AFRICAIn Uganda, members of Parliament have joined civil society leaders in petitioning the government to formulate an official transitional justice policy to address human rights violations in the north. Soon after, Lord’s Resistance Army leader Dominic Ongwen surrendered to authorities earlier this month, and he has been transferred to the ICC. The ICC upheld its conviction of Thomas Lubanga, who had previously been sentenced to 14 years in prison for using child soldiers. Also, closing arguments were heard in the war crimes trial of former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba, the first of its kind at the ICC to focus on rape as a weapon of war. Meanwhile, reports indicate that unidentified rebels in the DRC are responsible for killing at least 184 civilians since October. In Rwanda, plans areunderway to digitize and make accessible the documents produced by the Gacaca Courts during the country’s transitional justice process. An international seminar in Mali in November drewrepresentatives of civil society, political parties, members of the security forces, human rights groups and more together to adopt a roadmap for the country’s truth, justice and reconciliation process.

AMERICASIn Colombia, FARC announced an indefinite unilateral ceasefire. Since then, President Santos hasasked rebel group ELN to join the ceasefire and to formalize peace talks with the government. The Inter-American Court for Human Rights convicted the Colombian state for disappearing 11 people in the 1985 military retake of the Palace of Justice. In Guatemala, a former police chief was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the 1980 deadly raid on the Spanish embassy. Meanwhile, the retrial on genocide charges of ex-military ruler General Efrain Rios Montt was suspended after it began because the court accepted defense appeals that one judge was not impartial. The Court of Appeals in Chile sentenced eleven former Pinochet agents for their roles in the forced disappearances of two Uruguayan citizens in 1973. In the United States, members of the Ferguson, Missouri community areorganizing a commission to analyze the social and economic conditions that led to the shooting of unarmed Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson.

ASIAIn Nepal, major political parties continue to meet to expedite the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Disappearance Commission. In December, the UN Human Rights Committee gave Nepal a 180-day deadline to report on their delay to bring justice to the victims of enforced disappearances. Meanwhile, political parties have proposed chairpersons for the two commissions, yet victims claim to have been excluded from the entire process. On January 12, the TRC-Recommendations Committee publicized the short list of candidates to both commissions. A total of 69 people have applied for the posts of chairperson or member of the commissions. However, the committee has not submitted a final list to the government. Writ petitions filed by the conflict victims challenging the TRC Act are still subjudice in the Supreme Court. In Myanmar peace talks between ethnic minority groups and the government were jeopardized by the killing of about 23 rebels by the military in November. The second trial of two ex-Khmer Rouge leaders in Cambodia, set to begin last July, was yet again postponed by boycotts from lawyers representing the defense. Meanwhile, 40 non-Cambodian NGOs have signed a letter to the ICC requesting an investigation into crimes against humanity—including the eviction of over 770,000 Cambodians—by the country’s ruling elite. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is set to begin commissioning its arms this month as preparations for a transitional government are underway.

Read More…

EUROPEThe UN estimates that about 13 people are killed each day in eastern Ukraine since the a ceasefire was issued in September. A UN OHCHR report issued in December accused Kiev-controlled volunteer battalions and the Ukrainian Security Service of torture, enforced disappearances and inhumane treatment of civilians. The government of Ireland will ask the European Court of Human Rights to revisit its decision on the “hooded men”—14 men who say they were subjected to torture during their internment without trial in 1971. Also in Ireland, the Chief Constable of the PSNI, George Hamilton, announced the formation of the Legacy Investigations Unit to replace the Historical Enquiries Team in 2015. Meanwhile, a new murder investigation into the events surrounding BloodySunday will begin this month in Ireland. Police in Bosnia arrested ten Bosnian Serb wartime security officials on accusations of crimes against humanity. Bosnian Serb MP Vasic and two former police officials were charged with for their roles in the Srebrenica genocide in 1995.

Read More…

MENAIn December 2014, the families of the missing and forcibly disappeared in Lebanon handed over the official investigation report related to the persons who disappeared during the civil war in Lebanon, to the International Committee of the Red Cross. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced thatPalestine will join the ICC on April 1st. A new Human Rights Watch report has criticized Tunisia in its efforts to pursue accountability for unlawful killings during the recent uprising there. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria issued its first report on ISIL in November, stating that fighters are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity on a massive scale. Shortly thereafter chief prosecutor of the ICC announced that she was weighing bringing war crimes charges against ISIL. A new law in Egypt has been criticized that allows the military to assist the police in protecting vital facilities. Meanwhile, an Egyptian court dismissed charges against former President Hosni Mubarak, an interior minister and six aides over the killings of protestors following the 2011 uprising. Dozens of Egyptian Islamists have been sentenced to jail for up to 15 years for attacks around the country.

Read More…

Publications

Pursuing Accountability for Serious Crimes in Uganda’s Courts: Reflections on the Thomas Kwoyelo CaseThis paper describes proceedings in Uganda’s national courts against Thomas Kwoyelo, a former mid-level commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It analyzes the opportunities and challenges for the prosecution of serious crimes in Uganda and concludes with recommendations to enhance accountability in the country.

View Report

Confronting the Legacy of Political Violence in Lebanon: An Agenda for ChangeThis document presents wide-ranging recommendations for political and social reforms in Lebanon developed by a consortium of Lebanese civil society actors, as part of an ICTJ project.

View Report

More Publications

Impunity Watch

Publications

Author: Impunity Watch Archive