rights violations that may be found stored in the archives of the State, even in the cases in which said archives are in the custody of security agencies, military, or police units277. 303. Guaranteeing the right of access to information related to acts of serious human rights violations requires the State to comply with a series of positive obligations. In what is relevant to this case, the Commission highlights, among other measures, the declassification and opening of the files so that the institutions investigating the facts can make direct inspections; conducting inventories and tracing at official facilities; the promotion of search operations that include searches of the places where the information might be found; conducting hearings and questioning those who can find out where relevant documents are or those who can reconstruct what happened to them, among other things. It is also necessary that the next of kin of the victims and their legal representatives can participate in these actions and have direct access to the existing documentation278. 304. Second, the Commission emphasizes that States have the duty to preserve and facilitate access to State archives, when they exist, and to create and manage them when they are not compiled or organized as such. In fact, when it comes to serious human rights violations, the information that these archives can gather has undeniable value and is essential not only to promote investigations, but also to study the past in order to prevent their repetition279. 305. At the international level, various statements have been made on the matter that are of special interest to this case by various specialized conferences. For example, the so-called “Tshwane Principles” enshrine, among others, the obligation of States to ensure that “All oversight bodies […] including courts and tribunals, should have access to all information, including national security information, regardless of classification level, relevant to their ability to discharge their responsibilities”(principle 6). Likewise, it is recognized that “There is an overriding public interest in disclosure of information regarding gross violations of human rights […] Such information may not be withheld on national security grounds in any circumstances.” (principle 10.a) 280. 306. In conclusion, the Commission confirms that the obligation to guarantee and respect the right of access to information entails the duty to make, in good faith, significant efforts to guarantee that the victims of serious human rights violations and their next of kin, those in charge of investigating these crimes, and society as a whole can have access to all the information in the hands of the State necessary to know the truth of what happened. - Commission’s Considerations 307. The IACHR observes that, from the beginning of the investigation into the attack on the AMIA, the judicial authorities requested the collaboration of the then Secretary of State Intelligence (SIDE) in order for its agents to act as judicial assistants. Over the years, and as a result of the various information gathering and analysis activities, the SIDE was producing numerous documentary pieces, which were incorporated both in the section of the investigation that tried to elucidate the so-called local connection of the attack as well as the investigation for the possible responsibilities of international actors281. IACHR, Right to the Truth in the Americas, OAS/Ser.L/V/II.152, Doc. 2, August 13, 2014, para. 107 and following.; IACHR, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, The Right to Access Information in the Inter American Juridical Context (second edition). Para.77; IACHR, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Annual Report (2010), Chapter III, Access to information on human rights violations. 278 IACHR, Report No. 60/18, Case 12.709. Merits. Juan Carlos Flores Bedregal and family. Bolivia. May 8, 2018. Para. 102. 279 IACHR, Right to the Truth in the Americas, OAS/Ser.L/V/II.152, Doc. 2, August 13, 2014, para. 118. 280 The Global Principles on National Security and the Right to Information (Tshwane Principles). July 12, 2013. Available at: https://www.justiceinitiative.org/uploads/bd50b729-d427-4fbb-8da2-1943ef2a3423/global-principles-national-security10232013.pdf. Also see, among other statements: United Nations. Commission on Human Rights. Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Abid Hussain, submitted in accordance with Commission resolution 1999/36. E/CN.4/2000/63. 18 January 2000. Paras 42-45. 281 Annex 20. UFI AMIA Report. "The process of declassification of reserved or secret information about the attack and its concealment" Pages. 14 and 15. Annex 27 to the petitioner's communication dated November 11, 2019. The UFI AMIA reported that "the approximate amount of documentation held by the AFI and subject to this process is 1,893 linear meters." 277 58