An Emerging Universality of Justiciable Victims' Rights in the Criminal Process to Curtail Impunity for State-Sponsored Crimes

Abstract

This article examines the development of international victim norms that could promote reform in the domestic administration of criminal justice to curtail impunity for state-sponsored crimes. Despite the proliferation of these norms, the author acknowledges that the implementation of greater victim standing to combat impunity also raises a host of concerns and challenges, largely unaddressed by these emerging norms. Thus, the article also identifies some of these implementation challenges and makes some preliminary observations about the types of questions and potential solutions that merit further study and increased attention by international organs and experts interested in promoting the effective implementation of these victim norms.