Transitional Justice in Ivory Coast

Cote D’Ivoire experienced a decade of civil war and political crises between 2002 and 2007. Following democratic elections in 2010, the capital erupted once more into ethnically motivated violence and the politicization of children and youth, both as victims and perpetrators of divisions and violence. There are to date few nonpartisan safe spaces for youth to engage in reflection about the past conflict and in constructive dialogue about their role and responsibilities in shaping Cote d’Ivoire’s future.

During January 2015, InsightShare trained a team of 10 young people to carry out a participatory video and most significant change evaluation of a UNICEF peace building project in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire. This film shows the results of the three week process. The evaluation focused on the work of UNICEF partner; International Centre for Transitional Justice.

The legacy of war has left many young people dealing with a traumatic and turbulent past, and the government has yet to develop an effective strategy for meaningful reconciliation, the systems of reconciliation currently in place have done little to address these issues for youth in particular. The evaluation focuses on the work of UNICEF with ICTJ, who, since 2013 have provided nonpartisan forums for young people across the Country to express their greivances and foster forgiveness, and build peace. Youth leaders were trained and accompanied in constructive dialogue, documentation 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.

Using story circles and participatory methods the evaluation team listened to the stories of 48 young people involved in the network. 4 stories were selected that represented the "most significant change" that the project had made in their lives. The trainees then analyzed the stories and drew out key learning.