Unspeakable Truths: Transitional Justice and the Challenge of Truth Commissions

In 2001 Priscilla Hayner gave the world the first comprehensive scholarly work on truth commissions to address legacies of impunity. Ten years later, she offers a dramatically updated new edition, a refined, measured and yet often stirring account of state efforts to address the past, with rich new case evidence collected through her travels and policy consultation in over a dozen countries.
-Kathryn Sikkink, University of Minnesota

During the last ten years we have witnessed an expansion of the accountability of past abusers from dictatorial regimes thanks to old and new truth commissions. The capacity of Priscilla Hayner is remarkable, in the face of such painful and dramatic processes, to be able to reconstitute the immense diversity and complexity of this search for healing in all regions of the world. This new edition of Unspeakable Truths is the most complete chart available to navigate the fascinating struggles for truth and justice in the twenty-first century.
-Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Commissioner, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; Former Secretary of State for Human Rights, Brazil

Unspeakable Truths is an important addition to the literature presenting truth commissions as instruments for transitional justice in post-conflict societies. Hayner's excellent political and social analysis will enrich the debate on justice and peace. This book not only provides a wealth of information, but is intellectually inspiring for all those engaged with issues of transitional justice, both in local contexts and at the international level.
-Hina Jilani, Founder, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

This extensive updating of Hayner's pathbreaking 2001 book again breaks new ground on the contribution of truth commissions to peace and justice in societies emerging from war or dictatorship. The panoramic view of existing and past commissions is balanced by attention to stories and details; the writing is lively and fresh. Her new chapters on gender and on the relationship between justice and truth commissions are superb. Hayner's depth of knowledge of the contributions as well as the dilemmas and limits of truth commissions make her one of the key writers and thinkers in the field.
-Naomi Roht-Arriaza, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

Unspeakable Truths provides an outstanding guide for any truth-seeking project that would want to benefit from the international experience in the field. It combines a well informed comparative analysis with an insightful discussion of the wide variety of truth commissions that have existed so far. Its presentation of the Peruvian truth commission, in particular, gives a very accurate picture of the work done and the problems that we dealt with while building memory in Peru.
-Salomon Lerner Febres, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru; former President of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Peru

Hayner says it all, and more. The relationship between truth commissions and international courts, the tension between truth and justice and between truth and reparations are tackled in an easy to grasp yet highly informative manner. The book harbours a wealth of information. . . . An absolute must read.
-Philip Grant, Trial