Why is transitional justice needed?
Carol Yusufu Wakili
The goal of transitional justice is to fix major violations of human rights by putting in place financial reparations, political reforms in a region or country, and other steps to stop future violations.
The concept of transitional justice gained traction in the late 1990s, primarily in Latin America and Europe. Security issues, truth commissions, and the desire for justice in criminal cases, among many other factors, are only a few of the reasons why this occurred.
It is generally acknowledged that transitional justices promote respect for human rights, the rule of law, and reconciliation. They also assist in building the framework required for the democratic, peaceful rule of law, including the prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against the rule of law, and they help to build the framework required for peaceful, democratic and psychologically healing reconciliation. In addition to helping to achieve specific SDGs, transitional justice is promoted and is thought to have additional benefits such as fostering good governance, respect for the law, and human rights. Consider goal 16, which aims to support institutions of justice, peace, and strength.
Transitional justice is a tool to help individuals and society as a whole, not just a process. While other countries, like the United States, profit from this, nations like Nigeria, particularly Adamawa State in the north, are left behind. When children are bullied, when human rights are being abused, and when the government does nothing to stop it, nobody speaks up. Kidnapping has developed into a career that many people see as a routine activity, and child abuse is incredibly common. Everything is ignored.
By supporting transitional justice mechanisms, working with national institutions, and promoting reform initiatives to boost local capacity, stability, and social and peaceful cohesion, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has developed a strategy to address historical grievances and lay the foundation for a sustainable future. UNDP supports transitional justice in a variety of circumstances because it ensures that people are the centre of everything, particularly for those who are risks at risk, such as women, young people, and indigenousDespite spite of the significant challenges, UNDP carried out its regional war crimes (RWC) program in Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia in the second year. It continued to handle the aftermath of the Western Balkans’ conflicts and promote unity. Stalled cases in the most delicate cases were sent on. Cases against the highest-ranking accused currently being heard in Serbia, for example, are among those moved from BiH to Serbia. With this information, the prosecutors were able to better coordinate their investigations and learn about cross-border legal assistance and mutual transfers.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has been educating investigators, victim support officers, and others who look into conflict-rated sexual violence (CRSV) as part of peer-to-peer meetings and other activities.
Since the war is still going on, many victims of war crimes and other crimes against men and women are receiving support and being saved for the first time. This makes it easier to settle peaceful disputes and makes war and human rights abuses less common. The 2030 Agenda emphasizes the links between peace, prosperity, and human rights. This is relevant to the topic at hand because it deals with the effects of past human rights violations, encourages growth, promotes peace, and makes communities safer.
The UNDP assisted in updating the secretary general’s recommendations for the UN’s approach to transitional justice. As part of the Development Dialogues series, this was made public to help guide activities that help with transitional justice.
The practice of transitional justice is widespread; in addition to the examples described above, some of its data sets are gathered from nations between 1970 and 2007; these data sets support the rise in quantitative and comparative analysis. The five transitional justice mechanisms—trials, truth commissions, amnesties, reparations, and lustration programs—are all included in the contribution. Single mechanism studies enable researchers to steer clear of several methodological pitfalls. Additionally, it provides a bigger sample that is representative of both time and space.
Findings suggest that some countries experience amnesia more frequently than others and that when there is a civil war, state opponents rather than state agents experience it. The data also reveals regional differences in the application of mechanisms, trials, lustration policies, and reparations, with the majority of these actions occurring in Europe, while non-European countries are more likely to set up Truth Commissions and amnesties than their European counterparts. Amnesties are commonly granted in Latin America.
Examples of locations where transitional justice is used
We provide instances of places where transitional justice is applied. This is partially true in the United States, where child abuse allegations are typically taken seriously and handled equitably. Child abuse is unheard of in this nation.
In certain areas of India, most notably in the northeastern region, where victims are tried for crimes, transitional justice is implemented. For instance, the perpetrators of crimes like homicide and rape must be brought to justice. A team of special agents from the CBI has been given the job of looking into extrajudicial killings in the northeast.
Due to the high rate of homicide in the state, the Supreme Court established this in 2017. Additionally, it is done to make things right and fix problems. Since they are learning a lot in prison so they will have something to do when they are freed, they are referred to as inmates, which not only keeps them from feeling too bad but also causes them to alter their perspectives and improve rather than deteriorate.
No crime goes unpunished, especially in the country’s north, and this helps set things right and teaches many people a lesson. Everyone aspires to fairness. The state of Nigeria should take this as a lesson that anyone can violate human rights at any moment for any reason.
Transitional justice must be properly enforced in Nigeria as well because of how favouritism is ripping the country apart. For instance, the authorities don’t pay much attention when a Muslim man kills a Christian, but when a Christian kills a Muslim, the situation worsens, ending in friction and an unforeseeable catastrophe.
Despite being a more or less developed region of the country with a considerable number of political personalities, Adamawa state pays little to no attention to what is happening in its environs. In general, practically everyone looks out for themselves, neglecting the poor and their motivations for running for favour in favour of the wealthy.
Even when they call for help, the poor people’s cries go unheard because no one in the area can heaven though fact though they frequently seem to be nonexistent, we have rights that control us. Common human rights include, for instance,
- The right to life, first;
- the freedom of expression;
- the right to move
Looking at the situation a bit above, we can see that freedom seems to be nonexistent; as bandit attacks on people increase in regularity, many of them become scared and are unable to travel when and where they choose in peace. In Mubi, a local government in Adamawa state, there is a curfew that prohibits many residents from going around freely after 7:00 p.m.
Why is Adamawa State in need of transitional justice?
For a state like Adamawa, transitional justice can be acceptable for the following reasons:
The benefits it provides
- for the benefit of the neighbourhood and to improve it.
- To make it compatible with the inhabitants’ level of consciousness.
- As a consequence, political violence would decline. Adherence to the law
- To promote equality and fairness,
- To ensure strong leadership
- That the authorities take charge and pay attention to local events.
Therefore, to put an end to the infringement of human rights, the voice of the voiceless must be heard.
Justice, peace, and a reduction in child abuse and human rights violations are the only things we seek.
By examining the aforementioned, we can see that Transitional Justice is necessary for a community like Adamawa for leaders to accept responsibilities and make sure they implement legislation that would support the punishment of policy violators and offenders. for the defence of one’s rights to one’s integrity, including one’s right to life and everyone else’s right to dignity. for the reduction of political violence, the rule of law, democracy, and the public’s perception of the regime’s legitimacy. We all want justice, especially for the people of Adamawa. Let’s, therefore, ensure that it happens.
- Num: 1210002022
- Name: Ninchi Services Limited
- Bank: Zenith Bank
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