Resumo Este artigo examina o porquê da decisão do governo sul-africano de abandonar o Tribunal Penal Internacional (TPI) em 2016. A história da África do Sul no que toca ao direito internacional e à justiça internacional é examinada de modo a pôr em evidência como essas questões ao longo do tempo refletem a história e os desenvolvimentos políticos que nela ocorreram. A secção seguinte do artigo analisa o papel que o Conselho de Segurança das Nações Unidas desempenha em relação ao TPI e por que isso, juntamente com outras questões, tem levado a uma maior relutância por parte dos países africanos em aceitar quem é julgado e quem não o é. Finalmente, é examinado como a posição da África do Sul sobre a justiça internacional se tem vindo a alterar ao longo do tempo, o que desencadeou esta mudança, e é ponderado se a retirada do país do TPI virá a ter lugar no futuro.

Abstract1 This article examines why the South African Government decided to withdraw from the Rome Statute for the ICC in 2016. South Africa’s history with international law and international justice are examined to indicate how these matters over time reflect South Africa’s political history and political developments. The next section of the article examines the role the United Nations Security Council plays in relation to the ICC and why that, along with other issues, has led to a greater reluctance by African countries to accept who is judged and who is not. Finally reviewed, is how South Africa’s position on international justice has changed over time, what has caused such change, and whether the country’s withdrawal from the ICC will occur in the future.

Dealing with past human rights violations has become a common feature of societies that emerge from an atrocious past characterised by massive contraventions of human rights. Establishing a comprehensive version of the past is progressively being seen as vital, including dealing with issues of justice, truth, reconciliation, reparations and guarantees of nonrepetition. The article examines the issue of reparations in the context of Uganda. It considers the right to reparations in international law. Through an analysis of international law, it is argued that the responsibility for the provision of reparations rests on the state of Uganda, even if the state was not directly responsible for the atrocities committed, although other actors may, and possibly should, assist in the provision of reparations, including the United Kingdom as the former colonial power. The article examines what reparations are, the types of reparations that can be provided, and the types of reparations that ought to be provided to the many victims in Uganda. The article examines the component parts of reparations and makes recommendations on the types of reparations that ought to be given to victims and the manner in which such a programme ought to be delivered. The violations that occurred in Uganda over a long period are examined briefly to provide a context to the discussion on the issues relating to reparations. The article studies urgent or interim reparations, collective and individual, symbolic and material types of reparations as well as the various types of reparations that could be provided in Uganda, looking at other countries to see what has been done elsewhere. The article recommends that urgent or interim reparations are paid in the short term, a truth-seeking mechanism provides recommendations on reparations in the medium term, and a full and comprehensive reparations process, instituted with a diverse and wide set of parameters, is established in the medium to long term. A variety of other recommendations are made throughout the article.

Embora as prisões na África sejam consideradas as piores do mundo, muitos outros sistemas carcerários são ainda piores no que concerne à violência, superlotação e vários outros problemas. Com isso, não se pretende afirmar que as prisões africanas sejam exemplos de direitos humanos. Muitas estão em condições deficientes e suas práticas estão em conflito com os padrões de direitos humanos. No entanto, as prisões em diferentes partes do mundo estão em crise. Nunca antes houve tantos problemas nos sistemas penais e uma população tão grande nas instituições carcerárias. Este artigo analisa o desenvolvimento histórico das prisões africanas desde os tempos coloniais e avalia o legado que o colonialismo deixou nas prisões do continente. Analisa também um conjunto de questões referentes à situação das prisões na África, como detenções preventivas, superlotação, recursos e governança, aprisionamento de mulheres e crianças, e reabilitação. Um espaço substancial é dedicado às reformas que estão ocorrendo em todo o continente, e a recomendações em relação à necessidade de mais reformas. Examinam-se também os papéis da Comissão Africana de Direitos Humanos e dos Povos e do Relator Especial sobre Prisões e Condições de Detenção na África.

While prisons in Africa are often considered the worst in the world many other prisons systems are worse off in terms of violence, overcrowding and a host of other problems. This is not to argue that African prisons are human rights friendly. Many are in a deficient condition and their practises are at odds with human rights standards. However, prisons in many parts of the world are in crisis. Never before have there been so many problems within penal systems and such large numbers of people in institutions of incarceration. This article examines the historical development of African prisons from colonial times and considers the legacy that colonialism has left in prisons on the continent. The article also examines a range of issues in prisons throughout Africa including pretrial detention, overcrowding, resources and governance, women and children in prison, and rehabilitation. A substantial amount of space is devoted to the reforms that are occurring across the continent, and recommendations are made with regard to what further reforms are necessary. The role of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights as well as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa are also considered.

