violations. The failure to punish these violators and to hold them accountable created a culture of impunity and the potential for the re-emergence of violence and abuse of human rights. The culture of impunity can only be ended if perpetrators of human rights abuses are held accountable for their abuses. The participants noted and acknowledged that under international law and international humanitarian law gross human rights violations should never be ignored or be the subject of an amnesty. Mechanisms for addressing the needs of victims Victims of all past human rights abuses have the right to redress and to be consulted about the nature of the mechanisms that will be established to address their needs. The mechanisms that are established must be victim-centred and must be capable of addressing the needs of victims in a meaningful way. Prior to the establishment of these mechanisms there must be an extensive process of consultation with the victims and the broader community about the mechanisms and the sort of persons who should be made responsible for operating them. Civic organisations and the churches should assist in this process. The main mechanism for dealing with past human rights abuses will be a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission. This Commission will have the following functions: Regarding the human rights abuses prior to 1960 the Commission’s main functions will be: • to investigate human rights abuses that occurred prior to 1960 and compile a full and accurate record of these abuses; • to determine the social and economic effects of these abuses; • to establish the extent to which these historical abuses continue presently to negatively impact upon the rights of Zimbabweans; • to make appropriate recommendations about remedial steps to address the needs of victims of these abuses and present injustices emanating from past injustices; • to refer cases involving gross human rights violations to the Attorney-General for possible criminal prosecution. Regarding the human rights abuses subsequent to 1960 the main functions of the Commission will be: • to take steps to ensure the protection and preservation of evidence of human rights abuses; • to investigate human rights abuses that have occurred between 1960 and the date upon which this Commission commences its operations, including violations during a transitional period and compile a full and accurate record of these abuses using available documentation, victim statements and testimony from perpetrators; • to require persons accused of human rights violations but who deny that they committed such violations to appear before the Commission so that these cases can be fairly investigated and findings can be made; • to require persons who admit to having committed human rights violations over this period to appear before the Commission, make full and accurate admissions about their involvement; • to recommend that those found to have committed gross human rights abuses should be 43