Abbreviated criminal procedures for serious human rights violations which may amount to core international crimes

Abstract

Armed conflicts result in too many atrocities being committed. Once a conflict is over, the criminal justice system of the affected country should ideally hold accountable those responsible for core international crimes. Often, the number of crimes is so high that the criminal justice system simply cannot address all of them through regular criminal procedure. This results in a backlog of such cases within the system. This thesis examines the prospect for introduction of an abbreviated criminal procedure for core international crimes and arrives at a set of components and principles under which such procedure may be developed. It also raises arguments for and against introduction of this mechanism in national law. The purpose of this mechanism would be to assist states to fulfil their international obligation to prosecute and punish core international crimes without compromising principles of due process.