Bay Women Development Organization (BWDO) had implemented access to justice and mechanisms to address grievances for local community members who do not have basic public service delivery in early recovery contexts in Marka, Janaale and Awdhegle Districts in Lower Shabelle region, Southwest State of Somalia had no formal justice institutions are in place, and where Shari’ah courts and many customary actors have been eroded through Al-Shabaab occupation.
The project contributed to and supported the re-establishment of intra- and inter-communal balances to contain or create peace and stability. The support to the justice sub-committees enhanced rights-based justice for the communities and individuals supporting communities themselves to navigate the available justice either community level or authorities to the formal court system. The project as well contributed support to community trauma healing processes, building trust and confidence in communities as a basis for justice and peace. Community healing processes through this small grant project supplemented with peace committee/reconciliation initiatives. BWDO through EAJ Program had helped to address root causes and aim to heal the underlying community trauma, which is a basis for the acceptance of any peace-building or justice outcomes.
Through this project, BWDO with the help of local authorities formed justice sub-committees from Marka, Janale, and Awdigle districts in Lower-Shebelle region to collect injustice cases and refer the victims to justice institutions in the area.
