Rwanda's Gacaca Courts

Between Retribution and Reparation

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Law, Criminal law, History
Cover of the book Rwanda's Gacaca Courts by Paul Christoph Bornkamm, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Paul Christoph Bornkamm ISBN: 9780191627590
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: January 12, 2012
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Paul Christoph Bornkamm
ISBN: 9780191627590
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: January 12, 2012
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Rwanda's Gacaca courts provide an innovative response to the genocide of 1994. Incorporating elements of both African dispute resolution and of Western-style criminal courts, Gacaca courts are in line with recent trends to revive traditional grassroots mechanisms as a way of addressing a violent past. Having been devised as a holistic approach to prosecution and punishment as well as to healing and repairing, they also reflect the increasing importance of victim participation in international criminal justice. This book critically examines the Gacaca courts' achievements as a mechanism of criminal justice and as a tool for healing, repairing, and reconciling the shattered communities. Having prosecuted over one million people suspected of crimes during the 1994 genocide, the courts have been both praised for their efficiency and condemned for their lack of due process. Drawing upon extensive observations of trial proceedings, this book is the first to provide a detailed analysis of the Gacaca legislation and its practical implementation. It discusses the Gacaca courts within the framework of transitional and international criminal justice and argues that, despite the trend towards local, tailor-made solutions to the challenges of political transition, there is a common set of principles to be respected in addressing the past. Evaluating the Gacaca courts against the backdrop of existing or emerging principles, such as the duties to investigate and prosecute, and the right to the truth, the book provides a sophisticated critique of Rwanda's reconciliation policy. In doing so, it contributes to the development and the clarification of these principles. It concludes that Gacaca courts have achieved a great deal in stimulating a basic discourse on the genocide, but they have also contributed to assigning collective responsibility and may thus end up deepening the divides within Rwandan society.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Rwanda's Gacaca courts provide an innovative response to the genocide of 1994. Incorporating elements of both African dispute resolution and of Western-style criminal courts, Gacaca courts are in line with recent trends to revive traditional grassroots mechanisms as a way of addressing a violent past. Having been devised as a holistic approach to prosecution and punishment as well as to healing and repairing, they also reflect the increasing importance of victim participation in international criminal justice. This book critically examines the Gacaca courts' achievements as a mechanism of criminal justice and as a tool for healing, repairing, and reconciling the shattered communities. Having prosecuted over one million people suspected of crimes during the 1994 genocide, the courts have been both praised for their efficiency and condemned for their lack of due process. Drawing upon extensive observations of trial proceedings, this book is the first to provide a detailed analysis of the Gacaca legislation and its practical implementation. It discusses the Gacaca courts within the framework of transitional and international criminal justice and argues that, despite the trend towards local, tailor-made solutions to the challenges of political transition, there is a common set of principles to be respected in addressing the past. Evaluating the Gacaca courts against the backdrop of existing or emerging principles, such as the duties to investigate and prosecute, and the right to the truth, the book provides a sophisticated critique of Rwanda's reconciliation policy. In doing so, it contributes to the development and the clarification of these principles. It concludes that Gacaca courts have achieved a great deal in stimulating a basic discourse on the genocide, but they have also contributed to assigning collective responsibility and may thus end up deepening the divides within Rwandan society.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book A History of Optics from Greek Antiquity to the Nineteenth Century by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Vagueness in Psychiatry by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Philosophical Issues in Psychiatry II by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Causation: A Very Short Introduction by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Blackstone's Employment Tribunals Handbook 2014-15 by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Composition as Identity by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Tracking Strategies by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Chemical Ecology in Aquatic Systems by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book The Industrial Revolution: A Very Short Introduction by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Faith and Humility by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book The Masterpiece by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book The Governance Report 2017 by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
Cover of the book Blackstone's Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by Paul Christoph Bornkamm
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy