Towards a Comprehensive and Holistic Transitional Justice Policy
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TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE & HOLISTIC TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE POLICY FOR UGANDA: Exploring linkages between transitional justice mechanisms AUGUST 2013 With the financial support of: The European Union 2 Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) is an international non-governmental organisation committed to enhancing access to justice for the most vulnerable persons in society. ASF’s primary goal is to contribute to the establishment of institutions and mechanisms that allow for access to independent and impartial justice; capable of guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights. With over six (6) years presence, the ASF Mission in Uganda continues to fulfill its mandate by implementing activities aimed at; Promoting access to justice for vulnerable communities Supporting the Transitional Justice process in Uganda Promoting the application and fulfillment of International Justice Principles and obligations of the Government of Uganda ASF promotes and defends victims’ rights in conflict situations. Therefore, ASF is committed to supporting victim communities by enhancing their voice and individual/ collective agency to influence decision machining; and policy and lawmaking processes. For more information, please visit our website www.asf.be or directly contact our offices: KAMPALA OFFICE Plot 832 Old Kira Road, Bukoto, P.O. Box 36710 Kampala Tel. +256 (0) 312 265 842 Ismene Nicole Zarifis, ASF Head of Mission: [email protected] HEADQUARTERS Rue de Namur 72 Naamsestraat 1000 Brussels - Belgium Tel. +32 (0)2 223 36 54 Jean-Philippe Kot, ASF International and Transitional Justice Expert: [email protected] Copyright © 2013 Avocats Sans Frontières - All rights reserved. Printed in Kampala, Uganda. Cover picture: Rural communities in Northern Uganda affected by war crimes are being sensitized about transitional justice © ASF. Avocats Sans Frontières thanks Sharon Esther Nakandha and Kendra Alexia Hefti-Rossier, the authors of this publication; and the team of researchers Jesse Mugero & Alice Etam. 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Avocats Sans Frontières would like to thank Ismene Zarifis, Jean-Philippe Kot and Luc Meissner for their generous and excellent feedback on earlier drafts. Any subsequent errors or omissions are the sole responsibility of the authors alone. This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Avocats Sans Frontières and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. 4 TABLE OF CONTENT ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................ 7 FOREWORD ......................................................................................................... 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................ 9 I: INTRODUCTION TO TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE ................................................ 12 1. Transitional Justice Notions and Approaches ................................................12 1.1. Defining Transitional Justice ............................................................................ 12 1.2. A Comprehensive Approach to Transitional Justice ............................................. 13 2. Transitional Justice Mechanisms .................................................................14 RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE .............................................................................................15 2.1. Prosecutions .................................................................................................. 16 2.1.1. Domestic Prosecutions ................................................................................ 16 2.1.2. International Prosecutions ........................................................................... 16 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ............................................................................................18 2.2. Traditional Justice .......................................................................................... 19 2.3. Truth Telling .................................................................................................. 20 2.3.1. The Right to Truth ...................................................................................... 20 2.3.2. Truth Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry ............................................. 21 2.4. Reparations ................................................................................................... 21 2.5. Amnesty ....................................................................................................... 22 2.5.1. Types of Amnesty Laws ............................................................................... 23 2.5.2. Amnesties under International Law ............................................................... 24 CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES .........................................................................................25 2.6. Women and Children in Transitional Justice ....................................................... 25 2.6.1. Sexual Violence in International Law ............................................................. 25 2.6.2. Women in TJ .............................................................................................. 26 2.6.3. Children in TJ ............................................................................................. 26 2.7. Outreach and Sensitization Initiatives in Transitional Justice ................................ 27 2.8. Victim and Witness Protection .......................................................................... 28 II: UGANDA’S HISTORY OF CONFLICT .............................................................. 30 1. Introduction ............................................................................................30 2. Historical Background ...............................................................................30 2.1. Colonialism Sowed the Seeds for Future Conflict ................................................ 31 2.2. Independence and the North-South Battle for Power .......................................... 32 2.3. Political Tensions Unfold Leading to the Luwero War ........................................... 33 2.4. Uganda’s Root Differences Culminate in the LRA conflict ..................................... 33 2.5. Religious Conflict in Western Uganda ................................................................ 35 2.6. Addressing the Causes of Uganda’s Conflicts ..................................................... 35 III: THE TJ LANDSCAPE IN UGANDA ................................................................. 36 RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE ELEMENTS IN UGANDA .................................................................37 1. Formal Justice ..........................................................................................37 1.1. Domestic Prosecutions .................................................................................... 37 1.1.1. ICC Act 2010 ............................................................................................. 37 1.1.2. International Crimes Division ....................................................................... 37 1.2. International Prosecutions ............................................................................... 38 1.3. Current Limitations of Formal Justice ................................................................ 39 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ELEMENTS IN UGANDA .................................................................40 2. Traditional Justice ....................................................................................40 2.1. Current Limitations of Traditional Justice ........................................................... 40 5 3. Truth Telling ............................................................................................42 3.1. Current Limitations of Truth Telling .................................................................. 43 4. Reparations .............................................................................................44 4.1. Current Limitations of Reparations ................................................................... 45 5. Amnesty .................................................................................................47 5.1. Current Limitations of Amnesty ........................................................................ 50 IV: EXPLORING LINKAGE SOLUTIONS IN THE DRAFT TJ POLICY ................... 51 RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE IN THE DRAFT TJ POLICY ..............................................................52 1. Formal Justice ..........................................................................................52 1.1. Prospective Linkage Challenges Between Formal Justice and Other TJ Mechanisms . 53 1.1.1. Prospective Linkage Challenges Between Formal Justice and Traditional Justice .. 53 1.1.2. Prospective Linkage Challenges Between Formal Justice and Truth Telling ......... 53 1.2. Exploring Linkage Solutions Based on Case Studies ............................................ 55 1.2.1. Sierra Leone’s Hybrid Tribunal .................................................................. 55 1.3. Recommendations for Formal Justice Linkages Based on Lessons Learned ............. 58 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN THE DRAFT TJ POLICY ..............................................................60 2. Traditional Justice ....................................................................................60 2.1. Prospective Linkage Challenges