Crimes against humanity: Global justice and the human rights discourse

Abstract

The human rights discourse has been justified by the need to move past the restrains and impunity that arose from nationalism and citizenship rights. Although international criminal law has recently been imagined as the scenario or theatre to reinforce the existence of a 'political community of justice' based on our common humanity, it has not been able to displace the concept of state sovereignty. This shows how our 'natural indifference to others' is not overcome by the simple use of language, by the subscription of covenants or by the creation of institutions and mechanisms for the adjudication of justice.