Total Participants for
NPRC Public Hearings
(Team A)
292
Males
403
Total Participants for
NPRC Public
Hearings(Team B)
497
Females
Males
583
Females
7. Brief Analysis
While the public got an opportunity to contribute and scrutinize the Bill, it is saddening to note
that the participation of women was lower than that of men. Both teams as shown in the figure
above had a total of only 44% of women participating in the public hearings. Women should be
encouraged to participate in such processes as their contributions and experiences help in bring
out the urgent need for a genuine healing and reconciliation process. Many women have been
exposed to all sorts of grievous acts of politically motivated violence such as rape, arson, murder,
assault and forced displacements that have not only robbed them of their dignity but of their
health, as well, given that some were infected with HIV/AIDS. Some of the violations are often
unique to women compared to those affecting men thus prompting the need for Parliament to
deliberately enhance women participation. CSOs can support in the mobilization of women so
that they are able to effectively participate in such processes.
Furthermore, the NPRC bill in its current form falls short of international best practices and
standards. When compared with the South African Promotion of National Unity and
Reconciliation Act which established the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
the NPRC fails to clearly define what constitute human rights violations and what justice
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