Justice Framework Research Articles

Communicative-Kvmecegeam Evaluation in Education Within a Mapuche Context: Proposal of an Approach

The Communicative-Kvmecegeam evaluation approach in education is the result of extensive research and reflections within the Mapuche context in the south-central and southern regions of Chile. This approach is inspired by recognition and participation as dimensions to overcome socio-educational inequality seen in this context and is consistent with the transformative paradigm of evaluation. This approach first accounts for an educational evaluation based on territorial, cultural, social and linguistic components. Second, it integrates evaluation cycles that account for orientations, methodologies and participatory evaluation procedures with various people—teachers, family members, Elders—who offer their knowledge to guide the evaluation. Finally, the article presents some lessons learned to date, such as the transition from a traditional concept in evaluation to a more processual and formative one within the framework of social justice.

Community-engaged flood mitigation and ecological restoration on a university campus

Abstract Urban flooding is a major climate change risk that can be mitigated with green infrastructure such as tree plantings and restored naturalised buffers along watercourses. The creation and maintenance of green infrastructure projects for climate change adaptation provides opportunities for community partnerships and programming with co-benefits for human well-being and biodiversity. Here we present findings of action research on a flooding adaptation and education that was implemented on an urban higher education institution’s campus in partnerships within the university and with local Indigenous peoples, the regional conservation authority, the municipal government, and the public library. Through participatory workshops, we applied bioengineering and mixed planting methods to restore a creek bank. Using a combination of oral storytelling, digital media, and visual art that integrated perspectives across disciplines and knowledge systems, we situated our creek restoration project within a framework of environmental justice, emphasising specific acts of stewardship to improve watershed health and advance reconciliation. We produced digital resources and outreach materials to disseminate lessons from the project into the community and to support similar flooding adaptation efforts at local and global scales. Our project demonstrates how incorporating partnerships into the design and implementation of nature-based solutions can build cross-cultural ecological knowledge, forge important on and off-campus relationships, and create place-based opportunities for students to take direct and measurable action on climate change.

Addressing Harms and Restoring Dignity: Reparative, Restorative and Reconciliatory Justice in the Southern Kalahari

Using the frameworks of reparative, restorative and reconciliatory justice, this article explores the impact of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Land Reform Programme on harms caused to the ≠ Khomani San of the Southern Kalahari. These harms included dehumanisation, fragmentation and genocide during the colonial and Apartheid periods. We show that, despite its objectives, the TRC failed to acknowledge the dignity and humanity of the San, reaffirming their erasure. Land restitution by restoring rights offered the community the means to address deep structural harms, restore human relationships and re-claim the narrative about themselves for a broader emancipation. The broader cultural space of reconciliation opened up by the TRC and the restoration of land rights to the ≠ Khomani San enable them to re-claim the truth about themselves and their contemporary belonging in South Africa’s landscape.

Lived experiences of people impacted by gun violence: qualitative analysis of the prescriptions for repair project

BackgroundRestorative justice interventions can help address the harm created by gun violence, although few restorative justice programs focus solely on survivors or loved ones of victims of gun violence. Our...

Reconciling Cultural Values with Legal Principles: Traditional African Justice Systems in Contemporary Context

This comprehensive study delves into the fundamental principles of the traditional African justice system, juxtaposing it against the broader philosophical and jurisprudential evolution of the concept of justice. Drawing on a robust literature review, the article uncovers the unique features that set African justice mechanisms apart from formal court systems - the central role of community leaders, active community participation, and a focus on reconciliation and harmony. Tracing the concept of justice from ancient Greece to the present day, the study situates the African approach within this broader context. It explores diverse conceptions, from natural justice to economic, social, and corrective justice, and how they have been interpreted and applied in the African context. Crucially, the article reveals how traditional systems have often filled the gap between community needs and formal legal services. The findings suggest that the guiding principles of reconciliation and community harmony, which underpin the African justice model, offer invaluable insights for developing more holistic and inclusive justice systems. In an era of globalization, these insights could inform the pursuit of social cohesion and the common good, presenting a compelling alternative to the individualistic orientations of mainstream justice frameworks. Through its in-depth analysis and interdisciplinary approach, this study makes a significant contribution to the understanding of traditional African justice, its resilience, and its potential relevance in the contemporary world. The article's rich, sharp, and well-crafted narrative offers policymakers, scholars, and practitioners a vital resource for exploring innovative pathways to justice that prioritizes community-centric values.

