- Acknowledgment of past human rights violations is critical Truth Seeking and Preservation Strategies (Elisabeth Baumgartner –Swisspeace) Participants also learnt the importance of archiving and preserving data for TJ purposes. Archives are living documents which the government and CSOs working in TJ should consider crucial. They provide evidence to assist in truth recovery and memory preservation. In most countries, archiving has not been seriously done due to lack of resources, knowledge and sheer ignorance in some instances. However, for effective truth recovery and memory preservation, there is need to develop proper documentation and storage facilities with repositories. Management of archival systems and access to the archives are crucial to avoid ‘deliberate’ loss and destruction. Elizabeth’s presentation on archival and truth recovery revealed that; • • • Archiving is not a question of the past issues but the future responsibilities that should be carried by the government and stakeholders Archives support the right to know, the right to justice and the right to reparations. It is important to consider the content, context and structure of the information under consideration for archiving Gender Inclusion, Diversity and Policy Options: Panel Discussion (Nonhlahla Sibanda-Moyo, Nikiwe Ncube and Virginia Muwanigwa) In a bid to understand the impact of gender dynamics on women in transitional justice processes a panel discussion was held. Gender goes beyond the two binaries of men and women or boys and girls by taking into consideration social constructs, systems and structures that perpetuate patriarchy within societies. The panellists underscored that while men are the usually the target of violence during wars and conflicts, women end up bearing the brunt of violence given their social roles in homesteads. For instance, women are used as sex objects and political baits in times of conflict and violence (war wives and sex slaves). On the other hand women are portrayed as victims mostly yet they are also the brave people who face the real challenges in times of conflict. The presentations underscored that TJ processes in Zimbabwe should; • • • Create spaces for women to talk about their experiences without fear. However, there is also need to ensure that the create spaces may not end up making women’s narratives invisible in the TJ processes. In South Africa, it was learnt, about 60% of women reported their cases to the TRC, but o 43% of them reported the cases as direct victims of the violations. Consider sexual violations as a special category in the NPRC processes and also ensuring that gender justice is integrated in all TJ processes. Ensure that there is both gender equality and equity considerations in TJ processes It was also noted that; • • • Integrating gender justice in all TJ processes should be achieved strongly by taking advantage of the constitution which affirms gender equality, provides for specific human rights and also establishes a Zimbabwe Gender Commission. Women who participated in the liberation struggle have not been honoured enough ( they were neither compensated nor have their experiences documented in the country’s history adequately). There is need for a Victims and Witness Protection Act to guarantee protection and safety. Thematic Committees Reflections (Policy Development and Implementation) 6