Amnesty

Amnesty is an official act, typically by a government, granting pardon and often erasing liability for offenses committed by a defined group. It is frequently used in political contexts to end conflicts or to facilitate reform. The term is derived from the Greek amnēsía meaning forgetfulness, reflecting the idea that those covered by the act are excused from punishment or prospective prosecutions.

Amnesty can be general or selective, blanket or conditional, and may be legislative or executive in origin. It may apply to offenses committed before a specified date, or to categories of conduct such as political crimes or acts committed during an armed conflict. Conditions may include truth-telling, disarmament, reparations, or participation in transitional justice processes. In some systems, amnesty is accompanied by guarantees against future liability, while in others it precludes only punishment but allows continuing investigations.

In transitional settings, amnesty is controversial: it can promote peace and reconciliation but may hinder accountability for serious crimes such as crimes against humanity or war crimes, drawing from international human rights norms.

Examples include South Africa's post-apartheid era and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Colombia's 2016 peace agreement with a transitional justice component, Spain's 1977 Amnesty Law, and Argentina's 1983 amnesty provisions later contested.