A two-day workshop has been organized in Ethiopia, which will discuss various issues of reparations and healing of injustices in Africa.
A statement released by the World Health Organization (HWPL) said that the workshop will be held from February 27 to 28, 2025 at the Kuriftu African Village Resort, Addis Ababa and its theme is ‘The Role of Faith Communities and Ethical Organizations in Advancing Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations’.
The statement said that the workshop will be organized by the African Union’s Director of Diaspora and Diaspora.
Others are Chaplaincy, Heavenly Culture World Restoration of Light (HWPL), Pan African Conference on Ethics and Bioethics (COPAB), Conference of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Inter-Religious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) Africa and the United Religions Initiative (URI).
It said the issues to be discussed include the long-standing issues of reparations for Africans and people of African descent, historical injustices and colonial exploitation, the transatlantic slave trade and systemic discrimination that have left lasting social and economic consequences.
Recognizing the need for a comprehensive response, the African Union (AU) has designated 2025 as the “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” an initiative officially launched during the 38th AU Summit in February 2025.
The year-long approach will address the right to reparations through a combination of legal, political and social measures, a moral, political and social focus as well as genuine reconciliation and healing.
The workshop will feature keynote addresses focusing on the moral and spiritual dimensions of the right to reparations by AU officials and religious leaders.
Sessions will include discussions on the theological and philosophical foundations of reparations, strategies for mobilizing faith-based and ethical organizations, and opportunities for engagement with the African Union reform framework.
One of the organizers of this side event is HWPL, an international peace organization that works on conflict resolution and sustainable peacebuilding through interfaith dialogue, youth engagement, and legal peace mechanisms.
By integrating religious and ethical perspectives into reparations negotiations, HWPL aims to ensure that the pursuit of justice is not merely a political or legal endeavor but one that is also rooted in ethical and spiritual principles.
HWPL has continued to align its work with the AU agenda, contributing to the peace and development goals of the continent.
Through its Law of Peace Project (LP), HWPL has promoted legal approaches to conflict resolution. Its World Alliance of Religions for Peace (WARP) Office has promoted interfaith understanding through the comparison of teachings and its Peace Education programs are integrated into local education systems to promote a culture of peace.
Expected outcomes include increased understanding of the ethical requirements of reparations, the establishment of a coalition of religious and ethical organizations committed to advocating for the right to reparations, and the development of policy recommendations for engagement with the AU and other stakeholders.
By engaging religious communities and ethical organizations, the African Union aims to foster unity and develop comprehensive strategies to achieve the right to reparations, ensuring that historical injustices are addressed through sustainable and community-driven solutions.
To further strengthen its advocacy and advocacy efforts, HWPL has expanded its network of partners in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia.
HWPL signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Pan African Congress for Ethics and Bioethics (COPAB) and the AU Catholic Chaplaincy, both of which have committed to supporting HWPL’s key initiatives.
The AU Chaplaincy Council has agreed to collaborate with the African Religious Peace Academy (RPA), to offer classes on the study of the teachings of other religions in line with their texts and the focus of the WARP Office programme.
In addition, HWPL has partnered with the Africa News Channel and the Amhara Regional Journalists and Media Association, which will play a key role in reporting on HWPL’s peace efforts and ensuring wider understanding of the restorative justice dialogue.
