“In many instances violence - which obviously inflicts tremendous trauma on victims - also inflicts trauma on the perpetrator. Radical evil takes a lot of preparation, not just from an organizational point of view, but from brainwashing, psychological preparation and the legitimization of violence.” EvilViolenceVictimTraumaPoint Of ViewPsychologicalRadicalPreparationBrainwashingOrganizational Author:Payam Akhavan
“Criminal trials are fundamentally about individual accountability whereas truth commissions are less about the guilt of the perpetrator and more about the suffering of the victim. A criminal trial is only incidentally a therapeutic or cathartic process for victims. But truth commissions, as we saw in South Africa, have the advantage of giving tens of thousands of people the opportunity to tell their stories, and not only does that contribute to healing but it also contributes to reconciliation, especially when perpetrators also come and express contrition.” PeopleGivingSufferingOpportunityIndividualHealingVictimGuiltAccountabilitySouth AfricaReconciliation Author:Payam Akhavan