The Africa and West Asia Programme of International IDEA and the Department of Political Affairs of African Union Commission in partnership with the TRRC Friday ended a two-day interactive inter-institutional dialogue.
The dialogue dubbed ‘Design, Process, Challenges and Opportunities of the Transitional Justice Process to the Gambia’ is premised to develop consensus and cooperation between the TRRC and other institutions for the realization of inclusive participation in the Transitional Justice Process.
The forum, which was held at Sunset Beach Hotel in Kotu brought together over 45 participants drawn from state institutions and agencies, the national assembly, political parties, media and civil society.
Speaking at the forum, Dr Maurice Engueleguele, senior programme officer at AWA IDEA, told participants that the meeting was meant to set a consensus building platform for and between institutions involved in the country’s transitional justice process.
“From International IDEA’s experience and practice, this cannot also be a one-shot initiative. It must be repeated regularly to keep alive the consensus created and try to find common solutions to difficulties that will inevitably come after the first hearings [of the TRRC] and as the process will go ahead,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hussein Thomasi the special advisor to the Minister of Justice said the conference will help to mobilise support for the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission.
He said the nation needs healing and reconciliation, “we must address the concerns of the victims and most significantly provide guarantees so that such barbaric acts never happen again in our country.”
“It is important to state that transitional justice process must be premised in building strong institutions, allow healing process and prevent the recurrences,” he noted.
The dialogue was also premised on the need for the proactive and full engagement and participation of all institutions to ensure ownership, accountability, legitimacy and effectiveness of the Transitional Justice Process.
The overall objective of the dialogue was to also contribute to such a process to effectively address the abuses suffered under the Jammeh Regime’s (mis)governance and support the Gambia to achieve a more peaceful transition to democratic governance.
