UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/12/19 21 August 2009 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twelfth session Agenda item 2 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REPORTS OF THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL Right to the truth Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights* Summary This report is presented to the Human Rights Council pursuant to Council resolution 9/11. It contains a study on best practices for the effective implementation of the right to truth, in particular practices relating to archives and records concerning gross violations of human rights, and programmes on the protection of witnesses and other persons involved in trials connected with such violations. * Late submission. GE.09-15089 (E) 280809