Transitional Justice for Human Rights: The Legacy and Future of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

Abstract

Truth commissions are an integral component of transitional justice, that is, formal and informal mechanisms set up by the state or civil society to address human rights violations committed in the past. This chapter examines the claims related to how truth commissions may contribute to peace, democracy, and reconciliation and takes stock of the legacy of truth commissions by examining the impact literature related to these three chief objectives. Finally, the chapter offers some reflections on the potential importance of truth commissions in the future.