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The International Justice Program works to promote justice and accountability for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in countries where national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. The program monitors the work of the International Criminal Court, the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Sarajevo War Crimes Chamber. We follow developments at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. We also look at the efforts of national courts, including in Iraq, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The International Justice Program supports the efforts of national courts to use their country’s universal jurisdiction legislation to try those charged with the most serious crimes under international law. International Criminal Court’s Trial of Thomas LubangaQuestions and Answers In its decision of September 3, 2008, Trial Chamber I rejected the prosecution’s application to lift the stay of proceedings in the trial of Thomas Lubanga, which the trial chamber imposed on June 13, 2008. In that earlier decision, the trial chamber unanimously decided to “stay” the proceedings against Lubanga—therefore suspending the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) first-ever trial— because the prosecution was unable to release more than 200 documents containing potentially “exculpatory” information that it gathered during its investigation. The court defines “exculpatory” material as documentation that shows or tends to show the innocence of the accused, that mitigates the guilt of the accused, or information which may affect the credibility of the prosecution evidence. According to the judges, “the right to a fair trial—which is without doubt a fundamental right—includes an entitlement to disclosure of exculpatory material.” September 5, 2008 Questions and Answers Printer friendly version Benchmarks for Justice for Serious Crimes in Northern Uganda Human Rights Watch Memoranda on Justice Standards and the Juba Peace Talks This briefing paper includes four memoranda produced by Human Rights Watch on justice issues and the Juba peace talks between May 2007 and February 2008. These memoranda explain the importance of fair, credible prosecutions for serious crimes to both accountability and a durable peace for northern Uganda. They also detail requirements of the International Criminal Court's Rome Statute and of other international standards for any domestic trials of serious crimes in Uganda, which the parties in the peace negotiations agreed to pursue in lieu of ICC trials of Lord's Resistance Army leaders. Download PDF of the memoranda with cover September 2, 2008 Memorandum Printer friendly version Nomination of Candidates for the 2009 ICC Judicial Election Letter to Foreign Affairs Ministers of ICC States Parties We are writing during the present nomination period for candidates for election as judges to the International Criminal Court (ICC). For the court to succeed, Human Rights Watch strongly believes it is essential that ICC states parties nominate the most highly qualified candidates. For us, this includes prioritizing nominees with established competence in criminal law and significant criminal trial experience. We have recommendations as to both the process and substance of nominations. August 20, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Article 16 Question and Answer On July 14, 2008, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested an arrest warrant for Sudan President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes for orchestrating the abusive counterinsurgency campaign in Sudan’s Darfur region. The government of Sudan has sought to block the issuance of an arrest warrant against al-Bashir by convincing African states on the United Nations Security Council to seek a delay at the International Criminal Court. The African Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference have asked the Security Council to defer ICC proceedings for twelve months. August 15, 2008 Questions and Answers Also available in 
Printer friendly version Letter to the Government of Turkey in Advance of President al-Bashir's Visit August 15, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Turkey: Support Justice in Darfur Turkey Should Reject Calls to Suspend the ICC Investigation The Turkish government should reject efforts by Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir to secure a suspension of the International Criminal Court’s investigation against him, Human Rights Watch said in a letter today. Turkey should also convey a clear message that Khartoum must not respond to the investigation with retaliation against civilians, peacekeepers, or humanitarian workers. President Bashir will be in Turkey for the Turkish-African Summit on August 19-20, 2008. Human Rights Watch expressed concern that Turkey chose to welcome al-Bashir, who is currently subject to a request for a warrant at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and whose armed forces continue to carry out attacks on civilians in Darfur. August 15, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Standing Firm against Impunity By Sara Darehshori Published in El Mundo Many people in Bosnia and beyond thought they would never see Radovan Karadzic standing before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). It seemed almost beyond the dreams of the rape victims that I interviewed in Bosnia in 1993, or those held in concentration camps But even then, in the midst of the conflict and in very difficult circumstances, local civilians had painstakingly gathered detailed testimonies from survivors in the hope that one day, there would be justice for these crimes. Even after the Yugoslav tribunal was established and had issued indictments against Karadzic for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, it seemed unlikely that he would ever be arrested. And yet this week he faced a panel of judges for his role in the massacre of men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995, as well ascrimes in various cities across Bosnia, including the shelling of Sarajevo during the city’s siege. August 1, 2008 Commentary Also available in 
