Realising Transformative Institutional Reforms via Civil Society
Posted: 11 February, 2025 Filed under: Andrew Songa | Tags: advocacy for reforms, African Union Transitional Justice Policy, civil society, democratic transformation, divisions, human rights violations, inequalities, institutional reforms, National Council for Administration of Justice, past violations, public opinion, public pressure, public symposiums, reform processes, socio-economic transformation, Transformative Institutional Reforms, Transitional Justice 1 CommentAuthor: Andrew Songa
Strategic Advisor, Alt Advisory
If institutional reforms are meant to positively and fundamentally transform our state structures and society, then civil society must play a key role in developing, implementing and monitoring them. In defining transitional justice as policy measures and mechanisms that are implemented to overcome past violations, divisions and inequalities, the African Union Transitional Justice Policy emphasises that these measures should enable the forward-looking goals of democratic and socio-economic transformation. A key measure that underpins this transformative potential of transitional justice is institutional reforms. This is because, if properly designed and implemented, institutional reforms transcend temporary or symbolic measures. They address past violations by introducing state institutions that are competent, ethical, independent, accessible, well-resourced and a reflection of the communities they serve.
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