article
On the Truth Comissions and the application of justice processes of democratic trasition
On the Truth Comissions and the application of justice processes of democratic trasition
Autor
Springer, Natalia
Institución
Resumen
A widely accepted definition of what a Truth Commission is, is presented as an introduction far this article. Thedefinítion isfollowed bya description of its five main functions: to clarify the truth; to deal with the need of victims; tocontribute to the process of justice administration; topropoSe institutional reforms and tomove forward in thedevelopmentof reconcilement mechanisms. Furthermore, the article analyses comparativel yexam ples of existing Truth Commissions, and {acuses on the possib fe birth of a fourth generatíon ofTruth Commissions. The lattercould be characterised by their establishment in the middle of a non-resolved conflict, as a too/ far 'restorativedemocracy' and far peace building. The ana/ ysis presented here highlights the need far minimal conditions far a Truth Commission to be successful. Those conditions being: an overafl consensus between parts, a cease-fire, and the support of civil society and the lnternationa/ Community. The author concludes with a brief sketching of the Sierra Leone case, emphasising on its methodological vafue.