Conference attendees gave three reasons for acknowledging past injustices. Acknowledging past abuses recognizes the dignity of the victims, and is the first step in seeking justice for them. Acknowledging past crimes is also the necessary first step toward national reconciliation. In addition, publicizing past crimes may serve to deter future crimes. Making restitution to the victims can be a particularly potent form of acknowledgment.
Many people oppose amnesty on the grounds that it deprives victims of their right to justice.
Countries may grant general amnesty in order to avoid provoking rebellion from a still-powerful military, and to promote national reconciliation, as in Uruguay. When supporters of both the old regime and the new order have committed human rights abuses, a general amnesty for both sides may allow the nation to break from its past conflicts move forward. This has been the case in Spain. If the new government chooses to acknowledge past crimes, it must next decide whether and how to hold the responsible parties accountable for those crimes. The main reason to prosecute past crimes is to punish criminals and dignify the victims.