Abuja: The AU-EU Expert Seminar on Transitional Justice is taking place in Abuja, Nigeria, with a focus on reparations and transitional justice, particularly perspectives and approaches from Africa and Europe. The seminar is part of the ongoing collaboration between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) to advance transitional justice practices across both continents.
According to European Union, this year’s seminar builds on the outcomes of the 2024 seminar held in Brussels. The event emphasizes reparations as a fundamental element of transitional justice, aiming to address the legacies of human rights violations, historical injustices, and contemporary conflicts. The seminar facilitates enhanced cross-continental collaboration among policymakers, practitioners, and civil society to foster joint initiatives for designing and implementing victim-centered reparation programs. Key topics include exploring innovative and sustainable funding models for reparations, as well as strategies for gender-responsive reparations, environmental justice, and integrating rehabilitation efforts into reparation programs.
The seminar convenes policymakers, representatives from multilateral agencies, transitional justice practitioners, civil society representatives, academia, and stakeholders from both Africa and Europe. This gathering aims to foster dialogue and cooperation to develop effective reparation strategies that address the complex needs of victims and contribute to long-term peace and reconciliation efforts.