A/HRC/RES/21/7 Stressing the importance for the international community to endeavour to recognize the right of victims of gross violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law, and their families and society as a whole, to know the truth regarding such violations, to the fullest extent practicable, in particular the identity of the perpetrators, the causes and facts of such violations and the circumstances under which they occurred, Stressing also that it is important for States to provide appropriate and effective mechanisms for society as a whole and, in particular, for relatives of the victims to know the truth regarding gross violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law, Recalling that a specific right to the truth may be characterized differently in some legal systems as the right to know, the right to be informed, or freedom of information, Emphasizing that the general public and individuals are entitled to have access, to the fullest extent practicable, to information regarding the actions and decision-making processes of their Government, within the framework of each State’s domestic legal system, Recognizing the importance of preserving historic memory relating to gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law through the conservation of archives and other documents relating to those violations, Convinced that States should preserve archives and other evidence concerning gross violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law to facilitate knowledge of such violations, to investigate allegations and to provide victims with access to an effective remedy in accordance with international law, 1. Recognizes the importance of respecting and ensuring the right to the truth so as to contribute to ending impunity and to promote and protect human rights; 2. Welcomes the establishment in several States of specific judicial mechanisms and other non-judicial mechanisms, such as truth and reconciliation commissions, that complement the justice system, to investigate violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, and appreciates the elaboration and publication of the reports and decisions of these bodies; 3. Encourages the States concerned to disseminate, implement and monitor implementation of the recommendations of such non-judicial mechanisms as truth and reconciliation commissions, and to provide information regarding compliance with the decisions of judicial mechanisms; 4. Encourages other States to consider establishing specific judicial mechanisms and, where appropriate, truth and reconciliation commissions to complement the justice system, in order to investigate and address gross violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law; 5. Encourages States and international organizations to provide requesting States with necessary and appropriate assistance regarding the right to the truth by means of, among other actions, technical cooperation and the exchange of information concerning administrative, legislative and judicial and non-judicial measures, as well as experiences and best practices that have as a purpose the protection, promotion and implementation of this right, including practices regarding the protection of witnesses and the preservation and management of archives; 6. Encourages States to design programmes and other measures to protect witnesses and individuals who cooperate with judicial bodies and mechanisms of a quasijudicial or non-judicial nature, such as human rights commissions and truth commissions; 3