The South African truth and reconciliation commission as a therapeutic tool

Abstract

A Truth Commission is one of the institutions used in international law to investigate gross human rights violations within a specific country. In this article we examine claims that the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was therapeutic. In the absence of empirical evidence, this examination will be guided by a theoretical framework that will reflect ways by which we believe international legal institutions can contribute tot he healing of the people of a country in which human rights abuses have taken place. We developed this framework with reference to the literature. Our conclusion is that the legislator's emphasis on truth, reconciliation, stability, and restorative justice enhanced the TRC's potential to promote healing, but that some features of this procedure and the enabling Act, the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act (1995), restricted its ability to be therapeutic. We conclude by looking at the role culture may have played in the success of the TRC.

Constellation work principles, resonance phenomena, and shamanism in South Africa

“…Facilitators emphasised that CW contributes to collective healing and agreed with Steyn (2001) that it is time to tackle the issues in South Africa. CW can be an ‘add-on’ to other healing processes (Allen & Allen, 2000; Leildé, 2008; Lund, 2003) such as community work (Gobodo-Madikizela, 2002) and trauma debriefing (Allen & Allen, 2000).…”

Constellation work principles, resonance phenomena, and shamanism in South Africa

“…Facilitators emphasised that CW contributes to collective healing and agreed with Steyn (2001) that it is time to tackle the issues in South Africa. CW can be an ‘add-on’ to other healing processes (Allen & Allen, 2000; Leildé, 2008; Lund, 2003) such as community work (Gobodo-Madikizela, 2002) and trauma debriefing (Allen & Allen, 2000).…”

Intergroup forgiveness: A Congolese perspective.

“…We were not in a position to assist the participants psychologically. It would have been irresponsible to put them at risk of reviving painful memories (Allan, 2000; Allan & Allan, 2000; Hamber, 1998, 2001; Hamber & Wilson, 2002).…”

Intergroup Forgiveness: East Timorese and Angolan Perspectives

“…In addition, directly asking for personal forgiving attitudes towards the main perpetrators of suffering (or their instigators) was judged inappropriate, owing to the character of the present study (a survey). Furthermore, since we were not in a position to psychologically assist the participants, it would have been irresponsible to put them at risk of reviving painful memories (Allan & Allan, 2000;Hamber, 2001;Hamber & Wilson, 2002). Thus, we systematically omitted questions related to personal aspects of forgiveness requests, as well as questions on personal healing through intergroup forgiveness.…”

Constellation work principles, resonance phenomena, and shamanism in South Africa

“…Facilitators emphasised that CW contributes to collective healing and agreed with Steyn (2001) that it is time to tackle the issues in South Africa. CW can be an ‘add-on’ to other healing processes (Allen & Allen, 2000; Leildé, 2008; Lund, 2003) such as community work (Gobodo-Madikizela, 2002) and trauma debriefing (Allen & Allen, 2000).…”

Intergroup forgiveness: A Congolese perspective.

“…We were not in a position to assist the participants psychologically. It would have been irresponsible to put them at risk of reviving painful memories (Allan, 2000; Allan & Allan, 2000; Hamber, 1998, 2001; Hamber & Wilson, 2002).…”

Intergroup Forgiveness: East Timorese and Angolan Perspectives

“…In addition, directly asking for personal forgiving attitudes towards the main perpetrators of suffering (or their instigators) was judged inappropriate, owing to the character of the present study (a survey). Furthermore, since we were not in a position to psychologically assist the participants, it would have been irresponsible to put them at risk of reviving painful memories (Allan & Allan, 2000;Hamber, 2001;Hamber & Wilson, 2002). Thus, we systematically omitted questions related to personal aspects of forgiveness requests, as well as questions on personal healing through intergroup forgiveness.…”

Constellation work principles, resonance phenomena, and shamanism in South Africa

“…Facilitators emphasised that CW contributes to collective healing and agreed with Steyn (2001) that it is time to tackle the issues in South Africa. CW can be an ‘add-on’ to other healing processes (Allen & Allen, 2000; Leildé, 2008; Lund, 2003) such as community work (Gobodo-Madikizela, 2002) and trauma debriefing (Allen & Allen, 2000).…”

Intergroup forgiveness: A Congolese perspective.

“…We were not in a position to assist the participants psychologically. It would have been irresponsible to put them at risk of reviving painful memories (Allan, 2000; Allan & Allan, 2000; Hamber, 1998, 2001; Hamber & Wilson, 2002).…”

Intergroup Forgiveness: East Timorese and Angolan Perspectives

“…In addition, directly asking for personal forgiving attitudes towards the main perpetrators of suffering (or their instigators) was judged inappropriate, owing to the character of the present study (a survey). Furthermore, since we were not in a position to psychologically assist the participants, it would have been irresponsible to put them at risk of reviving painful memories (Allan & Allan, 2000;Hamber, 2001;Hamber & Wilson, 2002). Thus, we systematically omitted questions related to personal aspects of forgiveness requests, as well as questions on personal healing through intergroup forgiveness.…”