The book seeks to discover whether amnesty laws that expunge criminal liability of agents of a previous regime, alleged to have violated basic human rights, are permissible under international law. The quality of offences examined in this book is viewed from three perspectives: crimes against humanity, grave breaches of human rights and jus cogens.

The book seeks to discover whether amnesty laws that expunge criminal liability of agents of a previous regime, alleged to have violated basic human rights, are permissible under international law. The quality of offences examined in this book is viewed from three perspectives: crimes against humanity, grave breaches of human rights and jus cogens.

Acknowledgements Abbreviations Table of Cases and Incidents Table of Treaties and Declarations Preface 1: Problematizing Amnesty in International Practice 2: Amnesty and the Limit of State Discretion and Constraint in International Law 3: The Rights, Justice Dynamic and Physiological Needs of the State 4: Schizophrenic State Practice: To Constrain or to Authorise Amnesty Granted to Agents of a Previous Government Alleged to Have Violated Basic Human Rights of Individuals. 5: Amnesty, State discretion and International Constraint: What Model? 6: Future of Amnesty in International Law 7: Conclusions