Truth Recovery Independent Panel Access to Records Consultation

Overview

Promoting access to records

One of the important functions of the Truth Recovery Independent Panel is to provide guidance to people searching for records about themselves, or members of their family, and their interaction with Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses.

The Independent Panel’s current Guidance is available here. It provides instructions on how to apply for records held by public authorities and private institutions and organisations.

Why your views matter

Why your experience matters

The Independent Panel intends to develop and expand our Guidance to meet the needs of victims and survivors and their families. This consultation is intended to inform this process of development and expansion. The Panel would like to hear from victims and survivors and their families about their experiences of trying to access records from public authorities and private institutions and organisations. 

For people who have suffered human rights violations and their families, inability to access information and records about their past is an ongoing injustice compounding harms already suffered.

The Independent Panel believes that access to records is, in itself, a form of redress for people who have suffered. Equally, any failure to provide access to records to which victims and survivors and their families are entitled is a very serious matter. Information about the experience of victims and survivors and their families in accessing records will inform the Independent Panel’s final report and recommendations.