The implementation of truth commission recommendations: Exploring the ‘beyond words’ database for Latin America

We know little about the processes surrounding the formulation and implementation of truth commission recommendations (TCRs). This article introduces the Beyond Words database, which systematically identifies and tracks the formulation and implementation processes behind 960 recommendations from 13 truth commissions established across Latin America between 1983 and 2012. The database offers information on factors shaping TCR formulation, identifies important characteristics of recommendations and assesses the level of implementation for each. We describe our methodology and the resultant database and examine findings linking TCR characteristics and contextual factors to levels of implementation. Overall, the implementation record is better than those previously considered.