The document discusses issues around accessing historical information and dealing with difficult pasts. It notes that some countries engage in "absolute forgetting", "fabricated pasts", or "forced forgetfulness" by censoring or omitting certain historical facts from education and public discourse. Examples discussed include China omitting the Tiananmen Square protests, Japan leaving out much of its 20th century history, and France initially denying its role in deporting Jews during WWII. The document advocates for the rights of individuals and societies to know their full history, seek the truth about past events, and access public archives in order to reconcile with painful pasts.