Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
13 SEPTEMBER 1996
Ms Graca Machel will attend a workshop at the TRC's Johannesburg offices on Tuesday, September 17, 1996, where the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) will make a presentation on her international study on Children's Exposure to Armed Conflict.
The consultative workshop will focus on the extent of children's exposure to armed conflict in the light of unfolding information within the TRC; analysis of child survivors of armed conflict and specific forms of reparation; articulation of non-repetition and creative forms of rehabilitation.
A number of draft policies and decisions are also in the process of being finalised by the Commission's Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee (R & R) this month.
A draft of the Committee's proposals for Urgent Interim Relief (UIR) to victims of gross human rights violations will be available early next week, but will only be implemented after adoption by a full Commission meeting.
The Commission's Human Rights Violations Committee has until now taken statements from about 4 400 witnesses. Some victims might be eligible for UIR, pending the commission's recommendations to the president and approval by parliament, hopefully before the end of this session.
In addition, a document outlining the way in which longer term policy formulation in the R & R Committee could be dealt with, will soon be finalised. It deals amongst others with proposed reparation guidelines, universally accepted reparation categories, and restoration of victims dignity.
The R & R Committee is also planning the first R & R "hearing" in Bongulethu, Oudtshoorn before the end of November to assess the needs of victims for assistance. The hearing will be presided over by the seven members of the Committee, chaired by Commissioner Hlengiwe Mkize.
For more information, call Christelle Terreblanche - 0824588461.