Truth commission is an investigative body that examines human rights issues relating to a time when a country treated its people unjustly. Truth commissions may be established by governments or international organizations. The commissions provide opportunities for people from all sides of a conflict to speak publicly about violations of human rights. Through this process, truth commissions seek to promote openness, forgiveness, and national unity. Truth commissions may grant amnesty (pardon) to people accused of human rights abuses if those people confess and provide information about the abuses. Most commissions also set forth guidelines for preventing similar injustices in the future.
The best-known truth commission is the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC was created to investigate human rights violations that occurred during a period of white minority rule in South Africa. From 1948 until 1991, the white minority government had enforced a system of strict racial separation called apartheid. Nonwhite South Africans were denied basic rights, and many were beaten, tortured, or killed. In some cases, members of antiapartheid groups responded with acts of violence against the government and the white population.
Following the collapse of the white minority government in 1994, the newly elected multiracial government established the TRC. It began its work in 1996 and issued its final report in 2003. Led by the former Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu, the TRC conducted hearings and concluded that the government had committed “gross violations of human rights.” The TRC also criticized antiapartheid groups for their use of violence. Many people have praised the TRC for helping to reduce racial hostilities in South Africa. However, others have argued that, because of the TRC’s amnesty provisions, many people who committed serious crimes went unpunished.
A number of other countries have used truth commissions to help promote national unity following injustices committed by a government. Since the late 1900’s, truth commissions have operated in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
See also Apartheid ; South Africa, History of ; Truth and Reconciliation Commission .
