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War crimes trials are always subject to the criticism that they amount to victors' justice. At the same time, those involved in various post conflict judicial processes point out that in war, crimes are committed and perpetrators should be held to account. It is a feature of modern conflict that activists start gathering evidence of war crimes in real time - which has been happening in recent years in Syria. One man who has just been to Syria to investigate is Stephen Rapp, an American lawyer, academic and former Democratic Congressman who served as United States ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues under President Obama. He is the current chair of the Commission for International Justice and Accountability Board of Commissioners, and spoke to Newshour's Owen Bennett Jones about what he saw.

(Photo: Stephen Rapp, head of Commission for International Justice and Accountability, talks with media in Najha, Syria. Credit: Reuters/Ammar Awad)