Mass Graves, Truth and Justice

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Investigation of Mass Graves

Edited by Ellie Smith, Research Fellow and Melanie Klinkner, Professor of International Law, Department of Humanities and Law, Bournemouth University, UK

Across the world, mass graves, often containing a multitude of human remains, are sites of human loss, suffering and unimaginable acts of cruelty. While no one mass grave or its investigation is the same, all mass graves contain evidence that is essential to the realisation of justice and accountability goals for victims, affected communities, states in transition and the international community.

‘Whether as a result of criminal activity, conflict, gross human rights abuse, or as a means of respectfully managing large-scale deceased persons following disasters, mass graves are sadly common global phenomena. Providing examples from different geographical contexts, the contributors to this volume discuss the processes and complexities involved in working on mass graves. The range of perspectives provided by the authors make the book an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the international legal framework related to the management and investigation of mass graves.’
– Soren Blau, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Australia