How effective have African truth commissions been?
SOURCE: African Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
TITLE AUTHOR(S): W.Gumede
KEYWORDS: AFRICA, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 12160
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/16588
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/16588
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
TITLE AUTHOR(S): W.Gumede
KEYWORDS: AFRICA, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 12160
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/16588
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/16588
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
The study is a critical review of several African countries' attempts to seek justice, truth and lasting peace after deadly conflict through the mechanisms of transitional justice, specifically through the establishment of truth and reconciliation commissions or equivalent structures. Outcomes for African commissions have been mixed. Some met with genuine success. Some were obviously ineffective, neither uncovering the truth, nor bringing justice to the victims or holding perpetrators accountable. The review will analyse why some African truth commissions have performed better, while others have been widely condemned as failures and missed opportunities. It will outline lessons for other African countries considering setting up truth commissions or related transitional justice mechanisms to tackle the legacies of a violent past, to bring justice, and to forge reconciliation and lasting peace.-
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