In alignment with the African Union’s (AU) 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” a two-day workshop will take place on February 27-28, 2025, at the Kuriftu Resort African Village and the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This initiative aims to address the lasting impacts of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, slavery, and colonization, while fostering dialogue on reparations and justice for affected communities.
A Collaborative Effort
The event is organized by SECAM (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), the AU Catholic Chaplaincy, HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), COPAB (Pan African Conference on Ethics and Bioethics), IAPD-Africa (Interreligious Association for Peace and Development), URI (United Religions Initiative), and other key partners in collaboration with the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) of the AU Commission.
Participants will include AU officials, diplomats, religious leaders, scholars, human rights advocates, and policymakers, working together to advance the AU’s reparations agenda.
The Case for Reparative Justice
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For centuries, Africans and people of African descent have faced economic disenfranchisement, social marginalization, and generational trauma due to historical injustices. The legacies of slavery, colonization, apartheid, and genocide continue to shape societies today.
Recognizing this, the African Union is committed to driving global advocacy, policy reforms, and reparative action. Countries like Ghana have already championed this cause through initiatives such as the 2019 “Year of Return”, which sought to reconnect the African diaspora with their heritage.
The workshop will build upon these efforts by amplifying the voices of faith-based and ethical organizations in the push for justice.
Workshop Agenda Highlights
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The two-day event will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions on reparations from faith, historical, and economic perspectives.
Day 1 – February 27, 2025 (Kuriftu Resort African Village)
• Keynote Address by Dr. Rita Bissoonauth, Head of the UNESCO Liaison Office to the AU Commission and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
• Panel Discussions exploring perspectives from African Traditional Religion, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, alongside diaspora and global faith leaders.
• Ethical and Moral Imperatives of Reparations – A special session with contributions from HWPL, URI, AACC, CIDO, and SECAM.
• Open Forum – Participants will engage in dialogue and policy recommendations.
• Networking Dinner hosted by SECAM for attendees.
Day 2 – February 28, 2025 (African Union Commission Headquarters)
• Discussions on transgenerational trauma, genocide, and peace-building efforts in Africa.
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• Economic Reparations Strategies, including microfinancing opportunities to empower affected communities.
• International Perspectives on Reparations – Exploring best practices and global initiatives.
• Signing of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.
• Closing Commitments from participating organizations.
Expected Outcomes
The workshop seeks to:
✅ Raise awareness of reparative justice within faith communities and the public.
✅ Build a coalition of faith-based and ethical organizations committed to the reparations movement.
✅ Develop policy recommendations in partnership with the AU.
✅ Establish a roadmap for action, outlining tangible next steps for advancing justice.
✅ Produce a formal commitment document supporting the AU’s 2025 reparations agenda.
A Unified Call to Action
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This workshop underscores the pivotal role of faith and ethical communities in shaping public opinion, influencing policy, and promoting reconciliation. By working closely with the AU and international stakeholders, these organizations can drive transformative change and advocate for restitution for Africans and people of African descent.
