Conducting a National Inquiry into Systemic Patterns of Human Rights Violation It made the experiences of these families personal and familiar to all Australians. What parent and what child could not understand the significance of being brought home after decades of separation? The cover of the report is important because it too communicates a message. As with the title, the cover can be used to present the report as an official document – in which case it will be conservative and look like other official reports – or it can be used to express an inquiry view. A photograph, drawing or some kind of illustration will generally be used if the inquiry wants to say something through the cover. However, it is essential that the photograph or illustration be carefully chosen and tested to ensure that it communicates the right message. Different people see different things in images. The inquiry will want to be sure that its cover communicates the message it wants to convey. The design and layout of the report should be considered. These go to: • readability: design and layout affect how easy it is to read and understand a document • content: design and layout can assist in highlighting the principal messages of the document or particular parts of the document. Design and layout include typeface, print size, colours, highlights, text boxes, the arrangement of text on pages, chapter breaks and so on. A national inquiry may have constraints in choosing design and layout because of parliamentary requirements in relation to documents to be tabled in parliament. In some jurisdictions, for example, parliamentary requirements are very prescriptive, even fixing the typeface and print size that has to be used. In others, there is wide flexibility. The national inquiry will want to exploit whatever flexibility it has in relation to design and layout to promote readability and communicate its message well. Graphics – photographs, drawings, tables and graphs – can also be considered. These too go to readability and good communications. If the inquiry wants to include photographs, it will need to decide that early on and be clear about the kind of photographs it wants so there is adequate time for the staff to search for or obtain the photographs wanted. If the inquiry wants tables and graphs, it must allow adequate time for them to be prepared. 13.9. OTHER WAYS OF REPORTING This chapter has discussed the inquiry’s official or formal report, the report that has to be presented to the parliament in accordance with the NHRI’s establishing law. That report need not be the only report the inquiry produces and the nature of that report need not be the only kind the inquiry uses to communicate its findings and recommendations. The inquiry can consider various other reporting formats, in addition to the official report, that enable it to report more effectively to the wide range of target audiences it has. This is especially important where the victims of the human rights situation being investigated would find it difficult to read and understand the inquiry’s official report. The inquiry has a moral obligation to report to victims and must do that in a way they can access and understand. The consideration of other ways of reporting requires first the identification of target audiences and the priority attached to each of them. Other forms of report can be in print. They can include: • publications in minority languages, including Braille • short or simpler summaries of the report, with its main findings and recommendations explained in easier language • special community editions that use more visual content • school editions directed separately towards primary and secondary school age children. Community guide to the Bringing them home report 68