Recommendations of the recently held conference: Towards a Sudanese model for justice and transitional justice have received different assessment from stakeholders while the organizers hope the recommendations shall serve as a guide for providing a Sudanese model for justice.
Khartoum – Altaghyeer: Alaa Eddeen Musa
The conference titled “Towards a Sudanese model for justice and transitional justice” was recently organized within the final phase of the Political Process. Representatives of the stakeholders, including families of the martyrs and victims of human rights breaches since 1989 to date, have participated in its activities, 16-20 March 2023.
The conference was held under the auspices of the Trilateral Mechanism (the African Union, United Nations and IGAD). It made more than one thousand recommendations and produced a declaration of principles consisting of 16 items.
The conferees underlied the need for the transitional justice to hold accountable those responsible for violations and ensure justice is served, adequate reparations are offered, and close the door before any possible recurrences.
But, of course, some of the stakeholders are doubtful about the output of the conference and it’s ability to establish a Sudanese justice model that will help in reparation for the victims and elimination of historical injustices.
Special act
The conference stipulated that criminals shall not be part of any future political democratic process. Any person who committed crimes shall face due process of law.
The conference recommended formation of a commission for transitional justice and drafting of special act that will be a guide for the coming civilian government.
Comprehensive workshops
The conference has been criticized by some people for not inviting the real stakeholders; the victims and their families in particular those living in IDPs camps. But the leading figure in the Sudan’s People Liberation Movement – Revolutionary Democratic faction – Ms Buthaina Dinar rejected this claim “this accusation is not accurate because the most distinguished characteristic of the conference was that victims and martyrs families formed over 60% of the participants.”
She said the recommendations of the conference will be included in the final political agreement and the constitution.
Ending impunity
Chairwoman of the Republican Party Ms. Asma Muhmoud agreed with Dinar that the conference witnessed frank and open discussions on all aspects dealing with rights of the victims and their families.
She expressed her conviction that the coming transitional government will implement the conference’s recommendations and redress grievances and end impunity.
Politicization of justice
Chair of the General Coordination of IDPs and Refugees Adam Rijal begged to differ that they had not been part of the conference. He argued that such conferences and workshops will not realize justice. “They rather legitimize and politicize the justice process and provide impunity for the perpetrators” he added.
Rijal said after December Revolution those who were indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) were not taken to The Hague for trial before the ICC court. The deep state and the army generals are still in control and are involved in committing violations.
He said those who have attended the conference only represent themselves not the IDPs who have institutions that defend their causes. “Participants in such conferences have used us as coverup in all agreements made in Sudan” Rijal maintained.
He added that the workshops should take place in the camps, not the in cities, to allow for the IDPs participation.
The IDPs Coordinator stressed that they will not consuder the outcome of the conference and workshops “because they will not ultimately realize the due rights of the victims”.
A Sudanese model
Director of Unit for Combating Violence Against Women, Sulaima Ishaq, has noted that the majority of those who participated in the sessions of conference devoted for women, hailed from the protection committees at Darfur IDP camps “because most violations were committed in Darfur and received international media coverage”.
She challenged the expectations that the conference would establish a Sudanese model for transitional justice. She said building a model requires much time.
The model will be built only through consensus on minimum basic and principle guidelines.
She added that years will not be enough to establish a Sudanese model for transitional justice though they could help in establishing the basics for implementation of the transitional justice.
Ishaq called for raising social awareness on accepting others for who they are and for recognizing the grievances expressed by the victims “raising awareness is important because it will create the modern transitional justice, though this will take time and requires patience”.