Contraceptive counseling: Shared decision on contraceptive choices.

The promising results achieved in male hormonal contraceptive trials over the last decades suggest that new male contraceptives could hit the market soon. In shared decision-making counseling, couples and their healthcare provider collaborate to make decisions about contraception choices. This model of contraceptive counseling could aid men in taking responsibility for contraception and women in trusting their partners in family planning. The shared decision-making process in contraceptive counseling requires partners to provide input on their preferences, values, and desires, while healthcare professionals share medical knowledge and evidence-based information.It has been proven that this method leads to higher adherence and satisfaction. To ensure that contraceptive counseling is inclusive, fair, and supportive of different reproductive experiences and needs, it is crucial to incorporate the Reproductive Justice Framework into counseling.

Embedding justice into climate policy and practice relevant to tourism

Climate change in tourism discussions rarely address justice concerns. This work critically examines the intricate relationship between climate change, climate justice, and tourism, emphasising the urgent need for a holistic approach to address the interconnected challenges of tourism-related sustainable development. The paper builds on a climate justice framework encompassing recognition, procedural, distributive, and restorative justice to systematically connect justice dimensions to the climate change-tourism nexus. A shift towards a performative justice framework includes all notions of justice and underscores the significance of examining the various justice challenges when embedding justice into climate policymaking. Enhancing visibility of climate justice should foster collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and advocates for climate justice. Ultimately, this article advocates for the development of just climate policies and practices, and an inclusive socio-economic transition at the local, global, and intergenerational levels.

Abortion in Islam: A Fiqh Examination of Medical and Social Indications

This article aims to explore how principles of Islamic fiqh can be integrated with modern medical approaches in addressing abortion, particularly in countries with significant Muslim populations. Given the high rates of unwanted pregnancies and the grave consequences of unsafe abortions, this research is imperative to enhance understanding of the diverse fiqh perspectives regarding medical and social justifications for abortion. The methodology employed is a phenomenological qualitative approach with a constructivist paradigm, emphasising a deep comprehension of the subjective experiences and viewpoints of Islamic scholars. Data was collected through extensive literature review, including classical and contemporary fiqh texts as well as academic literature related to medical ethics in Islam. The findings reveal various interpretations of Quranic verses relevant to abortion, underscoring the importance of preserving life and human dignity. Within the context of Maqasid Shariah, it was found that abortion could be permitted in situations meeting the criteria of Darura, where the preservation of the mother's life is the paramount concern. Social phenomena related to abortion were also examined, highlighting the stigma and social consequences faced by women in Muslim communities who undergo or consider abortion. The discussion in this article includes the integration of religious law and medical practice, and the need for greater education and awareness about reproductive health within Muslim communities. This allows the research to provide clear guidelines that not only assist healthcare practitioners in making ethical decisions but also support the creation of more effective and empathetic policies that consider the health and well-being of women within a framework of human rights and social justice.

