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For these victims, transitional justice means that, before the next government can be said to be effective,
issues of human rights abuses and organised violence have to be addressed, and those responsible have
to be held accountable. The victims stated in that, for them, it is important to confront the past for the
following reasons:
(i) Strengthening democracy- It is argued that by confronting the past and hence revealing
the truth in a systematic and organized way that promotes the culture of accountability
and ultimately also a democratic culture;
(ii) Moral imperative- It was realised that there is a need for victims to be acknowledged as
victims as by not doing so, it can be another form of victimisation (re-victimisation);
(iii) The past is impossible to ignore.
This will not be an easy task, as it will be necessary to look at the political, ethical and moral aspects of
the abuses, and it will not be possible to please everyone. Addressing these issues will not only be a duty
for the politicians, but will also be a duty for human rights organisations as well, as in a transition one is
dealing with a situation where meeting ethical requirements and political constraints creates powerful
dilemmas. New authorities should act quickly and “reap the profits of the momentum and legitimacy they
enjoy to take the initiative and propose policies.”
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations developed a framework of rights that are
considered essential to combating impunity. This framework was strongly endorsed by the victims, and
was outlined briefly in the section above on the Johannesburg Symposium. The four sets of rights – the
rights to truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence – lay the foundation for a policy
able to combat the insidious effects of impunity. These Zimbabwean victims liked this framework as it
addresses the issues comprehensively as opposed to the narrow framework of truth commissions: the
victims want truth, justice and reconciliation, which wholly endorses the recommendations of the
Johannesburg Symposium. In this respect, the victims put forward their own resolution – the Lake
Chivero Declaration – which states very clearly their intention that victims be a central part of any
transitional justice process, and this Declaration is given in Appendix 1.
IDASA: Zimbabwe at the Cross-Roads: Views of Zimbabwean citizens on democracy and transitional justice.
Select target paragraph3
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