Part IV The Right to Reparation/Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, A The Right to Reparation, Principle 33 Publicizing Reparation Procedures

Subject(s):

Human rights remedies — Reparations — Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

Principle 33 focuses on the obligation of the State to publicize ‘ad hoc procedures’ for the distribution of reparations. The ‘publicity principle’ assures the right to compensation, restitution, non-material, symbolic reparations and other remedies and places the onus on policymakers to implement outreach campaigns that inform victims of these right and how to access them. Principle 33 emanates from the idea that ‘a reparation mechanism has little practical value if potentially eligible victims are not aware of the opportunity to make claims or are not given timely information on how to do so in a language they can understand’. After providing a contextual and historical background on Principle 33, this chapter discusses its legal framework and practice, with emphasis on United Nations guidelines and principles; international mass claims processes; international courts, commissions and committees; and country specific practice.