The trend of truth and reconciliation commissions started in the 90's in South Africa where they would investigate injustices that took place during the apartheid regime.

Canada, New Zealand and Guatemala, among others, have also sought redress for their minorities through truth commissions.

And now it is done in the three Nordic countries Finland, Norway and Sweden.

In Sweden, commissions must investigate injustices that have been committed against the Sami and the Tornedalian minorities.

In Finland towards Sami and in Norway towards Finnish-speaking Kvens and Sami.

Standard shift

According to history professor Lars Elenius from Luleå, this is partly due to a shift in norms in society.

It is no longer ok to discipline children, forcibly sterilize people and forbid minorities to speak their mother tongue.

- Appointing a truth commission is a recognition by the state that the nation's system of rules has been defined by the majority population at the expense of the minority, explains Professor Lars Elenius, who is himself a member of the truth commission towards Tornedalingar.

Organized by the state

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a governmental organization that investigates past irregularities so that reconciliation can take place.

This often results in an investigation by the state institutions that participated in the repression.

According to Lars Elenius, the fact that this is happening right now in the Nordic countries may be due to the nation states losing some of their power in the regions' Europe.

Minorities have begun to demand their rights, such as the right to their mother tongue, culture and history.

If a group has received recognition, it will spread, Lars Elenius believes.

- Minorities today are under great threat because they are small and the language has often become the majority language, children and grandchildren no longer speak their ancestors' mother tongue, says Lars Elenius.

Truth hurts

Even in minorities, there is usually no complete agreement on the need to root in what has been.

In South Africa's truth process, a slogan was used: "Truth hurts but silence kills".