The Amnesty International Fair Trial Manual is an internationally trusted guide to fair trial standards for criminal cases. The second edition is the fully revised and updated .

About the new edition of the Fair Trial Manual

For many years, Amnesty International has received requests for an updated Fair Trial Manual from inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, lawyers and other human rights defenders around the world. The second edition answers this call.
The new edition has been updated and revised to accommodate many developments since the first edition of 1998.
New standards have been adopted, for example relating to women deprived of their liberty and the right to access legal aid. (The first edition cites 65 legal standards; the second edition cites more than 140). There is growing recognition that many fair trial rights apply at all times and in all circumstances, even during states of emergency and armed conflicts. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the USA, human rights, including fair trial rights, faced particular challenges. There is now more clarity that a state’s human rights obligations apply beyond its borders when it exercises control over a people or territory. Along with increased attention to discrimination within the criminal justice system, there is a growing consensus that fairness requires respect for the rights of victims in a manner consistent with the rights of the accused.
About the author
The Fair Trial Manual draws on Amnesty International’s standing as an authoritative voice for interpreting international human rights law.
Contents of the new edition
Peer reviewed by leading legal experts in the field, the second edition is comprehensive and concise, and covers international and regional standards, including those applicable during armed conflict. It includes explanations and illustrative examples of how the standards have been interpreted by international and regional human rights bodies and courts. Despite breadth of coverage, the Fair Trial Manual is written in non-technical language, making it accessible to a wide audience.