10(v) Documentation Of Traditional Justice Processes And Outcomes: The idea of documenting
traditional justice processes especially those occurring at community levels should not be
seen as an attempt to codify or formalize customary law, but instead stimulate self-reform
through local ownership by traditional authorities. Creating a database of judgments of
customary justice practices would complement oral traditions. Documentation research
through participatory action methodologies can help give greater ownership, capture
changing oral jurisprudence and increase consistency of judgments.
10(vi) Civil Society Monitoring and Advocacy: Empowering local civil society organizations and
other community groups to demand reforms from the traditional justice processes especially
at community level creates a sustaining incentive for long, difficult reforms. Civil society legal
service providers, such as community paralegals, can also play a key role in navigating the
space between customary and statutory systems, and identifying cases that should be
removed to appeal courts. An active civil society will be essential for challenging local
power dynamics that co-opt both formal and customary justice systems. Civil society can
expose these abuses, raise awareness of human rights and other legal entitlements, and
build dialogue and demand for justice at the community level.
10(vii) Training Of Traditional Authorities: Traditional authorities should be trained on human
rights. However, all trainings should be designed in a manner that circumvents perceptions
of cultural imperialism and introduction of foreign values.
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