CIAO DATE: 07/03

The Pinochet Case: International and Domestic Repercussions

Introduction

The detention in London of Augusto Pinochet, from October 16, 1998 to March 2, 2000, has been widely seen as a major milestone in the emergence of a new international scenario, more conducive to the attainment of international justice for human rights violations and war crimes.

The Pinochet case and the events it has spawned, are taking place during what may be considered a third stage in the development of the international human rights system inaugurated after World War II. The first stage was marked by international trials and intense law-making and standard-setting activities. It was a foundational time. A new international humanitarian order was being built. Its main pillars were International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, and the International Law of Refugees. During this foundational period the principal actors responsible for building the human rights system were the United Nations and the leading powers of the time. In parallel, regional intergovernmental organizations began to replicate these international developments.

This paper was written was written for The Legacy of Abuse: Confronting the Past, Facing the Future.

Full Text (PDF, 23 pages, 197 KB)