m a ppi n g wo m en ’s n eeDs i n Zi m ba bw e’s nat i o na l h e a l i n g pr o ce ss Conclusion This paper has examined a range of theoretical, political and empirical issues related to empowering women to effectively engage with transitional-justice issues in Zimbabwe. In drawing attention to women’s immediate needs for healing, the paper aims to encourage an awareness of transitional justice and, in particular, what this means for women. Many women in Zimbabwe have already come to realise that their own healing is essential for national healing to take place. They are advocating for a transitional-justice system capable of bringing about justice and sustainable peace through mechanisms for psychosocial healing, including acknowledgements, apologies, reconciliation, accountability, truth, reparations and personal empowerment. They have also proposed the need for a widespread recognition of the rule of law as a basis for the restoration of social harmony and stability. Although there is some scepticism about whether retributive justice can really advance women’s claims for justice, judging from the views of participants in this study, there is a degree of openness to alternative restorative-justice practices that aim to meet women’s transitional-justice needs more holistically. Debate on the merits of restorative justice revolved around those who believe that this offers victims, offenders and communities more options than the more established mechanisms of retributive justice. Greater reflection is, therefore, required on the respective roles of retributive and restorative forms of justice, mainstreaming criminal justice and other transitional-justice mechanisms as a way of mitigating (and preventing) gender-based human rights violations. In moving towards a holistic approach to dealing with the past, many people seem to agree that societies recovering from violent conflicts need both legal instruments and incentives for healing and relationship building. This study therefore suggests that retributive justice should complement restorative approaches based on the five key pillars of accountability, truth recovery, reparations, institutional reform and reconciliation. With regard to the truth versus justice debate, my findings seem to suggest that public exposure of truth through truth telling provides redress for victims, counteracts cultures of denial, contributes to individual and social healing, and supports reconciliation through dialogue. Respondents in this study expressed different views about the degrees to which the state and criminal justice system can be trusted to effectively respond to the needs of women in the broader national healing project. Because of their experiences of oppression and discrimination at the hands of patriarchal state institutions, respondents stressed the need for institutional reforms and women-centred national healing practices that are tied to awareness-raising and women’s economic and political empowerment. It is clear that increased attention needs to be given to women-sensitive justice principles. Thus, the process leading to security-sector reform should include consultation with all stakeholders, including women suffering as a result of gender-based violence and those affected by the prevailing political violence in Zimbabwe. It is hoped that further empirical research, including comparative analyses of women’s transitional-justice needs in different communities, taking into account their different political, social and economic contexts, will add to the findings of this paper, and provide further pathways towards transformative social change. 19 IJR Zimbabwe Womens needs OP proof 2.indd 19 7/16/2012 11:01:32 AM