This article argues that two new definitions are needed for what constitutes a truth commission. The first new definition that is needed is a different backward-looking definition that is used reflectively to contrast, compare and research past and present truth commissions. It is argued that the variety of definitions that exist about what constitutes a Truth Commission (TC) have a number of problems, and that a better definition is needed to categorise past mechanisms, make comparisons and improve comparative research. The second goal of the article is to investigate why it is necessary to create a non-prescriptive explanatory forward-looking definition focusing on the compositional elements of a TC. This is because definitions are also useful to assist those who wish to establish TC on what the compositional elements need to be, to ensure that these institutions are less likely to fail in their endeavours. This is important, as TCs have been extensively criticised for not achieving the goals that they are meant to. To determine why a new backward-looking definition is needed, which is broader and more inclusive than existing definitions, some of the current TC definitions are deconstructed. The various elements are re-examined and reconstituted to ensure a more holistic and relevant definition for what a TC is. As far as a forward-looking definition is concerned, the article examines what the compositional elements ought to be to make them more likely to be contextually applicable, to have more of a positive effect and have more of a constructive role in the places where they are created. Issues focused on that need greater delineation include the idea that TCs—besides focusing on the past—also, in some cases, investigate on-going human rights abuse. It is contended that TCs must be created with the support of the people in the country and be reflective of their needs. It is maintained that a TC should be a temporary body and that independence, legitimacy and sufficient resources are crucial factors in determining whether a TC will be successful. Also, considered is why having an independent process to choose commissioners, who are diverse and representative of that society is critical to the outcome of the process.

中文翻译：

---

重新设计真相委员会的定义，但也要设计一个前瞻性的非规范性定义，使他们有可能更成功

本文认为，真相委员会的构成需要两个新的定义。需要的第一个新定义是一个不同的后向定义，用于反思性地对比、比较和研究过去和现在的真相委员会。有人认为，关于真相委员会 (TC) 构成的各种定义存在许多问题，需要一个更好的定义来对过去的机制进行分类，进行比较并改进比较研究。本文的第二个目标是研究为什么有必要创建一个非规范性的解释性前瞻性定义，重点是 TC 的组成要素。这是因为定义也有助于那些希望建立 TC 的人需要了解组成元素是什么，确保这些机构的努力不太可能失败。这很重要，因为 TC 因未能实现其预期目标而受到广泛批评。为了确定为什么需要一个比现有定义更广泛和更具包容性的新的后向定义，解构了一些当前的 TC 定义。对各种要素进行了重新审查和重组，以确保对 TC 的定义更加全面和相关。就前瞻性定义而言，本文研究了构成元素应该是什么，使它们更有可能在上下文中适用，产生更多的积极影响，并在它们所在的地方发挥更多的建设性作用。被创建。重点关注需要更多界定的问题包括这样一种观点，即 TC 不仅关注过去，而且在某些情况下还调查正在进行的侵犯人权行为。有人认为，必须在该国人民的支持下创建 TC，并反映他们的需求。TC 应该是一个临时机构，独立性、合法性和充足的资源是决定 TC 能否成功的关键因素。此外，还考虑了为什么有一个独立的程序来选择委员，他们是多元化的，代表该社会对这个过程的结果至关重要。TC 应该是一个临时机构，独立性、合法性和充足的资源是决定 TC 能否成功的关键因素。此外，还考虑了为什么有一个独立的程序来选择委员，他们是多元化的，代表该社会对这个过程的结果至关重要。TC 应该是一个临时机构，独立性、合法性和充足的资源是决定 TC 能否成功的关键因素。此外，还考虑了为什么有一个独立的程序来选择委员，他们是多元化的，代表该社会对这个过程的结果至关重要。