A Human Rights Triumph? Dictatorship-Era Crimes and the Chilean Supreme Court

Marny Requa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)
533 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This article assesses the dramatic shift in Chilean Supreme Court jurisprudence toward accountability for crimes committed during the dictatorship and sets it within the context of judicial reform and political change. Chile's experience has been identified as emblematic of delayed justice, but an examination of key case law identifies the narrow scope and instability of Supreme Court decision-making. The Court has been uncharacteristically assertive in its application of human rights norms yet vulnerable to external influences. The Chilean example underscores the need for political leadership to address past violations in post-conflict societies. Political inertia impeded justice claims and, as a result, change required significant judicial innovation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)79-106
Number of pages28
JournalHuman Rights Law Review
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Law
  • Sociology and Political Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Human Rights Triumph? Dictatorship-Era Crimes and the Chilean Supreme Court'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this