Climate change, energy transition, and the Global South: learnings from the international framework on the ozone layer

The pursuit of climate action to meet net-zero targets has triggered the call for a global energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. However, this global energy transition does not entirely recognise all countries’ social, economic and technological capacities as well as emission contributions as envisaged under the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle, which underlies international climate policy. It is concerned more with the outcome of transitioning to clean energy than with justice in the transition process. Recognition justice, an element of energy justice, enables us to identify the inequalities that global energy paradigms (such as the energy transition) can create and how a justice framework can help us understand the implications of energy injustice and address the inequities across energy systems. Recognition justice acknowledges the divergent perspectives rooted in social, economic and racial differences and the varied strengths of developed and developing countries. The energy transition process ought to recognise these differences so that they are reasonably expected to benefit everyone. Implementing the energy transition in the Global South (GS) in the same way as it is being advanced in the Global North will have security, justice, economic, resource-stranding, and sustainable development implications. This issue (of injustice in the energy transition) is aggravated by two dichotomous realities: many countries in the South will be most impacted by climatic changes, yet there remains political and social opposition to climate action through the energy transition. As a solution, this paper relies on the notion of recognition justice with support from the Rawlsian justice concept to argue that a delayed transition represents justice and recognises the peculiar nature and different circumstances of the GS. It identifies that learnings from the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the notion of CBDR under international climate treaties can be mainstreamed into energy transition research and policies to achieve justice for countries of the GS. The paper further finds that a delayed transition for the GS will (i) enable the region to address sustainability-related issues of hunger and multidimensional poverty, essential to realising other Sustainable Development Goals, whilst gradually implementing energy transition policies; (ii) present an attractive case against political and social opposition to energy transition in the GS; (iii) advance the goal of CBDR already recognised under international climate treaties and the bifurcated approaches established in such treaties; and, finally, (iv) ensure that developed countries contributing the most to greenhouse gas emissions take the lead now and act while the GS effectuates national contributions sustainably.

We are future ancestors: on authoritarian politics and the deepening of our radical roots

ABSTRACT Written in a conversational exchange, this essay charts urgent connections among queer/trans/disability frameworks of environmental, climate, and reproductive justice centered around community planning and county level democratic politics. We reflect on the lessons learned in our local context of Iowa between 2023–2024, during unprecedented legislative control of queer and trans lives and reproductive politics. In our conversation, we argue anti-trans legislation is a form of authoritarianism and political violence, a frame which shifts how organizers might draw connections among issues and energize future struggles. We reflect on the organizing strategies and advocacy work in our community and connect this labor as crucial care work necessary for queer and trans life.

Respect or ambivalence: interpreting student perceptions of inclusivity/exclusivity in a four-year predominately white institution

ABSTRACT Undergraduate students often view and define terms differently than faculty and scholars. Differences in the operationalization of terms can lead to miscommunication and misunderstanding, especially within university classrooms. The present study used the theoretical framework of sensemaking to understand how undergraduate students perceived and defined inclusion in university classrooms. Through the facilitation of eight focus groups (N = 50), we identified four elements that contribute to inclusion/exclusion: “Respect,” “Safety,” “Unfettered Expression,” and “Context Appropriate.” Theoretically, these findings show a lack of concreteness in students’ definition of these terms, which can lead to ambiguity and ambivalence when defining the boundaries of inclusive/exclusive spaces. The lack of specificity dilutes the power of these words and phrases, and its ability to meet its intended purpose (e.g., disruption of oppressive systems). Pedagogically, for instructors to become intentional practitioners of inclusion, we argue that instructors must have an operationalized definition of inclusion grounded in social justice frameworks, share this definition and its rationale with students, engage in instructor reflexivity, and develop proactive strategies to combat challenges to inclusion.

The dynamics of African traditional justice systems: Perspectives and prospective

ABSTRACT This study investigates the dynamics of African traditional justice systems in four African countries: Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. These countries have a rich history of traditional justice systems deeply rooted in their respective societies. These systems are regarded as essential elements of African communities, embodying unique philosophies, rituals, and practices that have historically played a crucial role in resolving conflicts and fostering peace. The evolution of law and order in these African countries has been heavily influenced by these traditional justice systems, contributing to the establishment of a robust governance structure. By conducting an analysis of customary justice frameworks in the sub-Saharan African context, this study examines the perceptions of local populations regarding the traditional justice system as a legitimate institution. It explores how the traditional justice system can function as an alternative or complementary form of justice within traditional societies. Drawing on previous research conducted in Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, this study reveals the challenges associated with integrating traditional justice systems into the broader legal framework. Nevertheless, it concludes that the integration of these systems can contribute to a comprehensive approach to sustainable peace-building, conflict resolution, and the establishment of a just rule of law in these African countries.

