AN award-winning author has said the British state's culture of secrecy in relation to historical documents must be challenged for the sake of future generations.
Ian Cobain's recently published book The History Thieves: Secrets, Lies and the Shaping of a Modern Nation studied efforts to conceal details of conflicts around the world, including the role of the British forces in Northern Ireland.
The Guardian journalist will be in Belfast today to address legal professionals involved in legacy cases.
Mr Cobain said he found that "the current statutory framework for release of documents is simply not fit for purpose".
"There are no sanctions brought against those departments who breach it, then there's this term 'a need to know basis', so the state decides what information to withhold from the public without any transparency."
Lawyers representing families of Troubles victims have expressed frustration at delays in disclosure of information by both the PSNI and Ministry of Defence.
Mr Cobain said part of the problem is that departments are not properly resourced, but he found that lack of transparency was replicated in other conflicts around the world where Britain has an interest.
"I don't know that full disclosure about the past will ever happen but it is incredibly important that it should - future generations should be able to look back and obtain the answers as to why."
Mr Cobain will be among speakers at a legal symposium organised by Niall Murphy of KRW Law as part of the Belfast International Homecoming conference.
Other speakers at the Royal Courts of Justice will include Dublin-born lawyer Caolifhionn Gallagher who worked on the Hillsborough inquests.
