7. Recommendations on the way forward The following responses address the question of what should be done to create a future that is free from violence. Responses ranged from just moving ahead as a nation to demanding some form of compensation for victims of violence. The key questions in this section, the results of which are detailed in Tables 13 to 16, form the heart of any transitional process and give priority to the needs of the victims as the centre of any healing processes. The questions address the pillars of transitional justice and allow the people to prescribe the mechanisms and suggest the period that should be covered. Forty-nine per cent of respondents said that, in order for national healing to be successful, the victims needed to be compensated for the injuries suffered. Fourteen per cent believed that perpetrators must ask for forgiveness, and 29 per cent preferred the forgiveness approach to national healing. Twenty-two per cent opted for truth recovery, with 21 per cent calling for reparations to the victims of violence. Prosecutions were preferred by 14 per cent of the respondents. Table 13: What do you think must be done to help victims of past abuses? Frequency Percentage Everyone was a victim so we must move forward 104 3 It was a time of crisis so they should move on 135 4 1 578 49 233 7 They must be compensated for their losses and suffering The truth must be told about the past abuses There must be prosecutions in courts 229 7 Perpetrators must ask for forgiveness from victims 440 14 Counselling 194 6 Other 102 3 Don’t know 174 6 3 189 100 TOTAL Table 14: What do you think is key to bringing about national healing, reconciliation and integration? Frequency Percentage Forgiveness 930 29 Truth recovery 706 22 Prosecution of offenders 441 14 Revenge 29 1 Reparations 656 21 Political stability 119 4 Praying to God 59 2 Other 95 3 Don’t know TOTAL 154 4 3 189 100 On who should be responsible for meeting the cost of compensations, 55 per cent said that the 18 Transitional Justice Survey – A Report of the People’s Perceptions and Recommendations