Last Thursday, 24th March, was the day to remember the victims of human rights violations and their fight for truth, justice and dignity. This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published at http://www.un.org/en/events/righttotruthday/. The second was published at http://www.un.org/en/events/righttotruthday/background.shtml. The third was published at https://humanrights.ca/blog/right-truth-concerning-gross-human-rights-violations. The fourth was published at http://acnudh.org/en/pillay-fight-impunity-by-protecting-the-right-to-the-truth-about-gross-human-rights-violations/
In December 2010, the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly proclaimed 24th March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. The purpose of the day is to: 1) Honour the memory of victims of gross and sistematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice. 2) Pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all. 3) Recognize, in particular, the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Romero, of El Salvador, who was assassinated on 24th March 1980, after denouncing violations of the human rights and defending the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and opposition to all forms of violence. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "On this day, I urge states to adopt measures to promote truth, justice and reparations for victims, which is crucial to ensuring that gross human rights violations are not repeated. Let us all do more to protect human rights and human dignity."
In a study conducted in 2006 the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded that the right to the truth about gross human rights violations of human rights law is an inalienable and autonomous right, linked to the duty and obligations of the state to protect and guarantee human rights, to conduct effective investigations and to guarantee effective remedy and reparations. The study affirms that the right to the truth implies knowing the full and complete truth as to the events that transpired, their specific circumstances in which the violations took place, as well as the reasons for them. In a 2009 report on the Right to the Truth Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights identified best practices for the effective implementation of this right, in particular practices relating to archives and records concerning gross violations of human rights, and programmes on the protection of witnesses and other persons involved in trials connected with such violations.
Monsignor Romero was murdered for refusing to be silent in the face of violence, abuse and injustice. He started his career as a priest during the 1960s and 1970s in El Salvador, a conservative society where few enjoyed great wealth at the expense of the impoverished majority. . After witnessing numerous human rights violations and atrocities, Monsignor Romero quickly became a vocal defender of the poor and the oppressed in his country, As a result, he saw himself involved in several conflicts with the Salvadoran government and with the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, he continued to speak out against U.S. military support for the Salvadoran government and he also attempted to stop increasing human rights violations by asking soldiers to disobey orders. Monsignor's courage and determination for speaking truth and for demanding justice and peace for his fellow citizens led to his assassination. On March 24th 1980, he was fatally shot while celebrating mass in a small chapel in San Salvador. On the 30th anniversary of his death, the Salvadoran government offered an official state apology for his assassination and it recognized that those involved acted with the collaboration and participation of state agents. UN member states recognize that victim of an atrocity have the right to know the truth about the abuses they suffered. Thus, any person victim of an atrocity has the right to know who is responsible, any family has the right to know the fate of their disappeared members and every society where atrocities have occurred has the right to know its history without lies or denial. In many countries archival records and eyewitness accounts have informed truth commissions, courts of law, memorials and searches for the disappeared, all of which can serve to uncover the truth about what happened. As a human rights museum, we will help to promote human rights by preserving and sharing stories which have been recorded.
Victims of gross violations of human rights and their families have the inalienable right to know the truth about past events concerning the perpetration of heinous crimes against them. They have the right to know about the circunstances and reasons that led, through massive or systematic violations to the perpetrations of those crimes. They have the right to know who the perpetrators are and the fate and whereabouts of the victims. In recognition of the right of all these victims, the UN has declared the Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. A people's knowledge of the history of its oppression is part of its heritage. Knowing the truth allows victims and relatives to gain a sense of closure, some restoration of dignity and receive acknowledgement of their suffering. The truth is a tool to combat impunity. It is a tool for justice. And it is vital step in preventing a recurrence of the events that led to the violations. In marking this day, we also pay tribute to the brave women and men who have taken, and continue to take, great risk to ensure that the truth is told about human rights violations in their countries. These human rights defenders often fear reprisals but nevertheless discharge what they perceive as their duty with great courage. Many have been arrested or face worrying and alarming incitement to violence due to their cooperation with international human rights mechanisms. On this day, I call on all states to take all appropriate measures to give effect to the right to the truth, the right to justice and the right to reparations. These three indispensable rights are at the core of the fight against impunity and the restoration of the dignity of victims. Let this international day be a reminder of the existence and the importance of the right to the truth. Let it also be a reminder of the need to protect those who dedicate their lives to telling it.
