Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Human Rights, and Trauma

Abstract

Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRCs) are interventions designed to address human rights violations during or after times of political transition. TRCs pay particular attention to victims in an effort to heal the trauma suffered by individuals, groups, communities, and nations during the course of human rights violations. This chapter reviews TRCs’ history and basic functions. TRCs are also discussed from a trauma and resiliency perspective by reviewing how TRCs have dealt with individual and social trauma. Finally, TRCs are examined from a rights-based perspective.