The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) participated in the African Regional Forum on People-Centered Justice, held recently in Banjul, The Gambia, alongside the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).
The forum, themed “Advancing People-Centered Justice in Africa: Building Just Societies for All,” took place from 27th to 29th October 2025, and focused on the urgent need to transform justice delivery across the continent. It brought together policymakers, legal practitioners, and civil society leaders to chart a collective path toward inclusive and responsive legal systems.
Mr. Enock Jengre, a Lawyer and Programme Officer at the LRC, represented the organization at the convening. The discussions centred on shifting African justice systems from outdated, institution-centric frameworks toward models rooted in the needs, experiences, and realities of ordinary people.
Among the sessions Mr. Jengre participated in was one focused on realizing justice for children by moving from punitive detention approaches to child-centered, restorative justice. Another session explored the role of data and evidence in developing people-centered justice metrics. The final panel discussion examined strengthening diverse pathways to justice, including customary and informal systems, to enhance access while aligning with human rights standards.
The forum reaffirmed the commitment to realizing Agenda 2040’s vision that every African child has access to justice that is adapted, protective, inclusive, and restorative. Achieving this goal requires urgent, transformative action across all justice sectors.
Working in collaboration with Namati under the Grassroots Justice Network (GJN), civil society organizations including the LRC committed to lobbying and collaborating with the African Commission to ensure justice pathways are both accessible and protective of marginalized populations. The aim is to foster a regional movement for rights-based, grassroots empowerment and people-centred justice.
On the sidelines of the forum, members of the GJN, including the LRC, held a meeting with Hon. Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Commissioner at the ACHPR. The engagement focused on advocating for the inclusion of grassroots legal empowerment and people-centered justice in the Commission’s considerations. Hon. Musyimi-Ogana who serves as Chairperson of both the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa and the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV and Those at Risk, Vulnerable to, and Affected by HIV in Africa expressed her readiness and support to help advance the GJN’s objectives.
The forum concluded with a strong call to action, urging policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to translate the momentum generated into lasting, impactful efforts that position justice as a driver of sustainable development and peace in Africa.
The event was organized and sponsored by the African Alliance on People-Centered Justice, Open Society Foundation, The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), and UNDP.
