A Guide to Understanding the NATIONAL PEACE & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION IN ZIMBABWE Table 2: Functions towards addressing human rights needs of victims Function Examples To develop programmes to ensure that persons subjected to persecution, torture and other forms of abuse receive rehabilitative treatment and support -A national counseling services agency can be established to provide free counseling services to victims of past conicts -Health professionals can be trained to detect victims of torture and to take measures to ensure that in addition to medical attention, other support like counseling and protection is offered. - The NPRC can also support non-state actors who have always been working with such victims. Table 3: Functions towards addressing conict Function To receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as it considers appropriate To develop mechanisms for early detection of areas of potential conicts and disputes and to take appropriate preventive measures To conciliate and mediate disputes among communities, organisations and individuals To do anything incidental to the prevention of conict and the promotion of peace Examples -Structures for the reception of complaints from the public on any matter regarding the disturbance of peace, presence of violence or threats of potential violence and to react in time. -Setting up a national system for detecting conict early and rapid response to prevent violence. -Traditional or cultural structures, faith based structures, professional mediation ofces or non-state actors providing such services. Any other measures the Commission may deem necessary Table 4: Functions towards making recommendations Function To recommend legislation to ensure that assistance, including documentation, is rendered to persons affected by conicts, pandemics or other circumstances 16 Examples - The NPRC can make recommendations to have Parliament enact a law to ensure victims of past conicts receive assistance. Zimbabwe has had such laws before. An example of such a law is the War Victims Compensations Act [Chapter 11:16] which established a fund to compensate victims of the liberation war. - In the report Breaking the Silence, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace Zimbabwe recommended amendment of the existing War Victims Compensation Act to cover compensation also for victims of later conicts.