The people of Mali use a vast array of justice mechanisms to resolve their conflicts. Given the weakness and inadequacy of state institutions to provide justice to the Malian people, customary systems are the main justice providers throughout the country. These systems are widely trusted by the people of Mali as they are able to maintain social cohesion. However, customary justice systems are also  exposed to increasing challenges.

Considering the retreat of the state apparatus in light of the ongoing conflict, the presence of radical groups pursuing ideological agendas, the deprecation of traditional values, the growing corruption, and the weak relationship between customary and formal justice, this is a timely moment to discuss and evaluate policy engagement with customary systems.

To do so, this full-day event will explore opportunities and challenges in operationalising policies in the field of justice reform that envision a greater role for customary authorities. The program will be informed by the research of Clingendael’s Conflict Research Unit and by IDLO’s work in the field. Experts and practitioners will contribute with their expertise on legal pluralism, customary mediation and justice reform. Speakers include:

• Judge Fatoumata D. Diarra, Former Vice-President of the International Criminal Court
• Cheick Harouna A. Sankaré,Traditional chief and mayor of Ouenkoro(Mopti)
• Mamadou Ben Chérif Diabaté, Traditional chief and founder of ‘Réseau des Communicaterus Traditionnels pour le développement du Mali’
• Dr Janine Ubink, President of the Commission on Legal Pluralism and Professor of Law, Governance and Development at Leiden University
• Diana Goff, Expert on customary justice in Mali and former research fellow with the Conflict Research Unit of the Clingendael Institute
• Elena Ursu, Researcher at the Conflict Research Unit of Clingendael Institute

Registration

Please note, that the event will be held in French and English. Interpretation will be provided.

This event is by invitation only. If you know any colleagues who are also interested in this event please contact us via email.

WE HAVE REACHED CAPACITY FOR THIS EVENT. FURTHER REGISTRATIONS FOR THIS EVENT ARE CLOSED.

On Tuesday 6 February 2018, Clingendael’s Conflict Research Unit will bring together researchers, practitioners, opinion- and policy-makers to discuss key challenges for European policy towards Syria. The event will focus on reconstruction in the absence of reconciliation, and operate under the assumption that the Assad regime will remain in charge of a significant part of the country. The day features an expert meeting until 3pm (by invitation only), and a public panel debate from 4-7pm, concluding with a reception.

Click here to see the program for the day.

Parallel to efforts to reduce the level of violence in Syria, there has been increasing talk of how European countries should relate to a Syria under the continued rule of President Assad. This question acquires both urgency and practical meaning when it turns to the matter of support for the country’s ‘reconstruction’ – social, material and perhaps even psychological. After all, alleviating human suffering, mitigating security threats and enabling governance beyond wartime political orders requires massive assistance that Syria’s primary international backers probably cannot afford.

Yet, providing such assistance to the Syrian government with its low level of international legitimacy, its poor human rights record and its debt to both Iran and Russia – neither of which are necessarily amicably disposed towards Europe – raises significant political questions. Moreover, urban reconstruction is already taking place in cities such as Homs and Damascus with economic policies of the Syrian government favoring regime loyalists. Finally, a plethora of non- and semi-state actors, both foreign and local, have claimed their  pace in the Syrian conflict landscape. Their interests and allegiances will affect the future of Syria as polity and community.

From a European perspective, containment of spill-over may be preferable to supporting reconstructing. Or it may not be. In either case, reconstruction-type support will need to be highly politically aware and conflict sensitive – if only to avoid the regime simply appropriating all aid, using it to re-engineer Syria’s demography, excluding refugees currently outside of Syria or strengthening its position in the geopolitics of the Middle East – actions which may simply set the scene for the next conflict years down the line.

The event will address the questions of whether European countries should support Syrian reconstruction and if so, how this can be done. It is necessary to consider European policy towards Syria on its own merits because US foreign policy towards the Middle East is currently too uncompromising and belligerent to align with.

On Tuesday 21 November 2017, Clingendael’s Conflict Research Unit will organize a public panel discussion in The Hague about how further conflict in Iraq can be avoided. Reconciling Iraq’s different ethno-sectarian groups, reconstruction the many cities that were ruined in the fight against the Islamic State and the recent Kurdish referendum all present challenges for the country that could renew the very violence it is just emerging from.

The focus of the panel discussion will be how it can be ensured that the conclusion of the fight against the Islamic State is the beginning of the end, instead of the end of the beginning?

• What are the main issues that can trigger future conflict?
• How could this impact the region and radicalization?
• What can the Netherlands do to help avoid future violence?

Three speakers will share their perspectives on these matters, after which Monika Sie Dhian Ho (Director of Clingendael) will facilitate a broader discussion:

• Saywan Barzani – The Iraqi ambassador to The Netherlands
• Ali Al-Mawlaki - Research director of the Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies
• Mark Zellenrath - Deputy director of the Middle East directorate, Dutch Foreign Ministry

The full program for the day can be found here.

Practicalities

Kindly note that the event takes place at Hofweg 9e, 3rd floor, premises of the International Development of Law Organization, The Hague. The discussion starts at 4pm (Tuesday 21 November)

Please register for this event by emailing Erwin van Veen ([email protected]).

Resources

Iraq's competing security forces after the battle for Mosul- Report by Erwin van Veen and Renad Mansour

Iraq's Shi'a: A house divided - Report by Erwin van Veen, Nick Grinstead and Floor El Kamouni-Janssen