Why is it that truth-telling in post-conflict settings has been found to be both helpful and harmful to victims of mass violence? Existing studies have identified a range of positive benefits and negative consequences of truth-telling for victims; however, the reasons why some victims experience a sense of healing while others do not after participating in post-conflict truth commission processes continue to remain unclear. 

Addressing one piece of this complex puzzle, this thesis seeks to begin clarifying how truth-telling may be beneficial for victims by investigating the research question: What pathways lead from truth-telling to victim healing in post-conflict settings? 

Building on the proposition that having voice - a key component of procedural justice - can help individuals to overcome the disempowerment and marginalisation of victimisation, this thesis investigates voice as a possible causal mechanism that can create pathways toward healing within truth commission public hearings.

Intended as an exploratory, theory-building study, this thesis investigates the potential positive impact of public truth-telling on victims by using a least similar case study design in two post-conflict countries, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.