African countries have a wealth of experience in implementing truth commissions and adapting them to their national contexts, spanning several decades. As noted in the 2019 African Union Transitional Justice Policy, truth commissions are an indicative element of transitional justice. They are “legal bodies established to examine and address violations and abuses. They also serve to establish a full historical record of such violations, including the various experiences of different groups such as women, children and youth, the identity of the victims and perpetrators, as well as the role of various State and non-State institutions, and to provide for measures of reconciliation and healing.”
For each truth commission, when available, this database includes the commission’s mandate, method and year of establishment, period active and final report. It also includes the conflict period as defined in the mandate and the peace agreement that gave rise to the commission. The database was updated in 2023.
Tunisia
Truth and Dignity Commission
The Tunisian Truth and Dignity Commission (Instance Vérité et Dignité) (2013-2019) was mandated to investigate human rights violations committed from 1955 to 2013. The mandate specifically tasked the commission with investigating human rights violations that targeted women, children, the elderly, those with special needs and other vulnerable groups. As per its founding legislation, the commission was to investigate enforced disappearances, gather data on human rights violations to publish in a comprehensive database, and develop programmes for the distribution of reparations to victims. The commission was also required to publish its recommendations, including ways to pursue reconciliation, which it did in 2020.
| Established | Conflict Period |
Mandate | Final Report | Peace Agreement |
| 2013, by legislation | 1955-2013 | Organic Law No. 53 of 2013 (Arabic) | Executive Summary of Final Report (English) | – |
