Disappearances in Honduras: The Need for Direct Victim Representation in Human Rights Litigation

In two landmark decisions, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights recently found that the Government of Honduras was responsible for the politically-motivated kidnappings and murders of two Honduran nationals. This Article examines these decisions and evaluates the advisory role given the victims' lawyers in the proceedings. The author argues that such indirect participation by the victims and their families is unsatisfactory. The Article concludes that the international system for investigating and punishing human rights abuses would benefit from direct representation of the victims.