A/HRC/12/18 page 11 these ex-paramilitaries, the Supreme Court of Colombia began investigations into alleged links between high-level public officials and illegal armed groups in 2006. By the end of 2008, 73 members of Congress had been indicted, 11 of whom were convicted and 4 of whom were acquitted. The Office of the Attorney-General is currently investigating 250 additional cases of alleged links between senior public officials and illegal armed groups. OHCHR Colombia has publicly supported these investigations and provided technical assistance to the Supreme Court, sharing information on international standards and comparative country experiences. OHCHR Colombia is organizing a seminar on international mechanisms of criminal responsibility to raise awareness about the use of the International Criminal Court to be held in November 2009. 3. Reparations programmes 28. Reparations programmes seek to redress systemic violations of human rights by providing a range of material and symbolic benefits to victims. The General Assembly, in resolution 60/147, has reaffirmed the right of victims to reparations in the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law. Redress may take a variety of forms, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. Experience has shown that the most successful reparations programmes are designed in consultation with affected communities, particularly victims. OHCHR has provided technical assistance in the design and implementation of reparations programmes, supported the participation of civil society organizations in reparations discussions, and advocated for full implementation of reparations initiatives. (a) Africa 29. The Darfur Peace Agreement in the Sudan includes a provision for the establishment of Darfur Compensation Commissions (DCCs) to address compensation claims from victims of the conflict. Commissions have been established in the Darfur states but a reparations policy has not yet been developed. In December 2008, HRS UNAMID (African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur) invited staff members from the North DCC to participate in a transitional justice workshop in El Fasher. The North DCC Director subsequently requested capacity-building support from HRS UNAMID, which organized a training session in July 2009. The training session reviewed the international legal framework on victims’ right to a remedy, discussed the challenges of implementing reparations programmes and compared country experiences. HRS UNAMID expects to replicate this training with the other DCCs. 30. The 2005 Act to Establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Liberia entrusts TRC with the responsibility to establish a trust fund for the benefit of victims of the conflict. HRPS UNMIL has been involved in awareness-raising and sensitization efforts regarding reparations among war victims, conflict-affected communities and TRC commissioners. TRC has also organized hearings and published information on reparations in local newspapers, but public consultations have been sporadic. 31. The 2004 final report of the TRC in Sierra Leone recommends the establishment of a reparations programme. In early 2006, HRRLS UNIOSIL and a national NGO, Forum of Conscience, organized a consultative meeting to discuss appropriate reparations measures. The Government subsequently formed the Task Force on Reparations, which produced an