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Justice, Accountability and Sustained Momentum for Democracy

Shoring Up Democratic Norms in Countries Facing Conflict and Authoritarianism

Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 / Time: 9:30am - 11:00am EDT

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Justice institutions — both formal and transitional — are critical for maintaining a state’s commitment to democratic principles when threatened by authoritarianism and conflict. These institutions provide spaces for the public, victims and survivors to have their grievances heard, and to seek remedies and hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes. In Colombia, The Gambia and Ukraine, justice institutions have shed light on abuses of civilian populations and have helped set their countries on a path toward accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims and survivors.

On March 28, USIP and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Criminal Justice and Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations hosted a discussion on how formal and transitional justice mechanisms have created or sustained momentum for democracy in states where democratic values are threatened by authoritarianism and conflict. The conversation included renowned civil society activists and Nobel laureates from Colombia, The Gambia and Ukraine who have worked to make justice processes more inclusive of — and available to — vulnerable populations as they seek to address the full breadth of harms suffered by civilian populations.

Learn more about our Summit for Democracy side events here, and follow our work on social media with #DemocracySummitUSIP.

Speakers

Lise Grande, co-moderator
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Colleen Crenwelge, welcoming remarks
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, U.S. Department of State

Beth Van Schaack, keynote remarks 
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, Office of Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State

Ambassador David Scheffer, co-moderator
Professor of Practice, Arizona State University (Washington)

Gina Cabarcas Maciá
Director, Justice & Criminal Policy Laboratory

Baba Galleh Jallow
Roger D. Fisher Fellow in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Harvard Law School

Oleksandra Matviichuk
Head of the Organization, Center for Civil Liberties; Nobel Peace Laureate

Fabricio Guariglia, closing remarks
Director, The Hague Branch Office, International Development Law Organization

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