| dc.description.abstract |
Latin America has undergone a revolutionary political transformation during the last decade as many countries moved from military rule to democratic governments in all but two countries (Cuba and Haiti).As democratization has taken root, a consensus has developed of the importance of a fair, independent and efficient justice system to the realization of participatory democracy. The significance of the justice sector lies in its basic role as a guarantor of rights and arbiter of conflicts among citizens and between the public and the State. Central to this mediating role is the criminal justice system since it addresses the most serious individual and social conflicts. Ultimately, the state of criminal justice in any country is a key indicator of how a society protects its citizens and the community as a whole from actions which threaten their peace, safety and human rights. |
