Reconciliation

The concept of reconciliation can be viewed, as either a goal to be achieved or as a process to a particular end. Reconciliation can be thought of as a rebuilding process which takes place after a post conflict situation – when the conflict has ended and a settlement between the two parties has been reached and the two parties are struggling to construct a new society. 

The process of reconciliation involves building of working relationships between the previously worrying parties. Reconciliation can be summarized as a process of finding a way for previously enemies to live together harmoniously. It is that process of moving a community from a divided path to a shared future. 

The concept of reconciliation can be analyzed at different contexts - either at the household level between husbands and wife, or at societal level between offenders and victims within the community or at national level between communities. 

Reconciliation can be discussed as a process of reuniting individual victims in order to enjoy their right or a process of understanding the existing areas of differences and discrimination with a view of acknowledging and overcoming such discrimination.

    

The aspect of reconciliation has over time been institutionalized by various countries with numerous truth and reconciliation commissions over the world. The need for such commissions was first appreciated after the end of the World War II with the formation of Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals. Over the years, various countries in Africa including South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Kenya among others have formulated similar commissions. 

Truth is the foundation of reconciliation since it allows people to understand what really happened in the past as a building stone to moving forward and breaking away from the sense of victim hood. The legitimacy of the reconciliation process may wholly depend on the ability to accept and appreciate past occurrences and to move forward with a mutual understanding of togetherness based on facts, faithfulness and trust. 

Reconciliation should be based on respect between the parties and a real and truthful understanding of each party’s needs, fears and aspirations. The success of the reconciliation process is based on helpful habits and patterns. The foundation of such habits is a truthful expression of the conflict and the role of different parties in order to guard against a return to violence on the bases of mistrust.