The High-Level Regional Conference on Traditional Dispute Resolution (TDR) was held on 25–26 March 2026 at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the continent to explore the critical role of customary justice systems in expanding access to justice, particularly for underserved communities. 

Participants recognized that traditional justice systems remain the primary pathway to justice for millions of Africans and acknowledged their strategic importance in advancing Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG 16), and the broader African Union vision of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. They underscored the vital role of traditional dispute resolution systems as accessible, cost-effective, and culturally legitimate mechanisms that complement formal justice systems, particularly in rural and underserved communities. A key consensus was the need to move from parallel to more integrated frameworks by strengthening legal and institutional linkages between customary and formal systems, including clearer jurisdictional boundaries, referral pathways, and alignment with constitutional and rule of law standards, as reflected in reforms such as those in Ethiopia and Kenya.

While recognizing TDR’s contribution to social cohesion and peacebuilding, participants also emphasized the importance of safeguarding human rights and gender equality by addressing discriminatory norms, enhancing participation by women and youth, and ensuring that sensitive cases such as gender-based violence are handled appropriately. The conference further highlighted persistent gaps in documentation, capacity, and financing, noting the need for structured training, improved data systems, and sustainable investment models to strengthen accountability, consistency, and institutional support for TDR mechanisms.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Justice of Ethiopia in collaboration with HiiL, UNDP, Destiny Ethiopia, and ISS (with the support of key development partners including the European Union and other partners), included traditional and community leaders, policymakers, ministers, judges, legal experts, civil society organizations, academics, practitioners, and development partners from across the continent.