The Role of International Criminal Law as a Resistance Instrument in the People's Courts: The International Court for the Implementation of Restorative Justice in El Salvador

In 2009, the International Tribunal for the Application of Restorative Justice was created by the civil society in El Salvador. The Tribunal reacts to the context of State inertia and its continued refusal to comply with the obligations derived from violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law during the armed conflict, particularly with regard to victims' access to justice. The Tribunal is a place where countless stories of suffering, abuse and violence committed during the armed conflict surface and are addressed from a legal perspective. This article argues that the use of a legal language, especially international criminal law, and the centrality given to victims allow the Tribunal to be characterized as a transitional justice mechanism, capable of contributing to the strengthening of the democratic regime, despite its unofficial character. For this purpose, the article examines the literature related to People's Tribunals and the concept of nonviolent civil resistance.