From October 21 to 25, 2024, a group of dedicated African women gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for a special training programme that aimed to strengthen their leadership in Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJ&R). The focus of this important event was the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP), a framework that helps African countries address the pain of past conflicts and injustices while building a more peaceful future. The event was organised by the Life & Peace Institute (LPI), the Center for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR).

Africa has a long history of overcoming obstacles including violence, human rights abuses, and weak governance. These conflicts have left severe wounds on communities, particularly in areas such as the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes. To achieve true peace, everyone particularly women must be included in the healing process. However, women’s views have frequently been excluded from conversations about justice and healing. This is a significant omission since women contribute unique insights and answers to reconstructing society after violence.

The African Union’s Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP) was implemented in 2019 to guide nations recovering from conflict or persecution. It provides nations with the tools they need to establish fair and inclusive judicial systems, guaranteeing that those guilty for violence held accountable. However, many African countries have not fully embraced this powerful policy, and it remains underused.

This training programme was designed to change that. Its goal was to empower African women working in civil society organizations (CSOs) by giving them the knowledge and skills to lead TJ&R efforts in their communities. By focusing on the AUTJP, participants learnt how to bring justice and peace to their nations, while also gaining confidence to take on leadership roles in the broader peacebuilding process.

Over the course of five days, these women delved deeply into Transitional Justice ideas and learn how to apply the AUTJP to real-world scenarios. They looked at the important roles women play in repairing fractured communities and advocating for reconciliation at both the national and local levels. They also learnt how to guarantee that peace processes include gender-sensitive methods, so that men’s and women’s perspectives and demands are addressed.

The training brought together 20 women from civil society groups in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes area. These women are already undertaking crucial work for justice and reconciliation in their nations, and this initiative provided them with even more tools to help them succeed.

By the end of the week, the women were not only more prepared to lead peace initiatives in their communities, but they will also join a growing network of African women peacebuilders. This network will allow them to share experiences, support each other, and continue making meaningful progress toward justice and reconciliation across the continent.

This training is a significant step forward in ensuring that African women are at the forefront of building a more just and peaceful future for their countries. Their leadership will help to heal communities, hold those responsible for violence accountable, and ensure that no one is left behind in the journey towards peace.