PROMOTING PEACE AND JUSTICE WORKSHOP 3rd July/2008

As part of its mission to promote observance and entrenchment of international criminal justice, APILU organized a workshop to discuss the legal and operational framework of the Special Division of the High Court to try War Crimes and the role of traditional justice in promoting justice and peace. The workshop emphasized the need to reduce impunity by ensuring that perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity are brought to justice and ensuring that the justice system comprehensively addresses issues of accountability and reconciliation in a just and fair manner to all parties. Participants also urged government to enact the ICC Bill and emphasized the need for the war crimes court to operate according to international standards. It was further noted that traditional justice should be practised in a manner that respects the rights of women, children and vulnerable people. Issues arising out of the workshop have informed APILU’s position paper to be presented to the legal and parliamentary affairs committee on the ICC Bill.

The workshop contributed to increasing public awareness about the need to hold perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable to stop impunity and promote justice and peace. Links to media articles covering the workshop are provided below:

Monitor Article
New Vision Article

   
         
   
         

Increase awareness amongst law students on the relevance of public international law and international criminal justice

APILU plans to engage law students on international criminal justice issues and establish linkages with law faculties to promote awareness of International Criminal Law and Justice in Uganda. During the reporting period, APILU approached the Law Development Centre (LDC) with a proposal regarding APILU’s engagement with post graduate law students and diploma in law students. Discussions considered possibilities of APILU giving a guest presentation to post graduate students on International Criminal

Students from the Law Development Centre, Makerere University, Mukono University and Kampala International University, IUIU, Institute of Peace and Strategic studies, Gulu Justice, having post graduate students undertake their clerkship at APILU to increase their knowledge and awareness of International Criminal Law and Justice. APILU could also give presentations to diploma in law students on International Humanitarian Law and the Rule of Law.

APILU was also approached by the Uganda Law Students’ society to work with them on promoting awareness of International Criminal Justice and International Criminal Law amongst law students. APILU has also established contacts with deans of Kampala International University and Uganda Christian University to identify how APILU can contribute to increasing awareness of International Criminal Law and Justice amongst the law students of these universities.

Inter-networking activities at local, national and international levels
APILU has undertaken inter-networking activities at local levels.
APILU attended a workshop on “International Justice in Africa: Prospects and Challenges,” organized by the International Refugee Rights Initiative. APILU learnt about international criminal justice in Africa and contributed to discussions on the role of the ICC in promoting justice and peace and challenges faced by the ICC in pursuing justice.

APILU also became a member of the Uganda Governance Monitoring Program (UGMP), a platform that brings together key civil society organizations in Uganda in a joint monitoring program to track and report Uganda’s progress in good governance. APILU will contribute to reports about justice and peace in Uganda within the UGMP.