Sarkin afirma que las cárceles están en crisis en diversas partes del mundo y que nunca antes han habido tantos problemas en los lugares de encierro ni tanta gente privada de su libertad. En este contexto, el artículo examina el desarrollo histórico de las cárceles de África desde la época colonial y considera el legado del colonialismo en las prisiones del continente. También examina una gama de problemas en estas cárceles, que incluyen la privación de libertad sin juicio previo, el hacinamiento, la escasez de recursos y la deficiente gestión de los asuntos carcelarios, la situación de las mujeres y los niños en las cárceles, y la cuestión de la rehabilitación. Este trabajo dedica un espacio substancial a las reformas que se están impulsando en todo el continente, y enuncia también recomendaciones sobre otras reformas necesarias. Analiza el papel de la Comisión Africana de Derechos Humanos y de los Pueblos, así como del Relator Especial sobre las Cárceles y Condiciones de Detención en África.

While prisons in Africa are often considered the worst in the world many other prisons systems are worse off in terms of violence, overcrowding and a host of other problems. This is not to argue that African prisons are human rights friendly. Many are in a deficient condition and their practises are at odds with human rights standards. However, prisons in many parts of the world are in crisis. Never before have there been so many problems within penal systems and such large numbers of people in institutions of incarceration. This article examines the historical development of African prisons from colonial times and considers the legacy that colonialism has left in prisons on the continent. The article also examines a range of issues in prisons throughout Africa including pretrial detention, overcrowding, resources and governance, women and children in prison, and rehabilitation. A substantial amount of space is devoted to the reforms that are occurring across the continent, and recommendations are made with regard to what further reforms are necessary. The role of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights as well as the Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa are also considered.

Reparações por violação dos direitos humanos e abusos humanitários constituem um desafio central tanto no âmbito doméstico como no internacional. Apesar dos novos avanços em relação à questão das indenizações pelos abusos cometidos, inúmeras violações ocorridas na África e em outros lugares, durante o período colonial, permanecem sem solução. Este artigo faz um resumo desses avanços e os contextualiza contra o pano de fundo de processos que têm sido movidos por africanos com o objetivo de obter reparação por abusos contra eles perpetrados no período colonial e durante o apartheid. Examinam-se aqui processos movidos por namibianos e sul-africanos nos Estados Unidos, nos termos do Alien Torts Claim Act e são analisadas outras leis, também em outras jurisdições. Procura-se assim identificar a probabilidade de êxito desses processos, à luz dos problemas legais que têm de enfrentar. Os contextos políticos dos processos também são examinados, bem como o porquê de as ações recaírem mais sobre as multinacionais do que sobre os Estados.

Reparations for human rights and humanitarian abuses are a key challenge domestically and internationally. While there have been recent developments both in the theory and the practice of reparations for abuses committed in various places around the world, many of the violations committed in Africa, and elsewhere, during colonial times remain unresolved. This article reviews these developments and contextualizes them against the background of cases being litigated by Africans for abuses perpetrated against them in the colonial and apartheid era. Thus, cases being brought by Namibians and South Africans, in the United States in terms of the Alien Torts Claims Act, and other laws, as well as in other jurisdictions are examined. This is done to determine their likelihood of success in the light of the legal problems these cases have to meet. The political contexts of the cases are also examined, as well as why multinationals rather than states are usually pursued.

Las reparaciones por violación de los derechos humanos y abusos contra la humanidad constituyen un desafío central tanto en el ámbito doméstico como en el ámbito internacional. A pesar de los nuevos avances en relación con la cuestión de las indemnizaciones por los abusos cometidos, innumerables violaciones ocurridas en Sudáfrica y en otros lugares, durante el período colonial, permanecen sin solución. Este artículo hace un resumen de estos avances y los coloca en un contexto que toma como telón de fondo los procesos promovidos por africanos con el objetivo de obtener una reparación por los abusos perpetrados en el período colonial y durante el apartheid. Se examinan aquí causas judiciales presentadas por namibianos y sudafricanos en los Estados Unidos, en los términos del Alien Torts Claim Act, y también son analizadas otras leyes de otras jurisdicciones. Se busca de este modo identificar la probabilidad de éxito de estos procesos, a la luz de los problemas legales que tendrán que enfrentar. También se examinan los contextos políticos de los procesos, así como las razones por las cuales las causas presentadas han incidido más sobre las multinacionales que sobre el Estado.