Matadi, 14 February 2012 – The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) organized a workshop in the port city of Matadi on 14 February on the issue of reparation for victims within the framework of transitional justice.

The workshop was attended by 17 participants, namely from the civil society, and also among human rights focal points and lawyers of the province. The objective set by the organizers was threefold: to identify ways and means of developing a mapping of victims in the targeted provinces; to provide the results of the NGOs' consultations regarding transitional justice issues; and to continue on the transitional justice mechanisms, especially on the effective reparation for victims.

For two days, the participants debated, among others, the notion of victims and reparation in transitional justice, as well as the role of NGOs in the mapping of victims, criminal and restorative justice. They also used examples of transitional justice in other countries of Africa.

Two experts of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) were in charge of the training, including Pollock Ndonodji and Jean Paul Tshibangu.