A Place of Peace, a Place of Torture
Exploring the Haag
Today I explored two places that could not have been in greater contrast. The first is what the Haag is most known for by NPR listeners: the United Nations International Criminal Court. This court is in a palace largely funded by Andrew Carnegie (again a name well known to NPR listeners). It is called The Peace Palace and it looks like a well-defended palace. The grounds are full of woods and have more razor wire than the fences around the Dutch Royal Palace. The front of the palace has meticulously kept grounds with a grand front entrance that shows the importance of the building. It is intended to be a place of peace, where war criminals can be held accountable by the international community. It is a response to the Second World War.
Down the street from the Peace Palace is the Prisoner’s Gate Museum. This museum is what it sounds like, a museum in a medieval jail where prisoners were housed, encouraged to confess and sentences executed. Corporal punishment was the norm, and it was commonly believed that confessions made under duress were the true tales of events.
Walking through the rooms in the prison is taking a step back in time. Seeing the cells and implements of the jailers and staff quickly removes the romanticized view of 14th century life. The cells are dark, sparse and grimy. The doors are heavy wood with the black iron bars associated with the time. There are no comforts outside the cells for women and royalty. The torture chambers are places of undeniable evil. These are places of extreme pain, with thumbscrews, knives, axes, racks, shackles and branding irons.
I found the contrast to be fascinating. Out of a time where torture was the norm comes an evolution to where we hold those accountable for torture in a global court. It is no longer judges who decide whether a person is guilty, but tribunals. The accused have access to legal representation, and the sentences for torture and genocide are no longer the job of an executioner. The guillotine is long gone. Jail cells and rights are now expected.
