Special Rapporteur on transitional justice

Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence

Purpose of the mandate

In situations of transition from conflict or authoritarian rule where there have been gross violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law, the Special Rapporteur focuses on the measures adopted by the relevant authorities to guarantee truth, justice, reparation, memory and guarantees of non-recurrence, with the aim to:

• Ensure accountability and serve justice;
• Promote truth and memory about past violations;
• Provide remedies to victims;
• Reform the national institutional and legal framework and promote the rule of law in accordance with international human rights law, and restore confidence in the institutions of the State;
• Ensure social cohesion, nation-building, ownership and inclusiveness at the national and local levels; and promote healing and reconciliation;
• Prevent the recurrence of crises and future violations of human rights.

About the mandate

On 29 September 2011, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 18/7, in which it decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. In 2026, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 63/7, which extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a further period of three years.

Read more on the history of the mandate

Current mandate holder

Mr. Bernard Duhaime took up his functions as Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence on 1 May 2024, succeeding Mr. Fabián Salvioli. He is Full Professor of International Law at the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM, Montreal, Canada), where he specializes in international human rights and humanitarian law. 

Read Mr. Bernard Duhaime’s full biography

Former mandate holders

Mr. Pablo de Greiff (Colombia)
2012 - 2018

Mr. Fabian Salvioli (Argentina)
2018 - 2024