workshops for the Members of the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic

The Africa Group has been working with the authorities of the Central African Republic since September 2016, to support the establishment and operationalisation of the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in Bangui. The AGJA and the Wayamo Foundation have been organising international Symposia[9] to raise awareness of the court, as well as capacity building workshops[10] for the newly nominated members of the SCC to support the operationalisation of the court.

Transitional Justice Advice to The Gambia

At the request of Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mr. Aboubacarr Tambadou, AGJA and the Wayamo Foundation provided a joint expert advisory report on the Truth, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission Bill.[11]

The Hybrid Justice Project

AGJA is participating in the Hybrid Justice Project,[12] launched in January 2017, which analyses the impact of hybrid justice mechanisms in post-conflict societies. The project also aims at producing guidelines for future hybrid courts as well as a policy advice for the ICC on their complementarity role.

Advocacy on international criminal justice issues in Africa

AGJA seeks to improve relations between African states and the ICC. It issues regular public statements[13] in response to developments relating to this relationship (E.g.: Statements on South Africa,[14] The Gambia,[15] and Burundi[16]).

References
  1. "Africa Group for Justice and Accountability". Wayamo Foundation. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  2. "ICC President Silvia Fernández welcomes establishment of independent Africa Group for Justice and Accountability". Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  3. "Wayamo Foundation". Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  4. "The Africa Group for Justice and Accountability and its members - Les membres du Groupe Africain pour la Justice et la Fin de l'Impunité | Prosecutor | International Criminal Court". Scribd. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  5. "Dapo Akande". Oxford Law Faculty. 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  6. "Tiyanjana Maluwa". Penn State Law | University Park, Pa. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  7. Fabricius, Peter. "No 'one size fits all' solution for intrepid international jurists on the world stage". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  8. "Global criminal justice symposium opens today". The New Times | Rwanda. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  9. "Sénégal: Samba-Panza à Dakar pour un symposium sur la justice et l'impunité". www.lanouvellecentrafrique.info. Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  10. "International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  11. "Justice Minister: Janneh Commission Members Receive A Pay Raise Of Half Million Dalasi (D500, 000) Each, As Gov't Extends Commission Mandate For Another Six Months". Freedom Newspaper. 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  12. "Hybrid Justice". Hybrid Justice. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  13. Justice (2016-07-17). "The international criminal court is vital to our fight against impunity in Africa". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  14. Rugiririza, Ephrem. "JusticeInfo.net - African lawyers back the ICC". Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  15. "Gambia: Breaking News: Former Gambian UN Chief Prosecutor Expresses "Great Dismay And Disappointment" At Gambia's Withdrawal From The ICC". Freedom Newspaper. 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  16. "Top African jurists slam Burundi's ICC exit". African Independent. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
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