Collaborative renewable development in Chile: a new path forward for the Mapuche

For years, the conflict between the Mapuche people and energy developers has persisted in Chile’s southern Biobío Region. Chile’s future as a leader in renewable development hangs on the drafting of a new law, and workable solutions are needed now more than ever. The voters decisively rejected Chile’s latest constitutional draft, which afforded Indigenous people in Chile unprecedented recognition at the price of a new governmental structure. In the midst of these political developments, Chile is shifting to develop more renewable energy. This shift will require the use of Mapuche ancestral lands and waterways, likely causing increased tensions between the Chilean government, renewable energy developers, and the Mapuche. This paper assesses the just transition approach in Chile alongside the drafting of a new constitution for the country, with particular consideration for restorative and recognition justice. We provide a comprehensive summary of Mapuche’s historic and current claims to the ancestral lands in Chile and their resistance to hydroelectric power development projects along the Biobío River. Then, we review Chilean laws and court cases dealing with hydroelectric power development projects to pinpoint energy injustice. Finally, we use the energy justice framework to propose new energy laws for Chile that will encourage needed collaboration between the Chilean government, renewable energy developers, and the Mapuche.

Social Justice Language Education and Critical Language Education: Integrating Perspectives for Teacher Education in Colombia

This reflection article makes a call to the language teacher education field in Colombia to integrate social justice language education and critical language education perspectives to advance a social justice agenda in language teacher education. Its overall intention is to invite critical language teacher educators to expand the scope of their work by being knowledgeable about the theories or dimensions of social justice - redistribution, recognition and representation - and including social justice frameworks and principles in their practices. These elements are fundamental to tailoring teacher education programs and guiding pedagogical practices that prepare future teachers for social action and transformation.

Unmet Expectations, Unmet Needs, and Uncertainty–A Qualitative Survey Study of Women Who Described Giving Birth as Traumatic

Abstract: Traumatic childbirth can have wide-ranging consequences for birthing individuals. Data were obtained from a large-scale ( N = 1,210) online survey of perinatal experiences in the United States. Utilizing a Reproductive Justice framework, we analyzed open-ended responses regarding the most difficult aspects of pregnancy and childbirth from 54 participants who solely identified their births as traumatic. We identified the following themes: Mental and Emotional Toll; The Toll of Relentless Work Expectations; The Embodied Toll; Complications and Interventions; Loss of Control: Bodily Autonomy; and Loss of Control: Interactions with Medical Systems and Professionals. Results underscore the inadequacy of perinatal support in the United States, highlighting the imperative to address policy and research to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Good Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality.

Nepal's Rapid Rural Electrification Achievement: A Review

Nepal has been able to accelerate electricity access to rural areas very rapidly from early 2000s. Though the existing literature provides insights into the factors, enablers, challenges, and institutional models influencing rural electrification in Nepal, there is currently very little assessment of the specific factors that led to Nepal’s rapid rural electricity access in the first two decades of this century. This review paper investigates what spurred this rapid rural electrification in Nepal. The study employs a literature review approach and uses the multi-level perspective and energy justice frameworks for a holistic interpretation of findings of the literature review. Analysis of the findings from the literature review indicate that Nepal's rapid electrification can be assessed primarily through the perspectives of governance and policies. The discussion also touches on the institutional context, the politics surrounding the electrification transition, and policy innovations. The effectiveness of the polices is also analysed through an energy justice perspective. The analysis highlights challenges and disparities in geographical distribution and energy justice. The paper argues that Nepal’s rural electricity access was boosted by political and socio-economic conditions, like advent of democracy and large-scale foreign employment, and was propelled by innovative government policies for grid based and off-grid rural electrification. However, it also concludes that work still needs to be done from an energy justice perspective to bring about geographical and economic equity in the effort.

