ABSTRACT
A strong argument can be made that the present-day human rights revolution began with the Nuremberg trials of former German political and military leaders following World War II. For the first time in human history, those who directed or carried out war crimes were held to account by an international tribunal. One of the essential elements in protecting human rights is establishing accountability for wrongdoing, and the Nuremberg proceedings remain the gold standard in this regard. Unfortunately, following these trials, decades would pass before the international community would attempt to do this again.
