The drama of the missing persons and the right to truth

The drama of Greek-Cypriot missing persons and their families, Turkey’s provocative behavior in this matter, and the possibility of raising legal claims in international level are discussed in the book “The right to truth. Aspects and applications in International Law”, by lawyer Virginia Balafouta, Phd in International Law and Regional Studies, Special Teaching Faculty at the University of Athens.

Mrs. Balafouta was a guest at the Cyprus Center for European and International Affairs of the University of Nicosia, where she presented her book and spoke extensively about its topic. She concluded that “The right to truth contributes to the defense of international peace and human rights, to the prevention and suppression of international crimes, as well as to individual and collective reparation, due to the fact that it functions solely for justice and ultimately for human beings”.

In this book, the right to truth is analysed, which relates to serious violations of International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law. This right, which has emerged as an imperative necessity, is closely linked to the issue of enforced disappearances of persons and the issue of war reparations.