The Search for Truth and Justice on Human Rights Violations in South America: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Peru, 2001-2003) and the National Truth Commission (Brazil, 2012-2014)

a Comissão da Verdade e Reconciliação (Peru, 2001-2003) e a Comissão Nacional da Verdade (Brasil, 2012-2014)

Abstract

Truth commissions are part of Transitional Justice and have as its main objective the right to truth about the crimes and human rights violations of the past. In South America, different commissions were created at the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century in the search for truth and justice for distinct national historical contexts of violence. The aim of this article is to conduct a historical analysis of the two national commissions: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which operated in Peru from 2001 to 2003, and the National Truth Commission, which operated in Brazil from 2012 to 2014. In this sense, we seek to discuss the specificities and approximations of each of these two committees, their trajectories and actions. In addition, it also seeks to build a reflection on South American experiences in the search for clarification scans on violations in their recent pasts and in the defense and promotion of human rights.