Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff has installed a truth commission to investigate human rights abuses. The step was taken despite the existence of a law that prevents prosecuting those responsible for violations of human rights during the Brazilian dictatorship. It is hoped the truth commission will determine who was responsible for these crimes.

The president took an oath this Wednesday to the seven members of the commission, which was created last November.

The group will have two years to investigate the crimes against humanity that occurred during the dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1946 to 1988.

This law will prevent information concerning human rights violations to return to being declared reserved or a secret.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, considered the initiative of the Brazilian president as “a necessary and long awaited.”

After analysing documents and declarations aimed at establishing the crimes of the dictatorship, the Truth Commission will submit a final report.

However, the investigations of the Commission will not be for punitive purposes. They will not be able to prosecute the executors of these crimes.

This prevention is due to Brazil’s Amnesty Law, which was passed in 1979 by the military regime. It prevents judicial prosecution of the perpetrators of tortures, killings and disappearances and other crimes.

Translated from Pulsar.