Extraordinary experiments in reparations: the pursuit of reparations at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the Extraordinary African Chambers

This chapter examines and compares the practice of reparations at two hybrid criminal courts, namely the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC). At both courts reparations were introduced through the participation of thousands of victims as civil parties in the proceedings. They both had a to grapple with numerous issues and challenges when operationalising generally worded reparations mandates, including in relation to the modalities, mechanisms, and resources for their realisation. Confronted with their time-limited existence, these courts had to make pragmatic choices—and yet they have chosen rather different pathways to discharge the responsibilities associated with their reparations mandates.