Lessons Learned There are lessons that Zimbabwe could learn from the Sierra Leone case study to create a gender sensitive framework that takes into account the specific concerns of women. 1. Ensuring Gender Justice in the NPRC An effective NPRC that will ensure gender justice should create a conducive environment through the inclusion in enabling legislation of appropriate provisions which address gender. Sierra Leone ensured that specific concerns were taken care of by providing that women comprised 50% of all institutions of governance, including the Truth Commission. This facilitated a process that ensured that women were able to narrate their experiences and guaranteed their safety and confidentiality. 2. Addressing fear among victims and witnesses Victims and witnesses find it difficult to testify for fear of being victimised again. To protect witnesses after testimony, the importance of security after disclosure was emphasised, including ensuring sufficient privacy to avoid 'shaming' families of the victims. Also emphasised was the need to let victims choose whether or not to disclose the names of perpetrators. Safety of commissioners was also considered of great importance, particularly in a violent post-conflict society where the judiciary may be equally vulnerable. Finally, networking was valued as critical, including the support from the Diaspora, and other groups. 2. GUATEMALA Professor Elizabeth Olgesby: Balancing the Scales of Justice: How can a Commission best serve the Interest of the Victims while Promoting Reconciliation with Perpetrators? Professor Olgesby gave an overview of the Guatemalan Commission for Historical Clarification's (HC) and how the focus of its work combined analyses of violations in order to find a deeper understanding of the context of the conflict. An exploration of the history of racism was embarked on, together with the socio-political factors of exclusion and regional social struggles. Truth Commissions: the Best Practices 11