Sixth Weekly Briefing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission held on Wednesday 28th August 2002 and chaired by the Deputy Chairman Justice Laura Marcus- Jones.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me welcome you to yet another of our weekly Briefing on the Commission's recent activities. During the past week, the Commission has been very much engaged in internal consultations and planning, as is required of the Commissioners during the Preparatory period, by the Act establishing the commission. We have however found time also for meetings and consultations with external institutions and foreign and national Researchers. The Commission members and staff also had the opportunity to participate in a one-day training programme.

1. Operational Plan of Activities of the Commission

The Commission has finalised its detailed plan of activities for the operational period, which is set to commence in October this year.

The plan envisages three phases:

i. Deployment Phase. This phase will comprise a number of different activities both in the regions and in Freetown, including Statement taking and Investigations.

ii. Hearings Phase. This phase will comprise of two sub- phases, namely:

a. Hearings for people affected by and participants in the conflict, where the Commission will be "holding sessions, some of which maybe public, to hear the victims and perpetrators of any abuses or violations or from other interested parties" with the object to "help restore the human dignity of victims and promote reconciliation by providing an opportunity for victims to give an account of the violations and abuses suffered and for perpetrators to relate their experiences, and by creating a climate which fosters constructive interchange between victims and perpetrators, giving special attention to the subject of sexual abuses and to experiences of children within the armed conflict."

b. Hearings looking at the different sectors or components of society and the role they have played in relation to the conflict and its antecedents and aftermath. This will provide an opportunity for relevant stakeholders and interested parties to make submissions aimed at developing a broader understanding of the conflict and also proffer proposals for recommendations.

iii. Report Writing Phase. This phase is expected to commence at the beginning of the ninth month of the TRC's operational activities, that is, August 2003. By this time, the bulk of the data analysis, investigations and hearings as well as research activities should have been completed.

 

As reported last week, during this preparatory period, a phase of intensive public sensitisation and mass education across the nation will precede the operational period activities. It should be borne in mind that reconciliation activities would of course, be on- going throughout the operational period. This Operational Plan of Action has been shared with our major partner, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in Geneva who we expect will transmit it to donors and other interested parties.

2. Briefings and Consultations

The Commission met with Sierra Leonean born Abdul Lamin, a researcher from the Howard University in the United States of America, who is also an activist working with Sierra Leonean civil society groups in the Diaspora. With the benefit of Mr. Lamin's experience, the Commission explored the possibilities of engaging Sierra Leoneans abroad in the work of the Commission and mobilising their moral and material support for the success of the Commission. The Commission believes that Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora should also have the opportunity to be involved in the truth and reconciliation process.

In order to reach Sierra Leoneans wherever they are around the globe, the Commission has been using the internet; we will continue to do so and moreover intensify efforts to reach Sierra Leoneans by other channels.

In another engagement, the Commission also held discussions with Dr. David Chuter from the prestigious Institute for Strategic Studies in London. Dr Chuter is researching a book on war crimes around the world. Lively exchanges between him and Commission members, centred on the issue of Truth, its definition and significance in the context of the TRC's mandate and of present day Sierra Leone.

3. One Day training programme for the Commission

A day's training workshop for the Commission Members and staff was organised over the weekend in Freetown by the Centre for Victim of Torture (CVT), an international Non-Governmental Organisation which operates the largest treatment centre for the Torture Victims in the United States of America and now works in Sierra Leone.

The main thrust of the training programme was to build a culture of sensitivity within the TRC in dealing with survivors and participants of the ten year old conflict, particularly those who would be participating in the Commission's processes. The intention is that participation in the TRC would facilitate recovery of those adversely affected by the war.

Topics covered in the workshop included:

- The psychosocial impact of torture and trauma on the individual, family and community.

- Signs and symptoms of the trauma response may manifest during formal interview and hearing situations.

- The process of recovery and recovery goals.

CVT which has be working with Sierra Leoneans and Liberian refugees living in camps in Guinea and Sierra Leone since the mid 90's, has kindly consented to organise further workshops for the Commission, which will include one for statement takers and staff taking part in the hearings.

4. Donors' Briefing in Geneva

The Commission has been informed that as part of its fund raising efforts on behalf of the TRC, OHCHR held a Donors' briefing yesterday, 27th August, at which a new Special Funding Appeal for the TRC (including the revised budget) was presented to donors.

5. The Chairman's Meeting with the SRSG

The Chairman Bishop Humper met with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, H. E. Ambassador Adeniji, on the eve of the latter's departure to New York for regular consultations and briefings with the UN Secretary General and the Security Council.

The SRSG assured the Commission's Chairman of UNAMSIL's continuing commitment and support to TRC. He promised logistical support for the upcoming campaign of public sensitisation and mass education.

The Commission is very much appreciative of its collaboration with UNAMSIL and also grateful for the support and assistance it has been receiving from other quarters, both nationally and internationally.

Thank you for your attention. My colleagues and I will now entertain your questions.