The Africa Group for Justice and Accountability is an international, non-governmental group made up of public figures, academics, lawyers and human rights advocates. Its stated purpose is to advocate for justice and accountability for international crimes. It endeavours to build the capacity of African judiciaries to investigate and prosecute crimes. It has also issued public statements on global justice and human rights.
History
The group was established in 2015 with a mandate to “strengthen justice and accountability measures in Africa through domestic and regional capacity building, advice and outreach, and enhancing cooperation between Africa and the International Criminal Court”. In 2016 it established five core operating principles, which it calls the Kilimanjaro Principles on Justice and Accountability. The Wayamo Foundation serves as AGJA´s secretariat.
“Fighting Impunity and Ensuring Accountability in East Africa” project
AGJA and its partner organisation, the Wayamo Foundation, are providing training to investigators, prosecutors and judges on international criminal justice and transnational organised crime, organising public outreach activities, and building diplomatic and political collaboration with regional and international stakeholders. In order to strengthen regional cooperation, AGJA and Wayamo support the establishment of an East African network of Directors of Public Prosecution and Heads of Criminal Investigation Departments.
The Africa Group has been working with the authorities of the Central African Republic since September 2016, to support the establishment and operationalisation of the Special Criminal Court in Bangui. The AGJA and the Wayamo Foundation have been organising international Symposia to raise awareness of the court, as well as capacity building workshops for the newly nominated members of the SCC to support the operationalisation of the court.
At the request of Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mr. Aboubacarr Tambadou, AGJA and the Wayamo Foundation provided a joint expert advisory report on the Truth, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission Bill.
The Hybrid Justice Project
AGJA is participating in the Hybrid Justice Project, launched in January 2017, which analyses the impact of hybrid justice mechanisms in post-conflict societies. The project also aims at producing guidelines for future hybrid courts as well as a policy advice for the ICC on their complementarity role.
Advocacy on international criminal justice issues in Africa
AGJA seeks to improve relations between African states and the ICC. It issues regular public statements in response to developments relating to this relationship .
