Victim Testimony in International and Hybrid Criminal Courts: Narrative Opportunities, Challenges, and Fair Trial Demands

74 Pages Posted: 3 Apr 2015 Last revised: 7 Jul 2015

See all articles by John D. Ciorciari

John D. Ciorciari

Indiana University Bloomington - School of Global & International Studies

Anne Heindel

Documentation Center of Cambodia; Independent

Date Written: July 6, 2015

Abstract

Whether they appear as witnesses, victim participants, or civil parties in mass crimes proceedings, victims can contribute vital evidence and insight bearing on the guilt or innocence of the accused. Their testimony can contribute to the truth-telling function of the process, and under some circumstances, may help them cope with trauma. However, victim testimony can also lead to re-traumatization and compromise the fairness or efficiency of the judicial process if emotional distress undermines its relevance, credibility or focus. Inherent tensions exist, because the aspects of the courtroom experience that tend to threaten victims — such as pointed questioning and cross-examination on the details of painful events — are essential for a fair trial. This article discusses the benefits and challenges of engaging victims in international and hybrid criminal trials and examines how these issues have been addressed in the courtroom. We devote particular attention to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a UN-backed hybrid court established to address crimes of the Pol Pot era. The ECCC has tried to facilitate victim testimony through formal procedures and informal trial management strategies, including two important innovations in international criminal justice — special “victim impact hearings” and “statements of suffering,” both of which allow civil parties to describe harms they endured under Khmer Rouge rule before judgment. We argue that while effective trial management and innovative strategies can help reduce the tension between survivors’ interests and the rights of the accused, the ECCC’s experience reinforces the difficulty of featuring victim narratives in criminal trials.

Keywords: International criminal law, victim participation, transitional justice, human rights

Suggested Citation

Ciorciari, John D. and Heindel, Anne and Heindel, Anne, Victim Testimony in International and Hybrid Criminal Courts: Narrative Opportunities, Challenges, and Fair Trial Demands (July 6, 2015). Forthcoming, Virginia Journal of International Law, Vol. 56, No. 2, 2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2588577 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2588577

John D. Ciorciari (Contact Author)

Indiana University Bloomington - School of Global & International Studies ( email )

Bloomington, IN
United States

Anne Heindel

Documentation Center of Cambodia ( email )

66 Preah Sihanouk Boulevard
Phnom Penh
Cambodia

Independent ( email )

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