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Restorative Principles in Response to State-Sanctioned Crime: Truth and Reconciliation Commissions.

Last modified 2005-07-05 08:03

Chair: Pedro Moreno

The problem of how to respond to state-sanctioned abuses of human rights is being confronted in many parts of the world. Amnesties do not address the expectations of victims of abuse for justice and reparation. Truth commissions have been convened as an attempted alternative to prosecution and blanket impunity.

This session described the use of some truth and reconciliation commissions and evaluate the impact.

Helen Duffy (Human Rights Watch): Overview: Truth Commissions as a Response to State-Sanctioned Crime

Herminio Pineda (Honduras): Peace and Reconciliation Efforts in Central America

Medard Rwelamira (Department of Justice, Republic of South Africa): South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Yael Danieli (International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies): Elements of Post-Traumatic Healing

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