Transcript HRW-Sp081 - Milano School

Human Rights Watch Practicum
2008
Accountability in Afghanistan,
Kosovo and Argentina
Adrian Weisell
Dustin Friedman
Laetitia Pactat
The Conflict between Impunity
and Accountability
• Impunity
▫ Fosters post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation
▫ Promotes more rapid end to conflict
▫ Validates human rights violations as not punishable
• Accountability
▫ Fosters justice through legal recourse
▫ Encourages long term stability through affirmation of governing
institutions
▫ Politically and legally complicated
Arguments Supporting Accountability
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http://www.spectator.co.nz/
images/justice.gif
Deterrence
Retribution
Marginalization
Incapacitation
Rule of Law
Establishing
Historical Record
Conflict and Atrocities in Afghanistan
1978-2001
• Indiscriminate
bombing and targeting
of civilians
• Summary Executions
• Ethnic Cleansings
• Destruction of Rural
Economy
http://www.keweenawnow.com/views/martin_afghanistan_01_11/images/tank_table_rm.jpg
Bonn Agreement and Consequences
Tony Karon
• Legitimized factional power structures
• Established System of Impunity and contradiction
Afghanistan:
Is Accountability Possible?
• Harnessing
accountability:
▫ Historical Record
▫ Rule of Law
▫ Cultural Currency, i.e.
Pashtunwali
http://afghanistanica.com
Atrocities and Violations in Kosovo
1997-1999
• Ethnic Cleansing
• Gender-Based
Violence
• Destruction of
Civilian Property
• Legacy of Impunity
Dustin Friedman
The Human Toll
Dustin Friedman
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860,000+ Kosovo expelled or fled
245,300 Kosovo Serbs and Roma fled in fear of or response to reprisals
10,000 Kosovo Albanians killed in massacres and executions
1,500 Kosovo Serbs and Roma killed by NATO bombardment
3,500+ disappeared, 1,613 still missing
Kosovo:
Accountability towards Justice
Links in the
Accountability Chain:
• Marginalization
• Incapacitation
• Historical Record
• Deterrence
• Retribution
• Rule of Law
Dustin Friedman
Argentina’s Dirty War 1976-1983
• Human Rights
Violations:
▫ Desaparecidos
▫ Arbitrary
Detention
▫ Torture
▫ Extrajudicial
Executions
• 9,000-30,000 Victims
http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/foreigndesk/2006/12/15/dirtywar.jpg
Cycles of Amnesty and Accountability
http://todolosolido.com.ar/weblog/wp-content/desaparecidos.jpg
• 1984: CONADEP Comisión Nacional sobre la Desaparición de
Personas report Nunca Más
• Trials of high-raking officers
• 1986 : Ley 23.492 de Punto Final
• 1987: Ley 23.521 de Obediencia Debida
• 1990: Menem’s Pardons
Final Accountability in Argentina
2005
Positive Outcomes of
Accountability:
• Rule of Law and
Establishing a
Historical Record
Works in Progress:
• Deterrence and
Retribution
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0fRy1BP8KMa6z/610x.jpg
Conclusion
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Time
Domestic Support
International Pressure
Institutions Advocating Rule of Law
Political Will
www.un.org
Thank You