National Truth and Reconciliation Commisions: Facts and Materials

A truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) is a commission tasked with discovering and revealing past wrongdoing by a government (or, depending on the circumstances, non-state actors as well), in the hope of resolving conflicts from the past. They are, under various names, occasionally set up by States emerging from periods of internal unrest, civil war, or dictatorship. South Africa's TRC, established by President Nelson Mandela following apartheid, is popularly considered a model of TRCs. This work examines TRCs around the world and provides for background materials on their efforts to bring peace and security in the countries involved.