Towards a guide for designing innovative human-centred transitional justice processes : lessons from Rwanda, Sierra Leonne and South Africa

Abstract

The past century has been characterised by brutal cycles of violence, especially in the African continent. As a response, transitional justice mechanisms aiming to deliver justice in post conflict contexts have drastically changed in the way that issues of justice at a local level are addressed. However, the challenge of how to best design processes that deliver a sense of justice to the local communities remains, as current models treat local communities as passive agents in the process. This dissertation advocates for further cross fertilisation between the innovation and justice field by exploring how human-centred design processes could help transitional justice designers better understand the end user. A number of human-centred design frameworks were explored and a working framework was deduced from literature. The working framework was later tested against three transitional justice experiences, Rwanda’s Gacaca Courts, Sierra Leone’s Special Court and South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The framework was further refined during the discussion of the findings, shedding light on the importance of having non-linear cohesive design processes that focus on continuous deconstruction of the problem whilst designing the solution. This research highlights the need for further collaborations that should take place between the innovators and justice practitioners to ensure that justice instruments continue to truly deliver the justice that local communities need.