Accountability Norms Today

Abstract

Accountability is seen as a central element for the rule of law at national and international level and constitutes one of the central aims of transitional justice processes. This panel will discuss the challenges faced for upholding accountability as a norm in contemporary international politics, in particular in contexts of extraterritorial human rights violations committed since the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001 or in recent armed conflicts. This panel will also analyse innovations that have emerged recently as the result of the efforts of transnational networks of lawyers and other domestic actors, as well as the relevance of human rights documentation and history education of past violations in this regard. It will reflect upon what these innovations and challenges in upholding accountability norms today mean for transitional justice and the affected communities.