In a first-time collaboration, the Geneva Platform of Empowerment for Peace and Humanity co-organised on Wednesday, the 6th of April 2016, an expert panel on Burundi with the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights entitled: "Burundi - No Peace without Justice?", at the Geneva Academy HQ in the city of Geneva, Switzerland. The Panel was Volume II of the Insights Series Project implemented by the Geneva Platform. On behalf of the Geneva Platform was Dr. Ghislain Lessène who is an expert on the African Human Rights System and the Burundian situation, and on behalf of the Geneva Academy was Dr. Thomas Unger, Co-Director of the Transitional Justice Program at the Geneva Academy and had worked with the Special Rapporteur on Transitional Justice in Burundi.
The idea of the topic came after we were following closely the developments of the issue in Burundi since April 2015, and came to realise the magnitude of the continuing deterioration in the human rights situation in this country, especially in light of the recent international and regional awareness and response.
The idea of the topic came after we were following closely the developments of the issue in Burundi since April 2015, and came to realise the magnitude of the continuing deterioration in the human rights situation in this country, especially in light of the recent international and regional awareness and response.
In fact, since President Nkurunziza’s decision in April 2015 to run for a third term, Burundi has known the worst turmoil since the end of the civil war. Once again, the international community faces the question on how to avert further escalation, including, in the worst case scenario, genocide. At the same time, the crisis sheds the light on the failure to effectively implement transitional justice mechanisms to enhance reconciliation and to bring to justice those responsible for crimes committed during the civil war.
The topic was highly important and intriguing for experts because it touched upon several issues at the same time, be it implementation of International Human Rights Law, Regional and International Mechanisms, International Criminal Law and even Transitional Justice which was considered by the Panelists a very important step which should have been successfully and effectively implemented right after the Burundian Civil War.
During the roundtable, the following issues were discussed:
The intervention of the Panellists was followed by an interactive discussion with the audience which raised new issues and further enriched the discussion.
The topic was highly important and intriguing for experts because it touched upon several issues at the same time, be it implementation of International Human Rights Law, Regional and International Mechanisms, International Criminal Law and even Transitional Justice which was considered by the Panelists a very important step which should have been successfully and effectively implemented right after the Burundian Civil War.
During the roundtable, the following issues were discussed:
- Previous and ongoing attempts to establish effective transitional justice mechanisms to address the legacy of the civil war
- Challenges for transitional justice in Burundi
- The response of the international community to the recent violence with a particular focus on the role of the African Union
- Averting genocide or other mass atrocities: lessons learnt?
The intervention of the Panellists was followed by an interactive discussion with the audience which raised new issues and further enriched the discussion.