Tunisian Commission receives 1000s of human rights complaints

Tunisia has registered about 65,000 complaints of violations of human rights.

The complaints were filed between December 2014 and June 15, 2016 with the Truth and Dignity Commission set up to investigate crimes committed in the country between 1995 and 2013.

“The majority of cases received concern individual violations. Violations committed by government include resource deprivation , arbitrary detention, violation of freedom of expression, they always comes back,” Sihem Bensedrine, president of the commission.

The Truth and Dignity commission is expected to first identify those responsible for these acts before judgement is made. It must also rehabilitate the victims and provide compensation. But there are already challenges

More than 54,000 Tunisians have filed cases with the embattled Truth & Dignity Commission, seeking justice #Tunisia

— Yasmine Ryan (@yasmineryan) June 17, 2016

Bensedrine said that the arbitration cases related to abuses by state officials who are still active have been sent to the Interior Ministry but were rejected to date.

“But we hope that dialogue will be established very soon,” he added.

The Commission, which has full access to state archives and whose term ends in two years, also plans to give amnesty to people who will confess the atrocities they committed.

Those who unduly benefited from personal enrichment through corruption will also pay .

AFP