A holistic and pluralistic perspective for justice through tourism: a regenerative approach

Justice is integral in transformative tourism approaches that call for a complete restructuring of the travel and tourism sector worldwide. While justice through alternative tourism models promotes responsible, sustainable transitions in the tourism sector, these models are frequently informed by a perceived binary between the social and the environmental and long-held patterns of West-centric thought and West versus ‘the rest’ power dynamics, found both in tourism theory and practice and within justice frameworks. In this article, we explore the potential of the regenerative development paradigm to bridge these divides and adopt a pluriversal lens to devise a more just practice of tourism. The holistic, transformative tenets and pluralistic perspective of regenerative development and tourism are used to build a novel framework for justice. The framework’s capacity to analyse, unlock and catalyse place regeneration in different knowledge systems and restore just relationships has been leveraged in two rural areas in Colombia and Ecuador. Collecting data through mixed qualitative methods that combine reflexive ethnography with in situ and online interviews, we identified actions taken to address local inequalities and challenges while fostering pathways to the systemic transformation of residents’ livelihoods. These place-specific actions inspired by ancestral traditions have revitalised the areas’ ecosystems, including local human communities and the latter’s tourism activities. The discussion of results examines the potential of pluriversal regenerative development and tourism principles grounded in diverse knowledge and ethics frames to guide actions for systemic social and environmental justice.

Reshaping essential public spaces and services: towards socio-spatial justice in a post-pandemic era

In our last viewpoint article, we illustrated the hidden stories of immigrant suburbs during the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges facing racialised communities. This article delves deeper into intensified social and spatial inequalities by interrogating: what are the ‘essential’ public spaces, places and services that must remain accessible to benefit the settlement, well-being and inclusion of marginalised, racialised, immigrant populations? What engagement approaches effectively include racialised minority groups’ voices in decisions about the future of public space and (sub)urban systems? We emphasise the utility of a socio-spatial justice framework in reimagining and reconfiguring essential public spaces and associated services in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using examples from the Canadian context (i.e. community land trusts, cultural district plans, cultural festivals and food systems), we unpack pillars of distributional, procedural and recognitional justice to interrogate the status quo and illuminate pathways to more inclusive, fair and accessible communities. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

Toward a social justice framework in trauma-informed practice in schools

This article explores the integration of social justice principles for a theoretical reconceptualization of trauma-informed practice (TIP) in schools. This involves exploring the role of educators and school social workers in promoting socially just TIP within primary education, a landscape that is currently dominated by the influence of neoliberal ideals. Interprofessional collaboration between social workers and educators has the potential to bring about a significant transformation in the way trauma is addressed, providing critical implications for individuals working in school settings. This article discusses how integrating social justice principles into school practices can strengthen the application of TIP.

An Examination of Ecological Factors Predicting Depressed Mood Among Adolescents

From a developmental perspective, the increase in depressive symptoms among adolescents over the past decade is of great concern due to the risk of long-term mental health problems extending into adulthood. Informed by the Multicultural Social Justice Framework, we examined multi-level, ecological risk and protective factors of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Data were leveraged from the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey ( N = 9,717) to examine adolescent reported depressive symptoms, individual risk-taking, family factors, school engagement and involvement, community disorganization and safety, and district level factors. We stratified by race to examine differential associations between risk and protective factors and depressive symptoms among Asian, Black, and Latinx youth. Results indicate that individual and family risk and family protection were associated with depressive symptoms. School and community factors were directly related and interacted with individual and family factors, particularly among Black and Latinx youth. Findings imply the need to examine both proximal and systemic factors.