The Role of International Criminal Tribunals and Courts in the Establishment of Post War Truth and Reconciliation

Abstract

The end of war brings a period of chaos and confusion that, if not handled correctly, can lead to further political turmoil. After a catastrophic event like a war, there are repercussion that are complex, very personal and quintessentially human. Hence, the post war period becomes an extremely sensitive situation that needs the virtuosity of the International Organizations responsible for mitigating the disasters of war. This paper analyses this area by focusing on major events of the past and how the process of establishing truth and justice have fared. The concept of transitional justice is introduced and how a solely policy driven solution is inadequate. It concludes that there is a requirement for a process that legitimately endows justice from international bodies such as the International Criminal Courts and Tribunals, despite its many failures and drawback of the past.