PF Rwanda's Restorative Justice Workshops
This month [September], Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR) conducted its fifth ‘Restorative Justice’ three-day training workshop, this time in Juru Sector, Bugasera District, Eastern Province. The class was made up of 15 participants, half of which were genocide victims, half ex-offenders and a handful of local authority members. The aim of the class was to promote continuing unity and reconciliation, and sustainable peaceful cohabitation within the community. By training participants to become peace activists, PFR hoped that they would continue to mobilise others in their respective communities in the prevention and resolution of any conflict that might arise.
Over the course of the three days participants addressed a number of different issues including the causes of the conflict, the meaning and need for reconciliation, methods of conflict prevention and resolution, and the merits of restorative justice as a conflict resolution mechanism. They enthusiastically shared ideas and debated amongst themselves as well as listening to PFR’s Project Manager, Felix’s, teachings. Some participants also gave testimonies describing their experiences during the conflict demonstrating repentance, forgiveness, and courage in different measures.
Like the traditional Gacaca Courts of Rwanda, restorative justice puts resolution into the hands of the concerned parties, whilst a mediator will be present, he will only promote dialogue, not take sides. The two people must themselves , express their points of view and work together, to find their own solution, and to reach an agreement that they are both happy with, therefore creating a solid, sustainable social relationship.
The workshop proved to be both enlightening and encouraging, and PFR will continue to spread the lessons of restorative justice throughout Rwanda.
This article first appeared in the PF Rwanda newsletter for September 2010.
