Tag Archives: accountability

“Delay Forgiveness—LRA Victims,” New Vision, 1 August 2010

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 “Delay Forgiveness—LRA Victims,” New Vision, 1 August 2010

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/16/727574/Delay%20Forgiveness%E2%80%94LRA%20Victims

By Chris Ocowun

RESIDENTS of Lukodi parish, Bungatira sub-county in Gulu district have called for a delay in the reconciliation drive with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) until rebel leader Joseph Kony comes out of the bush.

They said the Acholi traditional method of reconciliation (Mato-Oput) was supposed to take place between Kony and the Government.

Martin Lukwiya Ocam-Lenga wondered whom Kony would undergo the Mato-Oput with since President Yoweri Museveni was not an Acholi.

This was during a community dialogue organised by the Justice and Reconciliation Project on Friday at Lukodi Centre.

Gipson Okullu said: “Mato-Oput with the LRA rebels cannot stop justice from taking its course against some of the rebel leaders; they should be jailed to give relief to those whose people were massacred in the various areas in Acholi.”

The LRA rebels massacred more than 70 people at Lukodi in 2004.

Okullu added that there were some former LRA returnees, including his son, who were being haunted by the spirits of the people they killed.

He called for more traditional cleansing activities by Acholi elders and traditional leaders.

The project community mobilisation team leader, Sylvia Opinia, said similar dialogue had taken place in Atyak, Barlonyo, Mucwini and Abia.

Jane Francis Adongo of the Uganda Law Reform Commission said the commission was working towards exploring the use of traditional justice mechanisms to solve conflicts.

Young women perform traditional dances during an event in Gulu district, 2010

Pursuing Justice for Women and Children in Northern Uganda: Observations from the field

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Young women perform traditional dances during an event in Gulu district, 2010
Young women perform traditional dances during an event in Gulu district, 2010

Initiatives to end violence often focus on ‘silencing the gun’ and bringing home largely male combatants. As a result, girls and women who were captured, raped, and forced into marriage and childbearing by armed groups remain largely unacknowledged and ignored. In this statement, we focus on the unique justice and reconciliation issues facing young mothers and their children in northern Uganda who have returned from captivity. We offer specific recommendations to ensure their holistic well-being and successful reintegration into society.

To access the statement, click here.

ICC Review Conference, June 2010

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From May 31-June 11, members of the JRP team attended the ICC Review Conference in Kampala, Uganda.

The conference provided opportunities for us to share our work with the wider transitional justice (TJ) field and explore possible partnerships with other organizations. This special conference of states parties to the ICC allowed the international community to consider amendments to the Rome Statute and take stock of its implementation and impact. Proposed amendments included: the revision of Article 24 of the Rome Statute, the definition and inclusion of the crime of aggression, and the inclusion of the use of certain weapons as war crimes in the context of an armed conflict not of an international character.

A community member shares his views at a JRP community dialogue

Victims’ Voices: JRP community dialogues, 2008

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A community member shares his views at a JRP community dialogue
A community member shares his views at a JRP community dialogue

This report presents the diverging opinions that exist among the war-affected people in northern Uganda concerning how post-conflict issues of justice and reconciliation should be handled.

These responses were gathered by JRP camp focal persons from four community dialogues conducted in Kitgum and Amuru districts in 2008. The dialogues present opinions of participants about how reconciliation and healing can be promoted among the war-affected communities in northern Uganda.

They indicate that while many people in northern Uganda are of the view perpetrators of war crimes need to be forgiven, a significant majority would also like to see some form of accountability meted out. The views of war-affected persons about the role of local mechanisms in post-conflict reconciliation and healing in northern Uganda also feature in the dialogues. While it has always been assumed that war-affected communities wholeheartedly support the use of local mechanisms such as mato oput, it is also interesting to note that a significant minority have reservations about the effectiveness and relevance of these mechanisms. Equally interesting and controversial is the opinion of respondents about who is responsible for the conflict in northern Uganda.

To access the report, click here.

Two photos of Dominic Ongwen

Complicating Victims and Perpetrators in Uganda: On Dominic Ongwen, FN VII

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Two photos of Dominic Ongwen
Two photos of Dominic Ongwen

Dominic Ongwen was around ten years old when he was abducted on his way to school by the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). He was trained as a ‘child soldier’ to fight against the Government of Uganda and forced to kill, mutilate, loot from and rape civilians. He became so efficient and fearlessly loyal to his superiors that he was eventually ‘promoted’ to the ‘inner circle’ of the LRA. In October 2005, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Ongwen for crimes against humanity, including massacres and the abduction and enslavement of children. As such, Ongwen is the first known person to be charged with the same war crimes of which he is also victim.

 Ongwen’s case raises vexing justice questions. How should individual responsibility be addressed in the context of collective victimization? What agency is available to individuals who are raised within a setting of extreme brutality? How can justice be achieved for Ongwen and for the victims of the crimes he committed?

To access the report, click here.

