This publication sets out basic principles and approaches to truth commissions and is intended to assist policymakers in advising on the development of truth-seeking mechanisms. It summarizes lessons learned from the experiences of over 30 truth commissions in the past two to three decades. While truth commissions do not replace the need for prosecutions, they do offer some form of accounting for the past. The work of a truth commission may strengthen prosecutions that take place in the future.

This publication sets out basic considerations on prosecution initiatives. It is intended to assist United Nations field staff when advising on how to address the challenges of prosecuting perpetrators of crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It focuses on the strategic and technical challenges these prosecutions face domestically, and denotes principle considerations that should be applied to all prosecutorial initiatives.

This report disscusses the Greensboro Truth and Reonciliation Commission's Final Report on the 1979 killings of five anti-Ku Klux Klan demonstrators. It focuses on a meeting of representatives from truth recovery efforts around the world to assess the Greensboro experience. Topics covered include best practices, lessons learned, and the potential of truth commissions for other communities and issues in the United States. It concludes that there is great potential to gain from this type of exchange, and that Greensboro is an inspiration for other communities.

This case study provides basic information and policy analysis on the Special Court for Sierra Leone. It aims to help guide policymakers establishing and implementing similar mechanisms. The Court broke new ground in terms of narrowly focusing on those bearing the greatest responsibility for human rights abuses, allowing for a limited and efficient approach. However, the court faces significant challenges in terms of impact, legitimacy, fairness, and overall efficiency.

This report outlines Indonesia's international law obligations to provide remedies to the "1965 victims" of General Soeharto's persecution and stigmatization of those affiliated with the Indonesia Communist Party. It traces the history of this persecution, provides an overview of current discriminatory laws and practices, and summarizes efforts to end such practices. It suggests implementing a comprehensive reparations framework within a coherent transitional justice strategy.

This report provides an overview of how truth commissions can address gender issues. It aims to help those involved with the truth commission process make informed decisions regarding different operational directions by highlighting potential advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches. Examples of how to address gender in truth commissions include: ensuring a specific number of female commissioners and staff; providing in-camera hearing options; and convening a gender hearing.

This report evaluates Ghana's National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) against its own objectives and the comparative experiences of truth commissions in other countries. Although the NRC was successful in securing some reconciliation, it was plagued by lack of resources and an overt politicization of the institution and its work.

This case study reviews and analyzes the deployment of international judges and prosecutors in Kosovo. It is part of a series providing information on hybrid courts' policy and practical issues. Although the Kosovo system of international judges and prosecutors has made significant steps forward, it has been limited by continuing concerns regarding security and independence, ad hoc planning, and poor implementation.

This article focuses on the results of an ICTJ nation-wide survey: Colombian Perceptions and Opinions on Justice, Truth, Reparations, and Reconciliation. Colombians expressed a strong demand for accountability and reparations and low support for lenient sentences. ICTJ demands the Colombian government to listen to its people and take steps to deliver justice to victims and negotiate a durable peace.

This report compares findings from two population-based surveys (in 2005 and 2007) in districts of northern Uganda most affected by 21 years of conflict, including the Acholi districts. The studies capture attitudes about peace, justice, and social reconstruction. Developing a deeper understanding of the needs and desires of affected populations is crucial for long-term conflict resolution.