Amnesty justified?

The manner in which South Africa dealt with its past and the process of granting amnesty through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is generally considered legitimate. This is not the case, however, for many other amnesties granted in times of political transition or in post-conflict situations. National efforts to establish peace and democracy often clash with international legal demands. The core question of this study is what kind of amnesty laws can be considered legitimate in the light of the need to combine respect for human rights and the rule of law with the need to restore peace and public order.