‘Back to the Future’: Human Rights and Peace Agreements

Abstract

This chapter draws together the picture of the relationship between peace agreements, human rights, and international law. It suggests that peace agreements are best understood as a form of transitional constitution, and that the human rights provisions must be understood as an integral part of that constitution and as having particular transitional functions. The chapter also demonstrates that just as international law shapes the peace agreement, so the devices found in peace agreements also impact on international law.