From June 19 - 20, 2025, our Executive Director Liliane Umubyeyi, PhD (external link) joined leading transitional justice experts at the 5th AU-EU Experts' Seminar on Transitional Justice in Abuja, Nigeria. Co-hosted by the African Union and European Union, the seminar was organized in collaboration with the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) (external link), the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) (external link), and the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) (external link).
This year's theme - "Reparations and Transitional Justice: Perspectives and Approaches from Africa and Europe" brought together over 50 experts to examine reparations as a cornerstone of justice for historical and contemporary harms, including enslavement, colonial violence, and systemic racism. Discussions focused on sustainable funding models, gender-responsive reparations, environmental justice, and the integration of rehabilitation into reparation frameworks.
Liliane moderated a session titled "The Economics of Reparations: Designing, Funding and Sustaining Reparations Programs," which explored practical strategies for making reparations financially viable and enduring. This two-day exchange aimed to strengthen cross-continental collaboration and deepen shared knowledge on how to design inclusive, victim-centered reparation programs.
As the African Union marks 2025 as the Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent (external link), African Futures Lab remains committed to advancing reparatory and transformative justice through sustained collaboration and policy engagement.