本文著重於探討國際刑事司法於轉型社會中可以發揮的功能，首先分析國際刑事司法體系之發展歷程和基本目的，再探討其衍生之功能，以促進大眾對於國際刑事司法的尊重與信賴。國際刑事司法若能獲得實踐，則可藉由審判達到政治和解與法制形成，促進和平與社會發展。然而，這是理想面的判斷，現實面的實踐仍可能受限於各國國情不同，國際法院效力難伸，而使得理想難以達成，而如何克服這些困難，則仍須更多國際社會之間的合作與努力。

Since the late 19th
century, international criminal justice has developed
to a significant degree, from ad hoc international criminal tribunals to a
permanent international criminal court, in order to prosecute the most
serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole. The
establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2003 can be
seen as a milestone in the development of international criminal justice.
The fundamental objectives of this development are to achieve justice for
all, end impunity, help end conflicts, remedy the deficiencies of ad hoc
tribunals, take over when national criminal justice institutions are
unwilling or unable to act, and deter future war criminals. International
criminal justice can play a particularly significant role in transitional
societies, where it can help to bring about political reconciliation, advance
the rule of law, build peace and foster the development of civil society.
This article aims to clarify the function of international criminal justice in
transitional societies. It discusses the development and the rules and
statutes of ad hoc tribunals and the ICC and examines relevant
international political declarations. It concludes that while international
criminal justice has its limits, it can form a mutually reinforcing
relationship with peace and development.