Designing Criminal Tribunals PDF Download

"There is wide awareness, though little true understanding, of the work of the international criminal tribunals. International prosecutions of high-ranking civilian and military leaders, including former heads of state, on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, represent for many the ultimate condemnation of these individuals' past actions and a measure of their fall from power. Yet, despite the tribunals' grasp on the popular imagination, they are the subject of significant misconceptions and confusion. Much of the media coverage dedicated to their work remains superficial, at best, and largely muddles over key distinctions between various tribunals, past and present. Conversely, the more informed scholarship is largely confined to specialty publications that remain inaccessible to most. In truth, many lawyers and non-lawyers alike lack a clear understanding of the role and functioning of these increasingly-pivotal international institutions. This publication seeks to redress this knowledge gap by providing well-researched and accessible information for those wishing to more fully understand the international criminal tribunals and the conflicts over which they have jurisdiction. An informed public is an engaged public--and the issues that animate these tribunals, including delivering justice for victims of some of the world's worst atrocities, are too significant to be discussed solely by a small cadre of international criminal law specialists. Notably, this publication was created in partnership with graphic and information designers so as to reach a broader public. The designers' visualizations present information regarding the tribunals and their underlying conflicts in a direct and accessible manner to a wide range of viewers, including those without a legal background. Beyond this democratizing function, information visualization also serves to reveal important data and trends that might otherwise go unnoticed in a more conventional format. Ideally, the following information, which is current as of January 2013, would be integrated into a continually updated interactive webportal dedicated to engaging a global public on issues of international justice. In sum, this publication aims to facilitate a broader discussion of the international criminal tribunals' notable accomplishments, as well as ongoing shortcomings."--Why this publication?, page 4.