|
Back to Index
Press statement on the just ended International Conference on Transitional
Justice in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Human
Rights NGO Forum
October 12, 2012
From 4-6 October
2012, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) hosted an
International Conference on Transitional Justice in Zimbabwe. Sixty
delegates ranging from a cross section of Zimbabwean society including
civil society organisations, political parties, government departments,
churches, farmers' organisations, labour, development partners
and academics took part in the event which was held at the Troutbeck
Resort in Nyanga, Manicaland province.
Presentations
by experts discussing the problems and experiences faced in developing
transitional justice solutions were made on Germany, Kenya, Liberia,
the Philippines, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The conference provided
a means to foster dialogue and establish long-term working relationships
among stakeholders. It also provided the basis for re-orienting
the practice of transitional justice with inclusion of other stakeholders
following on from the symposium on Civil Society and Justice in
Zimbabwe held from 11 - 13 August 2003 in Johannesburg, South
Africa.
The conference
was driven by three specific objectives:
i. To enable
stakeholders from a cross-section of the Zimbabwean community to
define the way forward for transitional justice in Zimbabwe,
ii. To enhance
the knowledge of Zimbabwe's policy makers on other countries'
strategies on how to address transitional justice issues in a holistic
manner; and,
iii. To gain
a better understanding of how specific transitional justice issues
are dealt with using relevant experiences from other countries.
The International
Conference on Transitional Justice in Zimbabwe which was inclusive
took advantage of the expertise and experience of all stakeholders
as well as involving the participants and agreed on the following
action points:
1. The establishment
of a Transitional Justice National Working Group, whose framework
should include work on structures to implement various recommendations
on transitional justice. The leadership of the working group should
be chosen through a transparent public process considering the importance
of objectivity, integrity and credibility;
2. Research,
Documentation and Archiving. The need for a coordinated approach
to research, documentation and archiving of information among various
actors. Focus should be put into retrieval of information through
an established credible body, to collect information from all actors
carrying out documentation, standardise the process of documenting
violations to make the data useful for history, prosecutorial and
educational purposes;
3. Advocacy
for Policy and Legislation. Stakeholders should work towards building
political will, engaging all actors and to customise the transitional
justice process to meet the nature of Zimbabwe's unique context;
5. Rehabilitation
of survivors. Reparations/compensation (both individual and societal/collective)
is a factor that needs attention, with specific attention to women
and children. A clear protection mechanism for witnesses and survivors
must be developed in order to build the confidence and participation
of both survivors and alleged perpetrators.
6. Institutional
Reform. Reform of institutions such as the media and the security
sector is critical for transitional justice. A mechanism must be
put in place to provide for continued monitoring of institutions.
The Forum believes
that Zimbabweans must continue with this dialogue on transitional
justice and reach out widely in the search for sustainable peace.
Designing a future in which everyone is secure, is a process that
requires the participation of all.
Visit the Zimbabwe
Human Rights NGO Forum fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
