What to expect from the TRRC and what NGOs should do

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The TRRC must be victim focused, but must not be seen as a court mandated to deliver justice. It serves the purpose of helping the victim to know the perpetrator of an injustice. It enables the victim to see the perpetrator who may have played the role of a god as a subdued person requiring the mercy of others.

This strengthens the victim and weakens the perpetrator. TRRC is therefore in pursuit of truth. If the truth is known, avenues must be found to facilitate healing.

This is where counselling becomes important to know the real state of the victim, who must be accompanied and supported according to needs during the healing process.

Hence if the TRRC is to serve its purpose, it must give capacity to a department that would be given the responsibility of counselling and guiding victims so that they are capacitized materially, socially and psychologically. This would enable them to wait for the final recommendations of the TRRC which would relate to the pursuit of justice, reparations and reconciliation.