Workshop on Reparation and Healing of Historical Injustices in Africa Held at AU Commission.

Workshop on Reparation and Healing of Historical Injustices in Africa Held at AU Commission.

On February 27, 2025, at Kuriftu African Village Resort, Addis Ababa, and February 28, 2025, at the African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, a two-day workshop titled ‘The Role of Faith Communities and Ethical Organizations in Advancing Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations’ will be organized by the African Union Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO), AU Chaplaincy, Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light(HWPL), Pan African Conference on Ethics and Bioethics (COPAB), Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar(SECAM), Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) Africa and United Religions Initiative(URI). The workshop will examine how religious and ethical perspectives can contribute to reparative justice efforts, focusing on historical injustices and their long-term socio-economic impacts.

Reparations have been a longstanding issue for Africans and people of African descent, as historical injustices—including colonial exploitation, the transatlantic slave trade, and systemic discrimination—have left lasting socio-economic consequences. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive response, the African Union (AU) has designated 2025 as the “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” an initiative officially launched during the 38th AU Summit in February 2025. This year-long focus will address reparative justice through a combination of legal, political, economic, and social measures, while also emphasizing the ethical and spiritual dimensions necessary for true reconciliation and healing.

The workshop will feature opening remarks and a keynote address on the ethical and spiritual dimensions of reparative justice by AU officials and religious leaders. Sessions will include discussions on the theological and philosophical foundations of reparations, strategies for mobilizing faith-based and ethical organizations, and opportunities for collaboration with the African Union’s reparative framework.

One of the organizers of this side event is HWPL, an international peace organization dedicated to conflict resolution and sustainable peacebuilding through interfaith dialogue, youth engagement, and legal frameworks for peace. By incorporating religious and ethical perspectives into the conversation on reparations, HWPL aims to ensure that the pursuit of justice is not solely a political or legal endeavor but one that is also deeply rooted in moral and spiritual principles. HWPL has continuously aligned its work with the AU’s agenda, contributing to the continent’s peace and development goals. Through its Legislate Peace (LP) Project, HWPL has promoted legal mechanisms for conflict resolution; its World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Office has fostered interfaith harmony through doctrinal comparisons; and its Peace Education initiatives have been integrated into local education systems to cultivate a culture of peace. 

Expected outcomes include increased awareness of the moral imperatives for reparations, the establishment of a coalition of faith-based and ethical organizations dedicated to advocating for reparative justice, and the development of policy recommendations for collaboration with the AU and other stakeholders. By engaging faith communities and ethical organizations, the African Union aims to foster unity and develop comprehensive strategies to achieve reparative justice, ensuring that historical injustices are addressed through sustainable and community-driven solutions.

To further strengthen its outreach and advocacy efforts, HWPL has expanded its network of partnerships across Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. HWPL recently signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Pan African Congress for Ethics and Bioethics (COPAB) and the AU Catholic Chaplaincy, both of which have committed to supporting HWPL’s key initiatives. The AU Catholic Chaplaincy has agreed to collaborate on African Religious Peace Academy (RPA), providing classes to study other religions’ teachings based on their scriptures in alignment with the goal of the WARP Office initiative. Additionally, HWPL has partnered with the Africa News Channel and the Amhara Region Media and Journalists Association, which will play a crucial role in reporting on HWPL’s peace efforts and ensuring broader awareness of the reparative justice discourse.

Source: Alrich24newsgh.blogspot.com