Part II The Right to Know, C Preservation of and Access to Archives Bearing Witness to Violations, Principle 15 Measures for Facilitating Access to Archives

Subject(s):

Right to truth — Collective security — Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

Principle 15 requires States to adopt measures that facilitate access to archives for victims, persons implicated in human rights violations, and individuals undertaking historical research. Access to records/archives means making them available for consultation as a result both of legal authorization and the existence of finding aids. Authorizing access to archives, particularly those of governments, is a political act. After providing a contextual and historical background on Principle 15, this chapter discusses its theoretical framework as well as its implementation, focusing on how international and national courts have taken a variety of positions on access. While the theoretical and best practice framework for access to archives exists, the chapter argues that implementation of Principle 15 is far from satisfactory. It also highlights important challenges that persist due to the reluctance of states to provide access to information, often linked to national security concerns.