March 24: International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims

By alejandra sandoval

Every March 24 we commemorate important work and values of Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero, assassinated on this day in 1980 for speaking out against human rights violations and defending vulnerable populations. His stand in favor of human dignity and against every form of violence inspired the United Nations to proclaim March 24 the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

On 24th of March, we honor the memory of the victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and affirm their right to know the full and complete truth as to the events that transpired, their specific circumstances, and who participated in them, including knowing the circumstances in which the violations took place, as well as the reasons for them.