November 19, 2024 | 2:00–2:40 p.m. (GMT) | Dakar, Senegal
Background
The Knowledge Platform Security Rule of Law Annual Conference (KPAC) is the Platform’s flagship event. It brings together practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to exchange on emerging challenges and approaches in the field of security and rule of law, including in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The content of the Annual Conference is split between sessions conceived and organized by cohosts and sessions that result from a call for proposals, submitted by members of the Platform network. This year, KPAC will be held in Dakar, Senegal and it will be an opportune moment to officially launch the African Alliance for People-Centered Justice (the Alliance) during the opening session of KPAC.
The Alliance has been created to mainstream the concept of people-centered justice, supporting local and national actors in implementing justice-focused policies and fostering a unified understanding of its principles. The Alliance is a high-ambition coalition of governmental, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental organizations that seek to promote the understanding and use of people-centered approaches to justice in Africa. It has been established to contribute to the reduction of the justice gap and foster equal access to justice for all by promoting people-centered justice. The Alliance is premised upon the growing recognition of people-centered justice as crucial to achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as well as the SDGs. This includes eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, fostering shared prosperity, and protecting the environment. As a coalition of diverse stakeholders championing people-centered justice, the Alliance seeks to enhance collaboration and integration between these development agendas.
Objectives of the launch
- Raise awareness about the Alliance: To emphasize how the Alliance addresses the specific challenges facing African communities, such as access to justice and sustainable development. By gathering a diverse audience of stakeholders—including policymakers, civil society organizations, and the media—the launch aims to ensure that people-centered justice is understood as a critical pathway to sustainable development across the continent.
- Foster partnerships and collaborations: The launch will serve as a platform for building networks between grassroots organizations, regional institutions, and international bodies that share the goal of promoting justice systems that are inclusive, transparent, and accountable. By showcasing best practices and facilitating discussions on successful models from across Africa, the event will lay the groundwork for long-term cooperation that supports locally-led, context-specific solutions.
- Inspire broader participation and galvanize support: By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the launch aims to spark interest and motivate others—be they governments, organizations, or individuals—to join this people-centered justice initiative. The launch event will encourage ongoing engagement, offering a clear pathway for stakeholders to get involved and make meaningful contributions as the initiative progresses. Through dialogue, networking opportunities, and a shared vision for justice reform, the launch sets the stage for participants to make concrete commitments overtime, building momentum as the initiative evolves and expands across the region.
Agenda
2:00–2:05 p.m. (5 mins)
Welcome: Themba Mahleka, Senior Program Officer, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies
2:05–2:15 p.m. (10 mins)
Key-note address: Alpha Sesay, Deputy Minister of Justice, Sierra Leone
2:15–2:25 p.m. (10 mins)
Unlocking the Potential of People-Centered Justice in Africa: Justice N.M. Mbhele, Deputy Judge President, Free State Division of the High Court, South Africa
2:25–2:35 p.m. (10 mins)
Voices of tomorrow: Shaping the Future with People-Centered Justice: Abbas Luyombo, Young Justice Leader
2.35–2:40 p.m. (5 mins)
Closing Remarks: Aimee Ongeso, Network Manager, Grassroots Justice Network
