A/HRC/4/96 page 16 III. TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE A. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission 49. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), was established to create a historical record of the conflict, to promote reconciliation and to address the human rights needs of the victims. TRC completed its task and submitted a final report with a number of recommendations to the Government to address the root causes of the conflict and to facilitate the consolidation of peace. UNIOSIL Human Rights and Rule of Law Section, with support from OHCHR under its technical cooperation project, facilitated nationwide dissemination of the report and awareness-raising activities on its findings and recommendations. As indicated earlier UNIOSIL, in collaboration with the District Human Rights Committees, conducted awareness-raising activities in all 149 chiefdoms of the country. Summaries of the report were published and several socio-professional groups, such as journalists, churches, NGOs, the police and the army, were informed on the findings and recommendations. 50. While there have been some noticeable efforts with a view to implementing the TRC recommendations, one particular area of concern remains the reparations programme. The needs of thousands of victims of the conflict, in particular amputees and the war-wounded, including victims of rape and other forms of sexual abuse, have to be addressed as quickly as possible. Besides the resolution adopted by the Cabinet to provide free medical treatment and other social services, the Government has recently designated the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) as the lead agency for the implementation of the reparations programme, but no significant progress has been made. With the formal establishment of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone which will follow-up the TRC recommendations, including the reparations programme, it is expected that more action will be taken in this regard. 51. In July 2006, in a civil society workshop aimed at exchanging views on PBC and identifying the possible role of NGOs in the work of the Commission in Sierra Leone, the dissemination and implementation of the TRC recommendations was identified as one of the human rights concerns that PBC needs to focus on. Finally, in December 2006, UNIOSIL Human Rights and Rule of Law Section assisted the Government in designing concept notes for support towards the implementation of the TRC recommendations under the Peacebuilding Fund. B. The Special Court for Sierra Leone 52. The Special Court for Sierra Leone is now in its fifth year of operations. The trial of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Civil Defense Force (CDF) and Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) indictees charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity and grave breaches of international humanitarian law, continued throughout 2006. In February, a number of high profile witnesses including Joe Demby, former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Peter Penfold, former British High Commissioner, and British Army General Richards testified. By October, the CDF defence team rested their case and oral hearings on the final trial briefs of both prosecution and defence were heard on 28 and 29 November. No definite date was scheduled for the final judgement, but it was expected to take place in the early part of 2007.