m a ppi n g wo m en ’s n eeDs i n Zi m ba bw e’s nat i o na l h e a l i n g pr o ce ss who were arbitrarily arrested, detained, physically and mentally tortured for speaking out. Furthermore, funding needs to be earmarked for women affected by politically motivated violence. This was seen as an important part of any empowerment and recovery strategy. For this strategy to function, women called for a leadership and accountability system anchored on the principles of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and a transitionaljustice architecture that has the potential to strengthen women’s recovery processes. Retributive versus restorative justice Justice is generally defined as the ideal of accountability and fairness in the protection and vindication of rights and the prevention and punishment of wrongs. When asked what justice meant to them, most respondents in this study mentioned notions of prosecution, compensation and truth telling. They noted that justice implies a regard for the rights of the accused, a regard for the interests of victims and aims to ensure the well-being of society. Several interpreted justice to mean more than retribution, conflating it with a need for the restoration of lost livelihoods and economic security. They acknowledged that, as a contested concept, justice is always rooted in cultural traditions, and that Zimbabwe has formal judicial mechanisms as well as other customary dispute-resolution mechanisms. Many respondents argued that, in the context of politically motivated violence against women, healing and reconciliation can occur only when the need for justice overrides other needs. Respondents who advocated for the prosecution of perpetrators gave two reasons for doing so. The first was that most victims want to ensure that those accused of committing crimes, including serious violations of international humanitarian law, are prosecuted, and see this as the best way of validating their own worth and dignity. The second reason was that prosecutions have the potential to prevent revenge attacks and the escalation of violence, and thereby contribute to upholding the rule of law and sustaining peace and political stability. Essentially, respondents stressed that that post-conflict societies and states have an obligation to prosecute and punish perpetrators as a way of guaranteeing future security for all. While acknowledging the potential good that can come from restorative justice for victims of violent conflict, some respondents voiced concerns that, in the current polarised political climate, restorative justice for women might include a victim-blaming component that could prevent healing. They raised concerns about being forced to take responsibility for the crimes committed against them, and thus having to accept insincere apologies in the name of reconciliation. The women referred to the fears that traumatised them every day as grounded in the power imbalances between men and women. This situation was, in their view, likely to lead to offenders manipulating restorative-justice processes and trivialising the gravity of crimes committed, thereby overshadowing the victims’ interests and rights to justice. Others expressed concerns that perpetrators may opt for restorative justice, seeing this as an easy option that might earn them lenient penalties. Respondents felt that such situations would merely reinforce the patriarchal norms that condone male dominance, and make behaviour change among perpetrators of violence even less likely. In the view of several women, cultural norms that put women in subservient positions, undervalue and disrespect them in relation to men, make them prone to violence from their male counterparts. One of the interviewees explained: Restorative justice is good. You need to forgive before your healing process can go on. It might not be for the good of you as a victim, but what you feel inside, removing the burden of hurt from yourself. By telling my story, I can be vindicated…that I was not to blame but the violent offender should take responsibility. But, I need to decide when it is right to forgive. I don’t want an apology because most of the time they are empty apologies, hoping to go unpunished. (Interview, 6 June 2011) 11 IJR Zimbabwe Womens needs OP proof 2.indd 11 7/16/2012 11:01:31 AM