Interactive Dialogue on the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence
Human Rights Council – 54th Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Kaitlin Sandin
Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you Special Rapporteur Salvioli for your ongoing work advancing people-centered justice.
It is imperative that the international community supports countries in meeting their international legal obligations and creating transitional justice strategies. Efforts should include establishing truth-seeking processes, dismantling institutions that perpetrate human rights violations, and memorializing victims and atrocities. These strategies should also ensure criminal prosecutions and guarantees of non-recurrence.
Transitional justice approaches provide meaningful contributions to peace, stability, and democracy in many countries around the world. Two examples are Colombia and the Gambia, where governments and civil society are striving to address legacies of mass violence and authoritarianism through victim and survivor-centered, gender-responsive, and inclusive processes.
We must do more to ensure that all victims and survivors can receive redress, perpetrators are held accountable, and governments implement actions to prevent the recurrence of conflict and mass atrocities.
Mr. Special Rapporteur, how can we promote civil society’s role in holding countries accountable to their international legal obligations during the design and implementation of transitional justice strategies?
I thank you.
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