THE RIGHT TO TRUTH IN THE CASE-LAW OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2523-4269-2026-94-22-28Keywords:
human rights, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, right to truth, transitional justice, post-conflict settlementAbstract
The article examines the development and legal nature of the right to truth in the jurisprudence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. In the context of armed conflicts, authoritarian legacies, and widespread gross human rights violations, the right to truth has emerged as a key element of victims’ protection and an essential component of transitional justice. The study aims to analyse the genesis of this concept within the Inter-American human rights system and to identify the main legal standards formulated by the Court.
The research demonstrates that the right to truth initially evolved in response to cases of enforced disappearances and was closely linked to the obligation of states to conduct effective investigations and to inform relatives about the fate of victims. The Court gradually derived this right from the guarantees of judicial protection and fair trial (Articles 8 and 25 of the American Convention on Human Rights), and later expanded its scope by connecting it to the freedom to seek and receive information under Article 13. As a result, the right to truth has been recognized not only as an individual entitlement of victims and their families, but also as a collective right of society to know the circumstances, causes, and patterns of serious human rights violations.
Particular attention is paid to the Court’s case law, including Velásquez-Rodríguez v. Honduras, Bámaca-Velásquez v. Guatemala, Barrios Altos v. Peru, Gomes Lund v. Brazil, and Gelman v. Uruguay. These judgments illustrate the evolution of the Court’s approach, especially regarding the prohibition of amnesties for gross violations, the duty to ensure access to state archives, the establishment of historical truth, and the recognition of truth-seeking as a form of reparation.
The article concludes that the Inter-American Court has played a pioneering role in shaping comprehensive standards on the right to truth, positioning it as a cornerstone of accountability, reparations, guarantees of non-recurrence, and societal reconciliation. The experience of the Inter-American system is of particular relevance for states facing the consequences of armed conflict and systemic human rights violations, including Ukraine, where the implementation of truth-oriented mechanisms may become an important element of post-conflict recovery and justice.
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