On October 19, 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague will begin a hearing to assess whether charges of war crimes against Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, a rebel leader in Darfur, Sudan, should be confirmed. This "confirmation of charges" hearing, the first related to ICC investigations in Darfur, could pave the way for the ICC's first trial involving crimes committed in Darfur.

We believe that Estemirova’s killing was a brazen attempt to silence those telling the truth about human rights violations in Chechnya. She was the link between victims and the rest of the world. She connected victims to human rights defenders from Russia and beyond, to journalists, and to avenues of justice, like the European Court of Human Rights.

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, US officials approved various interrogation methods that were illegal under both US and international law. Yet no senior official has been held accountable for these crimes. Some have expressed objections to the prosecution of US government officials for their role in abusive interrogation methods and to the creation of commission of inquiry. We address those objections here.

Human Rights Watch is calling for a United Nations commission of inquiry to investigate violations of international humanitarian law by both Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the recent fighting. This Q & A addresses various issues relating to accountability for crimes in violation of international law.

On March 4, 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. On March 5 the government of Sudan sought to divert attention from al-Bashir's alleged responsibility for widespread atrocities by announcing its intention to expel aid agencies from Darfur and blaming the ICC.

The Commission of Inquiry on Post-Election Violence (Waki Commission) was set up by the Kenyan coalition government of national unity as part of the peace and reconciliation mediation process that brought the violence of early 2008 under control.

On March 4, 2009, the pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The warrant raises a number of important issues.