Building Peace in the Process of Restoring Justice: A Conceptual Framework for an Inclusive Approach to Peace and Justice in Northern Uganda

Abstract

The following attempts to provide a conceptual framework for thinking about different dimensions of justice and peace in the current context of Northern Uganda, with special focus on a proposed limited role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the increased role of restorative justice. This study examines “who is responsible to do what” in terms of the relationship between international and third party actors and local people and indigenous and traditional means of handling justice and peace. It suggests that the ICC and international third party actors should support and assist these local practices and institutions that deal mutually with justice and peace; and proposes that the ICC specifically and the international community generally have important roles to play in Northern Uganda, but these supporting, not leading, roles. Ugandans are not recipients of justice but are resources for justice and the international community might have something to learn about this process as Uganda transitions from violence to politics.