Annexure Declaration of Civil Society and Justice in Zimbabwe Symposium The symposium A symposium was held from 11 to 13 August 2003 in Johannesburg. Its theme was Civil Society and Justice in Zimbabwe. This symposium brought together leaders from numerous civil society organisations in Zimbabwe, colleagues from civic organisations in South Africa and a number of experts from other jurisdictions. The main purpose of the symposium was to explore how best to achieve justice in the broadest possible sense for the many victims of past and present human rights abuse in Zimbabwe. The symposium noted that civil society organisations are non-partisan and are independent of any particular political party. Their main functions are to bring about a culture of human rights, justice and social and economic improvement and to promote and advance the interests of marginalised and victimised people. In this document persons affected by human rights abuses are referred to as victims/survivors. The process The Zimbabwean participants of this symposium compiled this document and agreed upon the recommendations contained in it. The Zimbabwean participants recognised they had initiated a process aimed at achieving justice for victims. They undertook to engage in wider consultation within their own organisations, other civic bodies not represented at the symposium and the general public. They will then incorporate these views into a final action plan. The civic organisations which endorse this plan and agree to participate in its implementation will present the plan to the political parties and other actors and demand that that it be fully taken into account in all deliberations relating to political transition. These civic organisations will monitor the political discussions pertaining to political transition to ensure that the needs of victims are fully met in the transitional and post-transitional periods. Preamble 1. Mindful that a political solution is urgently required in order to overcome the serious and rapidly worsening crisis in Zimbabwe that has resulted in such widespread suffering; 2. Requiring that the Zimbabwean people and civil society organisations be given a full opportunity to make an input into the process taking place to bring about transition to a new political order to influence the human rights content of any settlement that may be reached, not the political outcome of the negotiations. 41