International Development Law Organization

Sahel

English

The Sahel region is caught in a vicious cycle: insecurity is on the rise, the capacity of countries to provide basic services, maintain order and deliver justice is diminishing, development is hampered, tensions within communities are mounting and there is growing distrust of the State. Impunity, corruption and lack of justice are among the root causes of instability and insecurity in the region. The absence of an effective response to crime and conflict - such as banditry, cattle theft, attacks on roads and markets, as well as illegal detention and other injustices committed by state agents - contributes to the deterioration of State legitimacy and creates a breeding ground for jihadist and organized crime groups. Beyond strengthening institutions to combat terrorism, it is therefore essential to address the systemic shortcomings within criminal justice systems to effectively reduce instability in the region.

La région du Sahel fait face à un cercle vicieux : l’insécurité augmente, la capacité des États à assurer les services de base et le maintien de l’ordre et la justice diminue, le développement est davantage entravé, les tensions intercommunautaires s’attisent et la méfiance envers l’État grandit. L'impunité, la corruption et le manque de justice, font partie des causes profondes de l’instabilité et de l’insécurité dans la région. L’absence de réponse face à la criminalité et aux conflits - comme le banditisme, le vol de bétail, les attaques sur les routes et marchés, ainsi que la détention illégale et les injustices commises par les agents de la justice – contribue à dégrader la légitimité des États et à créer un terrain propice pour les groupes djihadistes et de crime organisé.  Au-delà du renforcement des institutions de lutte contre le terrorisme, il apparait donc essentiel de remédier aux défaillances systémiques des systèmes de justice pénale afin de lutter efficacement contre l'instabilité dans la région.

MALI: Appui à la Prise en Charge Psychologique et Juridique des Survivantes de Violences Basées sur le Genre (VBG) et au Renforcement de l’Accès à la Justice

This sub-project aimed to reinforce access to high-quality psychosocial and judicial services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities, specifically survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and people in conflict with the law, while also strengthening the collaboration between communities and justice service providers.

BURKINA FASO: Renforcement de la Participation des Hommes à la Réduction des Violence Basée sur le Genre dans la Ville de Fada N’Gourma, Région de l’Est

This sub-project aimed to improve the protection of girls and women from gender-based violence (GBV) in the context of the security crisis in the Eastern Region of Burkina Faso. Mwangaza action supported the establishment and operationalization of community structures for the fight against GBV and delivered a series of capacity development activities for men community members and religious leaders on GBV, women’s rights and available community protection and referral mechanisms for GBV victims and survivors.

BURKINA FASO: Projet de Renforcement des Capacités des Acteurs des Droits Humains et des Personnes à Risque de Violences Basées sur le Genre dans la Commune de Ouahigouya, Région du Nord, Burkina Faso

This sub-project aimed to enhance access to legal aid by improving justice knowledge and legal service provision in the commune of Ouahigouya of the northern region of Burkina Faso. To this end, the association Appui Moral, Matériel et Intellectuel à l’Enfant (AMMIE) delivered a series of capacity development sessions for civil society actors and human rights defenders on criminal law and procedure, judicial organization, fair trial principles and detention law.

NIGER: Appui au Renforcement du Cadre d’Apprentissage et de Réinsertion Socioprofessionnelle des Détenus de la Prison de Daikaina

This sub-project aimed to support the socio-professional reintegration of the detainees of Daikana reinsertion centre in Niger. The organization Ecole-Parrainage et Actions de Développement de Base (EPAD) supported the operationalization of professional centres within the Daikana reinsertion centre and delivered a series of vocational training sessions on sewing, cabinet making, metal carpentry and ecological market gardening to the inmates .

BURKINA FASO: Projet de Renforcement de la Veille Citoyenne des Communautés et des Organisations de la Société Civile en Matière de Justice Pénale et la Lutte Contre les Violences Basées sur le Genre, Pour une Justice Accessible

This sub-project aimed to improve access to legal aid for the population of the northern region of Burkina Faso.

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Key Initiatives

  • The failure of criminal justice systems in the Sahel to deliver better quality justice can be linked to a series of interconnected factors, such as: the overwhelming lack of human, material and financial capacity; corruption and weak internal control mechanisms; and limitations on civil society to ensure respect for human rights.
  • As part of IDLO’s continuous commitment to accountability and results-based management, IDLO is pleased to share this Mid-Term Evaluation Brief for the project, “Strengthening the Criminal Justice Chain in the North of Mali (SCJC)”. The evaluation has been conducted by independent evaluation experts, supervised by IDLO’s Evaluation Unit.
  • It is only 25 years ago that Mali initiated its transition from dictatorship to a more inclusive democracy and a more equal society. In many ways it is, therefore, no great surprise that the country has not been able to either transcend personalised power politics or overcome critical socio-economic cleavages.
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