This publication provides an overview of the essential best practices guiding the main aspects of a truth commission, answering basic questions relating to its goals, powers, operations, framework, protections for commissioners and witnesses, and reporting. Its intention is to provide practical guidelines for practitioners, commission staff, and political leaders on a wide spectrum of experiences that can be adapted to suit the unique social, political, and legal context of the state.
This is an updated version of the publication first published on March 20, 2013, which includes quotations and a reference omitted in the original version, as cited in footnotes 22, 33 and 35.