Sierra Leone TRC - Shaping the Final Report: Working Presentations

With the conclusion of the hearings on 5th August 2003, a report writing workshop and a conference involving all the Commissioners and staff was held at the Sierra Guest House from 26th to 30th August 2003. The Commission grappled with the question of what its report was meant to achieve and the philosophical approach it would take in relation to the final Report. This was followed by a report writing conference, which took place at the Lakka Beach Hotel from 30th August to 3rd September 2003.

At these conferences each of the themes constituting the final Report was unpacked to deal with issues such as meaning; context; content; resources; impact; time frame and outcome. The Commission grappled with the question of how to reflect its mandate in the final report and the peculiarities of its experiences. Other important issues that engaged the Commission at the conferences included the question of reparations and how to hold perpetrators to account. The discussions were open and free flowing. While the final responsibility for the conclusions rested with the Commissioners, they sought the views of the staff on what would be appropriate, fair and legal. The presentations listed below are the actual working PowerPoint presentations presented by the researchers at the conferences.

Researchers proposed findings and recommendations based on the work they had done and in consultation with their thematic groups. Based on the feedback received during the meetings, each researcher conducted more research and/ or provided further justification for the proposed conclusions. This process continued until the Commissioners were satisfied that all the issues had been thoroughly and objectively analyzed, including the role of the different actors.