of any settlement that may be reached, not the political outcome of the negotiations. 3. Recalling the United Nations General Assembly resolution 53-144 of 9 December 1998 which outlines the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms. 4. Emphasising the important role that individuals, civil society organizations and groups play in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 5. Fully accepting that historical social and economic imbalances must he remedied in order to achieve social and economic justice in Zimbabwe; 6. Insisting that strategies must be pursued that will cater for the needs of victims of violence and that the victims will be consulted about their needs and what the victims perceived as being the most appropriate mechanisms for satisfying their needs; 7. Understanding that lasting peace can only be achieved where human rights abusers are held accountable and meaningful steps are taken to try to heal the grievous wounds the violators inflicted on their victims and the society; 8. Recognising that it is imperative to preserve and fully and accurately record the past history of human rights violations. vii