Participants during the workshop on accountability and reconciliation in Kampala

Workshop on Accountability and Reconciliation in Uganda: Juba Peace Talks

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Participants during the workshop on accountability and reconciliation in Kampala
Participants during the workshop on accountability and reconciliation in Kampala

This workshop follows the conclusion of the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) in Juba between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU). Mediated by the Government of Southern

Sudan (GoSS) under Chief mediator Dr.Riek Machar, the vice president of Southern Sudan, this remarkable agreement which begun two years ago was to be signed by LRA leader Joseph Kony on 10th April 2008. However, he did not sign as expected and instead sought clarifications on the specificities on the protocol of accountability and reconciliation as well as the disarmament, demobilization and re-integration agreements. In particular, the LRA leader Joseph Kony wanted to know more about the Acholi traditional justice system of mato oput, its linkage to the proposed special division of the High Court and other formal institutions in the agreements.

It was on the basis of this that His Highness Rwot David Onen Acana II, the Acholi Cultural leader, with the assistance of the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP), was tasked to lead a consultative process that would bring together like minded actors to deliberate in an attempt to provide clarity to the LRA leaders’ concerns. Therefore, on the 6th and 7th May 2008, a workshop was convened at the Fairway Hotel, Kampala.

The objective of the workshop was to clarify the procedural steps required for the implementation of the Agreement on Accountability. As a result, the workshop was to produce an explanatory note outlining procedures on key technical issues in the Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation that was to be made immediately available to the LRA leadership.

In arriving at these, the conference organizers identified key themes to be discussed, and these included: (i) the role of investigations and self-disclosure; (ii) the criteria for allocation of individuals to the various proceedings; (iii) description of various accountability institutions (courts, traditional justice, and truth-telling mechanisms) and their jurisdictions; (iv) the relationship between the various accountability institutions, and, (v) the possible outcomes of the proceedings for individuals..

To access the report, click here.

Timeline of Past Events (2006-2007)

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The following is a timeline of past events from 2006-2007 that JRP organized and/or participated in:

2006

  • Centre for Research in Women’s Studies and Gender Relations
    February 1, 2006
    JRP presents at Centre for Research in Women’s Studies and Gender Relations, University of British Columbia.
  • ‘IDEALaw’ Conference
    February 10-11, 2006
    JRP presents to the IDEALaw Conference, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia.
  • Northern Uganda Symposium Series
    March 2, 2006
    JRP is invited to participate in Northern Uganda Symposium Series, sponsored by the Human Rights Centre, University of California, Berkeley.
  • Workshop on Transitional Justice
    March 17-18, 2006
    JRP organized a workshop on transitional justice in Gulu, Uganda.
  • Liu Institute for Global Issues Seminar
    June 5, 2006
    JRP presents findings of its research in a seminar at the Liu Institute for Global Issues.
  • Uganda Lobby Day and Symposium
    October 9, 2006
    JRP speaks on justice issues at the Uganda Lobby Day and Symposium in Washington, DC.
  • ‘The Various Faces of Justice’ Symposium
    November 11, 2006
    Michael Otim presents on traditional justice at the ‘The Various Faces of Justice’ symposium at the University of Tokyo, Japan.
  • ‘The Search for International Justice’ Screening
    November 15, 2006
    The film, ‘The Search for International Justice,’ by Judy Jackson aired at the Liu Institute, followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Gerald Caplan, James Otto, and Honorable Betty Aol Ocan in Vancouver Canada.
  • ‘Advocacy, Peace and Justice in Northern Uganda’ Workshop
    November 16-17, 2006
    JRP organized a workshop on advocacy, peace and justice in northern Uganda at the Liu Institute for Global Issues.
  • Consultative Workshop with Acholi Chiefs and Elders
    November 18, 2006
    JRP holds a consultative workshop with Acholi chiefs and elders on justice in Gulu, northern Uganda.
  • Beyond Juba: Building Consensus on a Sustainable Peace Process for Uganda
    December 1-2, 2006
    JRP participates in the ‘Beyond Juba: Building Consensus on a Sustainable Peace Process for Uganda’ event organized by Refugee Law Project in Kampala.
  • Transitional Justice and Displacement in the Great Lakes Region
    December 3-5, 2006
    JRP participates in the ‘Transitional Justice and Displacement in the Great Lakes Region’ event organized by Refugee Law Project and ATJRN in Kampala.
  • Amnesty Commission Training
    December 6, 2006
    JRP presents in the ‘Amnesty Commission Training on Information, Counseling and Referral’ on traditional justice in Gulu. Click here for the concept paper.

