Case Study: Traditional Justice

During January 2015 a team of 10 young people were trained by InsightShare to carry out an evaluation using Participatory Video combined with Most Significant Change (PV MSC) for UNICEF WCARO and UNICEF Côte d'Ivoire. The aim of the activity was to carry out an end of year participatory evaluation led by students and young people who participate in the PBEA programme that UNICEF and it's partners lead in Côte d'Ivoire. The evaluation focuses on the work of UNICEF with the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) to provide non-partisan forums for young people across the country to express their grievances, foster forgiveness and build peace. Youth leaders have been trained and accompanied in constructive dialogue, documentation of projects, arts, music and radio programming to reach and teach a mass audience on their experience of the conflict and their responsibilities leading up to the next election.

The project sample was selected from 25 established groups benefitting from UNICEF-ICTJ support. The individuals invited included the 30 youth who had attended the UNICEF-ICTJ trainings and 18 youth who had worked with these individuals, and had been affected by their activities. The 32 male and 15 female students ranged from 18 to 30 years old. The four story collection circles and first community screening took place at the Centre Episcopal Regional d'Afrique de l'Oest (CERAO) in Abidjan. The second level screening with decision makers also took place at CERAO.The 48 storytellers talked about forgiveness, promotion of peace and becoming a model for others as the most significant changes they have gone through since their involvement with the UNICEF-ICTJ trainings and activities.

Many of the stories document how the youth have had to overcome the repercussions of the 2010-11 crisis, losing members of their families, their homes and looking after their siblings. These were principle blockers to their change followed by abandonment, armed groups, timidity, division and tradition. In this context the UNICEF-ICTJ trainings and other rights based groups were key enablers, providing a source of motivation and support to those with little else available. In particular, UNICEF-ICTJ trainings had built their confidence and awareness, enabling them to engage in positive actions for youth.