Argentina’s Commitment to International Criminal Justice to Address the Crimes of the Last Dictatorship (1976–1983)

Abstract

This article will explain how Argentina developed a strong commitment to international criminal justice to address the crimes of the last dictatorship (1976–1983) that transcended the local dimension and shaped the field globally. In particular, the article will focus on three specific dimensions: the disputes surrounding the concept of ‘dirty war’ in relation to the crimes committed in the 1970s and how its legal conceptualisation has evolved over time; how domestic courts have applied international and domestic criminal law to judge these crimes and how this has changed over time; and, finally, what was the role of human rights organisations in fostering the accountability process.