2007

  • ‘Human Rights and Social Justice’ Conference
    F    ebruary 25-26, 2007
    JRP’s Erin Baines presents at the ‘Human Rights and Social Justice’ conference, University  of Winnipeg, on gender and justice.
  • ‘Failed, Failing and Fragile States’ Workshop
    March 7-9, 2007
    Erin Baines presents at the ‘Failed, Failing and Fragile States’ workshop, UBC on peace vs. justice.
  • Canadian Federation of University Women
    March 19, 2007
    Erin Baines presents to the Canadian Federation of University Women, Northern Vancouver, BC on gender and justice.
  • Youth Peace Actors Assembly
    April 11-13, 2007
    Lino Owor Ogora presents on traditional justice at the Youth Peace Actors Assembly, sponsored by the Foundation for Youth Transformation in Gulu, Uganda.
  • ‘Transitional Justice and Peace Negotiations’ Meeting
    April 16-18, 2007
    Michael Otim presents at ‘Transitional Justice and Peace Negotiations,’ hosted by the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the International Centre for Transitional Justice in Oslo, Norway.  Click here to read the presentation.
  • ‘Radio Wars: Breaking the Waves of Hate, Turning the Tide towards Peace’ Conference
    May 13-15, 2007
    Boniface Ojok presents paper entitled, ‘Amnesty Radio in Northern Uganda: Rhetoric and Reality’ at Radio Wars: Breaking the Waves of Hate, Turning the Tide towards Peace’ conference, held in Montréal.
  • Liu Institute for Global Issues Fundraiser
    May 30, 2007
    The Liu Institute for Global Issues holds a fundraiser to support war-affected young mothers in northern Uganda.
  • Towards a Common Understanding of Traditional, National, and International Justice Options: A Seminar for Agenda Item 3 (Accountability and Reconciliation) at Juba Peace Talks
    June 2, 2007
    JRP co-organized with ICTJ, and convened by Ker Kwaro Acholi, a seminar on Agenda Item 3 at the Juba Peace Talks in Juba, Sudan.
  • Truth-Telling and Verification Workshop With Local Stakeholders on ‘The Cooling of Hearts’
    June 15, 2007
    JRP held a verification workshop for our report ‘The Cooling of Hearts’ with stakeholders in Gulu before finalizing the document.
  • ‘Building a Future on Truth and Justice’ Conference
    June 25-27, 2007
    Michael Otim presents at Building a Future on Truth and Justice, a conference held in Nuremberg, Germany.
  • Lira Declaration on Agenda Item 3 of the Juba Peace Talks (Accountability and Reconciliation) by Cultural and Religious Leaders, Women and Youth from Madi, Teso, Lando and Acholi Sub-Regions
    August 11, 2007
    The Lira Declaration is the result of a consultation attended and signed by the leadership of traditional and religious institutions, including women and youth representatives in these institutions.
  • Northern Uganda CSO Declaration on Agenda Item Three of the Juba Peace Talks
    August 20-30, 2007
    Over 100 civil society organizations were involved in consultative meetings in the regions of Acholi, Lango, Teso, and West Nile to reach a common position on the ongoing consultations on Accountability and Reconciliation at the Juba Peace Talks.

Workshop on Transitional Justice

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The indictment of the top five rebel leaders has raised both fears and expectations, for how it might impact the Amnesty process, any future peace talks and possibly led to the capture and arrest of those deemed most responsible. In this context, questions and debate about the best way to pursue justice are extremely pressing in Uganda.

In order to begin to explore these questions in the context of northern Uganda, the Gulu District NGO Forum, International Center for Transitional Justice and Liu Institute for Global Issues convened a workshop among main stakeholders on March 17-18 at the GUSCO Peace Centre, Gulu. Participants included the Amnesty Commission (including its head, Justice Onega), the Ugandan Human Rights Commission (Commissioner Alero Omara), traditional leaders (including an opening by Rwot David Onen Acana II, Paramount Chief of the Acholi), religious leaders, NGO and civil society activists from across the country, women’s groups and youth leaders, academics from Gulu and Makarere, UN representatives (OHCHR and UNICEF), MPs, and others, including representatives from IDP camps in Kitgum, Pader and Gulu Districts.  Between 60 and 70 participants in total attended and momentum throughout the discussions was very high, with most sessions going over time.

Declaration by Northern Uganda Civil Society Organizations on Agenda Item 3 of the Juba Peace Talks (Accountability and Reconciliation): Acholi, Lango, Teso and West Nile Regions

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Between the 20-30 August 2007 CSOs working on peace, justice and reconciliation activities in Northern Uganda held four consultative meetings in the regions of Acholi, Lango, Teso, and West Nile to reach a common position on the ongoing consultations on accountability and reconciliation.

A draft committee consisting of three representatives from each sub-region met in Gulu from the 6-7 September 2007 to come up with a common position for CSOs in Northern Uganda.

It is from the proceedings of this meeting and based on regional consultations that we derive the contents of this memorandum, which we hereby declare as a common position for CSOs in Northern Uganda.

To access the declaration, click here.

Lira Declaration on Agenda Item 3 of the Juba Peace Talks (Accountability and Reconciliation) by Cultural and Religious Leaders, Women and Youth from Madi, Teso, Lango and Acholi Sub-Regions

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This declaration was signed by cultural and religious leaders in the sub-regions of West Nile (Madi), Teso, Lango and Acholi after the first anniversary of the Juba Peace Talks.

The declaration made several recommendations in the areas of truth, reparations, reconciliation and complementarity. Noteworthy is the call for traditional justice mechanisms to be used for justice and reconciliation.

To access the declaration, click here.