Printer friendly version UN: Renewed Peacekeeper Mandate for Darfur US Abstains in Support of ICC Case Against Sudan’s President The Security Council’s renewal of the mandate for peacekeepers in Darfur without delaying legal proceedings against Sudan’s president reaffirms a commitment to justice and security for Sudanese civilians, Human Rights Watch said today. July 31, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Karadzic’s trial won’t end Bosnia’s human rights problems It’s the day many in Bosnia believed would never come – the delivery of Radovan Karadzic to the Hague face genocide and war crimes charges. But Karadzic’s trial, a milestone for justice, will not be enough to solve Bosnia’s complex human rights problems, many linked to the bloody legacy of the war directed by Karadzic and his military partner General Ratko Mladic, who remains at large. It won’t even be enough to settle wartime accounts, especially with those who pulled the trigger, rather than those who gave the orders. July 30, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Kenya: Punish War Crimes in Mt. Elgon Account for ‘Disappeared,’ Investigate Torture and Killings The Kenyan government should account for dozens of missing people detained during the security operation in Mt. Elgon, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch also called on Kenya to support independent investigations into torture and war crimes committed by security forces, and urged donors, including London and Washington, to review military aid to Kenya. July 28, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Serbia's Lessons for Sudan By Steve Crawshaw, UN advocacy director for Human Rights Watch Published in The Guardian Online The fact that Radovan Karadzic will face trial has important ramifications for the case against Omar Bashir, which must not now be delayed. Most obviously, the arrest of Radovan Karadzic is good news for the victims of the Bosnian war and their relatives. As one woman in Srebrenica said this week: "Justice is achievable, after all." But this remarkable moment has a broader historic importance, too. July 24, 2008 Commentary Also available in 
Printer friendly version Senegal: Government Amends Constitution to Pave Way for Hissène Habré Trial Prosecutors and Judges Named to Work on Case (Brussels, July 23, 2008) – Senegal’s adoption today of a constitutional amendment confirming that Senegalese courts can prosecute past crimes against humanity lifts any legal obstacles to the trial of former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré, Human Rights Watch said today. July 23, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Bosnia: Karadzic Arrest a Blow Against Impunity EU Should Push Now for Detention of Mladic The arrest of Radovan Karadzic, the former president of Republika Srpska, marks a major blow against impunity for the egregious crimes committed in the Balkans, Human Rights Watch said today. Karadzic is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including the massacre of up to 8,000 Bosnian men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995. July 21, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Whose interests does justice serve? Published in European Voice The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) took a bold and controversial step when, on 14 July, he requested an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. July 18, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Sudan, justice and peace By Sara Darehshori, Senior Counsel, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch and Suliman Baldo, Africa Director, the International Center for Transitional Justice Published in New Statesman Online If the government of Sudan is allowed to use threats of additional violence to dispel the possibility of justice, the victims of Darfur are ultimately betrayed July 16, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Doing the right thing for Darfur An ICC indictment of Sudan’s president serves peace and justice Published in Los Angeles Times Last July, I went to Chad to look into how the International Criminal Court, which has a field office in Abeche and works with refugees in the camps, is performing on the ground. As part of my assessment, I interviewed dozens of refugees. July 15, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version International Criminal Court’s Action Against al-Bashir Question and Answer On July 14, 2008, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested a warrant of arrest for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir on charges of ten counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The request for a warrant raises a number of questions, answers for some of which are below. July 14, 2008 Questions and Answers Also available in
Printer friendly version Darfur: ICC Moves Against Sudan’s Leader Charges Against al-Bashir a Major Step to Ending Impunity The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant against Sudan’s president is a significant step towards ending impunity for the horrific crimes in Darfur, Human Rights Watch said today. On July 14, 2008, the court’s prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, asked Pre-Trial Chamber I to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide. July 14, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version War Criminals, Watch Out The pace of proceedings is quickening at the International Criminal Court. On July 3, Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of Congo charged with war crimes, arrived in custody in The Hague. And today, July 14, the ICC prosecutor is expected to request new arrest warrants based on alleged crimes in Darfur against senior Sudanese officials, reportedly including the Sudanese president. Those are real accomplishments for a judicial institution whose underlying statute is now seeing only its 10th birthday. July 14, 2008 Commentary Courting History The Landmark International Criminal Court’s First Years
HRW Index No.: 1-56432-358-7 July 11, 2008 Report Download PDF, 1000 KB, 250 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release |
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