Country Leads the Way in Transitional Justice is a news item about the adoption of a comprehensive law on transitional justice by the country’s National Constituent Assembly held in Tunisia last April 14.
Tunisia human rights, 110516 Tunisian revolution enhances Arab human rig…—Magharebia (Flickr.com)
The Ministry of Human Rights and Transitional Justice of Tunisia organized the event. It was attended by the country’s highest officials, as well as some UN members and other international human rights organizations. Because one of the main issues of the conference dealt with the previous regime’s human rights abuses, there were also victims and representatives of civil society groups in the audience.
Also discussed during the conference was the issue of corruption. To address these two main concerns, a Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations during the Revolution was set up. As well, the establishment of a National Fact-Finding Commission on Embezzlement and Corruption underlined the government’s intention of fighting corruption in all aspects of society.
President Moncef Marzouki addressed the audience at the opening of the conference with the following statement:
“Tunisians are expecting tangible results; they cannot wait indefinitely. The wounds of the past must be cured and healed. We have faith in transitional justice and not in a vengeful justice.”
Strategies to deal with past human rights abuses were brought forth by the members of the civil rights and victims’ groups. There were even proposals submitted to the Minister of Human Rights and Transitional Justice on the topic of transitional justice. These will hopefully strengthen the pushing for a law on transitional justice with special emphasis on gender justice and the quest for truth.
