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Prosecutions
Overview of the Evidence
Our research review includes 68 reports: 39 that address the effects of prosecutions on mass atrocities and 51 that address the effects of prosecutions on closely related outcomes, such as civilian killings, human rights violations, and conflict recurrence. It found the following:
- A mix of findings as to whether prosecutions were effective in helping prevent mass atrocities or closely-related outcomes, and
- Relatively strong evidence on the association between several factors and greater effectiveness of prosecutions in helping prevent mass atrocities.
- Contextual factors that were associated with prosecution success include the national government cooperating with or consenting to the prosecutions; local support for the prosecutions; and the absence of ongoing armed conflict.
- Design factors that were associated with prosecution success include having a high level of commitment; international support or coordination; engaging in local outreach; and pursuing prosecutions concurrently with other atrocity prevention tools.
About Prosecutions
Definition
Prosecutions of atrocity crimes are attempts to hold individuals criminally accountable for mass atrocities through national courts, the International Criminal Court, international tribunals, hybrid courts, or universal jurisdiction. This review is limited to analyses of the effects of actions to advance cases through courts, such as the referral of a case to a court, the opening of an investigation, indictments, arrest warrants, trials, and sentencing.
Theory of Change
If prosecutions increase the expected costs to individuals of committing atrocities, they would reduce the likelihood or severity of mass atrocities. In addition, if prosecutions satisfy the desire for justice for past atrocities, they would reduce the likelihood or severity of mass atrocities that might be committed to exact revenge on perpetrator groups. If prosecutions help remove individual perpetrators from positions of power or influence, they would reduce the likelihood or severity of mass atrocities by facilitating a transition to a less atrocity-prone political leadership.