Violations of human uguts and mom angunaY

so massive as to warrant the name crimes

against humanity-systematic torture.

"disappearances". ethnic cleansing, even

genocide-continue to unfold before the eyes of the world. Why is this so, despite the universal revulsion they evoke and their explicit outlawing by international law? A growing number of observers say a major -ason such atrocities persist is impunity: the fact that perpetrators of imilar violations in the past have so often escaped accountability for heir deeds. In response to those who claim that the past should be left behind once a conflict is over, the victims of such acts are insisting more and more that there can be no justice and no healing of society unless the truth is told, unless the criminals are held accountable or responsible confess their guilt, ask for forgiveness and give concrete signs of repentance.

Reflecting on the experience of people in many parts of the world, this churches to reach across traditional boundaries and join others in the search for new paths towards genuine justice. repentance and reconciliation and thus to provide hope.