The right to truth in theory and practice: a critical reflection on a practicum placement at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Abstract

Truth must come before reconciliation. A right to truth has been proposed but has not yet been recognized as binding international law. This paper explores the theoretical unpinning of a right to truth for victims of human rights abuses and how the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation preserves the truth in the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada. This paper also considers how denialism, hate, and misinformation challenge the preservation of truth.