[ISEA2009] Paper: Cindy Jeffers & Stefan Agamanolis – Professional capital and informal justice systems

Abstract

Keywords: Africa, Rwanda, informal justice system, arbitration, mediation, dispute resolution, Abunzi, Web 2.0, wiki, e-development, social networking, ICT, infrastructure.

We present the Griotphone, a system with wiki-like functionality that is accessed and interacted with by phone. This technology could serve as a networking tool that would strengthen informal justice systems by facilitating discussion around best practice and establishing an archive of decisions. These objectives are important as many informal justice systems, such as the Abunzi system in Rwanda, lack an archive of decisions and a forum for informal justice actors to discuss their profession. This technology would facilitate information sharing between informal and formal justice systems. This system aims to increase transparency and accountability in informal justice systems. This technology strives to enable informal justice actors to more quickly resolve cases, which would in turn ease tensions in communities and support reconciliation in developing areas of the world.

  • Cindy Jeffers & Stefan Agamanolis Distance Lab, Horizon Scotland, Forres, UK

Full text (PDF)  p.  880-889