The Office of the Ombudsperson for Transitional Justice (OOTJ) has revealed it has received 59 cases during the first month of accepting cases.
On June 13, the OOTJ began accepting cases of past wrongdoings by state authorities and officials in power that resulted in human rights violations. The office will be accepting cases until August 13.
The OOTJ revealed it has received 59 cases so far, including cases on violation of rights to housing, working, education, pension and freedom of expression. The office revealed the majority of cases were related to housing rights, which represents 54% of cases currently submitted.
The OOTJ was established following the ratification of the Transitional Justice Act on December 17, 2020. It functions as an autonomous legal identity vested with powers to communicate, file a lawsuit or receive court charges under the Transitional Justice Act.
The act sanctions investigations into past wrongdoings by state authorities, heads of agencies, or individuals in power, which resulted in human rights violations. The act also strengthens accountability mechanisms, provides a framework for redress and reparations for victims of the abuse of power, and outlines measures to avoid such abuses of authority in the future.
The eligibility timeframe for cases that may be investigated according to the act runs from January 1, 1953, until November 17, 2018.