Abstract

In Chile, since the beginning of the republic, amnesties after civil wars and violent conflicts have been the basis for political reconciliation. The political transition that began in 1990 aimed to establish the truth about the human rights violations committed during the dictatorship, to recognize and make reparations to the victims, and to provide justice as far as possible, despite the 1978 amnesty. This article analyzes the evolution of several instances of the transitional justice process and the fight against impunity of the victims of torture. The case of Haydee Oberreuter allows us to examine the possibilities, results, and limitations of judicial processes concerning the demands for justice and reparations for torture victims.