ABSTRACT
As international courts have gained prominence, the issue of justice is no longer solely in the hands of the mediator, the negotiating parties, or other national authorities. Many human rights advocates have welcomed this. But this new reality has raised concerns. When the threat of justice is wielded at the wrong time, or in the wrong way, certainly this will affect a peace process. It might also directly affect—negatively or positively—ongoing violence or the threat of violence. There are clear examples of all of these experiences. Whether the impact is indeed negative or positive, however, is not always predictable.
