UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/5/7 7 June 2007 ENGLISH Original: FRENCH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fifth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL” Right to the truth Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Summary The present report is submitted pursuant to decision 2/105 of the Human Rights Council, in which the Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights “to prepare a follow-up report on the study on the right to the truth, which shall include best national and international practices, in particular legislative, administrative or any other measures, as well as individual and societal dimensions of this right, taking into account the views of States and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to be examined at its fifth session in June 2007”. A verbal note to this effect was circulated on 6 December 2006. International instruments and domestic law, and also domestic and international jurisprudence are all increasingly recognizing the right to the truth about gross human rights violations and serious violations of human rights law. The contributions received in response to the note verbale dated 14 July 2005 and addressed to all States and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations confirm the close links between the right to the truth and other rights, as highlighted in the study on the right to the truth contained in document E/CN.4/2006/91. In addition, the information submitted demonstrates the existence of highly valuable and diversified experience in efforts to uphold and strengthen the right to the truth. The present report is concerned exclusively with topics and examples provided in the communications submitted, and does not undertake to cover all aspects of the right to the truth, as defined in the study. With the information provided, it has been possible to identify essential issues which merit closer consideration. GE.07-12948 (E) 120607 130607