Search Results

Sort by
News

AU's 'ICC Withdrawal Strategy' Less than Meets the Eye

Opposition to Withdrawal by States

The African Union made headlines Tuesday for purportedly agreeing to mass withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. The reality is more complex. The decision by AU member states welcomes the announced withdrawals by South Africa,…
A general view shows the headquarters of the African Union (AU) building in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, January 29, 2017.
News

Defend the Integrity of the Rome Statute and a Court Worth Having

The withdrawals by South Africa and Burundi from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) pose a real challenge to the evolving system of international justice centered on the ICC. Coming after escalating criticism…
A picture of the ICC logo on a glass wall.
News

Letter to Presidents of African States Parties to the ICC

November 14, 2016 To the Presidents of African States Parties to the International Criminal Court, We write to commend your government for its membership and support for the International Criminal Court, and to encourage your…
News

Africans Speak Out Against ICC Withdrawal

Governments Signal Continued Support for Court

The recent decisions by South Africa, Burundi, and Gambia to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) are generating wide attention and speculation about a mass exodus from the court by African countries.  But think it’s clear where Africa stands on…
Stella Ndirangu of ICJ Kenya
News

Burundi: ICC Withdrawal Major Loss to Victims

Latest Move Shows Government’s Disregard for Victims

(Nairobi) – Burundi has taken a major step backward by officially withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch said today. Other African ICC members should distance themselves from Burundi’s withdrawal and affirm their support for…
Residents outside their houses in Nyakabiga, in the Burundian capital Bujumbura, look at the body of a man shot dead on December 11, 2015.
News

South Africa: ICC Move Betrays Victims

Members Should Reaffirm Support for International Court

(Johannesburg) – South Africa’s announced withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty represents an enormous blow to its commitment to justice for atrocity crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. ICC members…
The Permanent Premises of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
News

Embracing Impunity in Burundi

Government Approves Withdrawal from International Criminal Court

The vote by Burundi’s National Assembly and Senate approving withdrawal from the International Criminal Court is the latest move by a government intent on shielding its poor human rights record from international scrutiny. …
On October 13, 2015, police shot dead Christophe Nkezabahizi, his wife, nephew, and his two teenage children in Bujumbura. No one has been held accountable for their deaths.
News

DR Congo: Congolese Warlord Should Face Justice

US Says Working on Sending Bosco Ntaganda to the ICC

(Washington, DC) – The United States government indicated it would send the Congolese rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to be tried for grave international crimes. Ntaganda turned himself in to the US embassy in Kigali…
News

DR Congo: War Crimes by M23, Congolese Army

Response to Crisis in East Should Emphasize Justice

(Goma) – M23 rebels and Congolese army soldiers raped scores of women and committed other war crimes during the rebels’ occupation of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2012. Ongoing talks among parties to the conflict, countries in the…
News

Ending the cycle of abuse in Congo

If leaders of the M23 rebels are allowed to reintegrate into the Congolese army, the message will be clear: rape, pillage and murder will go unpunished. On Nov. 19, armed men from a rebel group called the M23 were looking for a prominent civil…
News

Rwanda’s Rampaging Rebel Force

Despite supporting a brutal rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda is about to take a seat on the U.N. Security Council. Few countries dare challenge the Security Council the way Rwanda does; even fewer get away with it. Yet on…
News

DR Congo: US Should Urge Rwanda to End M23 Support

Sanction Rwandan Officials Backing Abusive Congolese Rebels

(Washington) – The United States government should publicly support sanctions against Rwandan officials backing the armed group M23, which has been responsible for widespread war crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. M23 rebels, whose commanders…
News

DR Congo: M23 Rebels Committing War Crimes

Rwandan Officials Should Immediately Halt All Support or Face Sanctions

(Goma) – M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are responsible for widespread war crimes, including summary executions, rapes, and forced recruitment. Thirty-three of those executed were young men and boys who tried to escape the rebels’…
News

Letter to World Bank Vice President for Africa On Rwanda

Mr. Makhtar Diop Vice President for Africa World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 USA Cc: Ms. Carrie Turk, Country Manager, Rwanda Board of Executive Directors Re: Concerns About World Bank Financing in Rwanda Dear Vice President Diop…
News

Rwanda is hindering justice for Congo's atrocity victims

Rebel leader Thomas Lubanga may now be in jail, but Rwanda continues to support his co-accused, Bosco Ntaganda

The sentencing on Tuesday of Thomas Lubanga, a rebel leader from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was a rare victory for Congolese victims of atrocities. There have been few occasions during my 13 years of documenting abuses in Congo by Lubanga and…
News

DR Congo: Rwanda Should Stop Aiding War Crimes Suspect

Congolese Renegade General Bosco Ntaganda Receives Recruits and Weapons from Rwanda

(Goma) – Rwandan military officials have been arming and supporting the mutiny in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of Gen. Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Human Rights Watch said today.…
News

ICC: Pursue Case Against Rwandan Rebel Leader

Rejection of Warrant Request Not a Ruling on DRC Crimes

(Brussels) – The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should urgently submit information sought by the court in the case against a Rwandan rebel leader whose forces are still committing atrocities in eastern Democratic Republic of the…
News

Rape in war: No more excuses

Last month, the first woman ever was convicted of genocide by an international court. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda found Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, Rwanda's former minister for family and women's affairs, guilty of genocide, war crimes and…

Refine Search

Filter by Country
Filter by Topic
Filter by Type
Filter by News Category