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This contribution is an outline of an exploration of the links between justice and violence in fulfilling the promise of democracy. The fight against impunity is indeed an aspiration that is consubstantial to the promise of democracy. It allows the democratic system to exist and constitutes a benchmark of its good health. The shift from a despotic regime to a democratic one, particularly in the wake of conflict, is thus illustrated by frequent trials, whose influence is not only symbolic, but also penal and with additional political effects. The fight against impunity requires space for a true judiciary and contributes to the responsibility of elites, whereas in its positive counterpart, the rule of law ensures that the rules adhere to institutions.