Prosecutions for international crimes have more potential for impact when they are conducted in the society where the crimes occurred. However, societies emerging from conflict or in transition may lack the political will or resources needed to prosecute these crimes, and legal systems may be in disarray.
Even sophisticated legal systems that deal mainly with ordinary crimes may lack the capacity to effectively address international crimes.
These problems may require international assistance that draws on best practices from elsewhere; for instance, assistance through “hybrid” courts or tribunals composed of both international and domestic justice actors.
Examples of hybrid courts include the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Special Panels for Serious Crimes in East Timor, and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.