Anne-Marie De Brouwer, Supranational criminal prosecution of sexual violence: The ICC and the practice of the ICTY and the ICTR, Intersentia: Mortsel, 2005; 9050955339, 9789050955331, £76.50
| Author | Estelle Zinsstag |
| DOI | 10.1177/17488958110110010602 |
| Published date | 01 February 2011 |
| Date | 01 February 2011 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
92 Criminology & Criminal Justice 11(1)
author had introduced Erving Goffman’s classic The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life,
and shown whether Goffman’s work is generalizable to online communities. Other dis-
cussions of what has come to be called ‘Netiquette’ would also have enriched the work.
There are many places in terrestrial space places where I, despite having every right
to do so, would not venture, because in doing so I would expose myself to the risk of
offensive sights or insulting comments. If I had the time and the inclination to hang
around in virtual communities, no doubt there are places there too, that I would avoid. To
those who are affronted by unseemly conduct in a chatroom, I would bring to mind the
doctrine volenti non fit injuria.
The author’s contribution lies in his methodology, and in his discussing some of the more
interesting psychological processes that characterize behaviour in cyberspace. Whether one
is dealing in cyber-fantasyland, or in real cyberspace (such as the intranet of a major corpo-
ration or government organization), the technology does appear to lower inhibitions.
That art imitates life and vice versa has been noted for some time. It was interesting
to learn that one of the participants in the virtual community who had a penchant for
sadomasochistic fantasies, struck up an electronic relationship with another participant
of compatible interests. They agreed to meet in the real world, where their fantasy
became reality and resulted in homicide.
The author correctly observes that governments, burdened with more real crime (both
terrestrial and electronic) than they can handle, are not likely to concern themselves with
insults or sadistic fantasies expressed in chatrooms. Jihadist musings may be a different
matter, however. For the time being, if I were of the militant persuasion, I would not
presume to be anonymous while online.
Reference
Goffman, E. (1959/1990) The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. London: Penguin.
Anne-Marie De Brouwer
Supranational criminal prosecution of sexual violence:
The ICC and the practice of the ICTY and the ICTR, Intersentia:
Mortsel, 2005; 9050955339, 9789050955331, £76.50
Reviewed by: Estelle Zinsstag, LINC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
Despite the omnipresence of sexual violence in armed conflicts, victims have generally
received little support, have had little access to justice but perpetrators have benefited
from widespread impunity. That is, until the set up of the ad hoc international tribunals
for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda (ICTY and ICTR). The conflicts in these
respective countries have provoked, by their sheer horror, an unprecedented drive within
the international community for an improved retributive response. Following from
that a permanent international criminal court (ICC) has been created, which offers great
promise as to its capacity to prosecute and repair this particular type of crime. But what
is the place given to victims of sexual violence in these various courts? That is what De
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