IPSI: The Hague 2016

The Hague, The Netherlands

July 9 – July 30, 2016

At the 2016 The Hague Symposium, in cooperation with Clingendael Institute, you will grapple with the “wicked questions” around post-conflict transitions and international justice that continue to challenge policymakers, scholars, and practitioners.  By learning about available mechanisms, options, and theories, you will gain a cross-sectoral perspective and a new way of thinking about why some transitions succeed where others fail.

In an intense and academically rigorous three weeks of interactive lecture, discussion, and experiential education led by the field’s foremost political leaders, scholars, practitioners, and advocates, you will contextualize the issues that drive these wicked questions, discover ways to make sense of the complexities of post-conflict transitions, and anticipate appropriate means for breaking the cycles of violence and vengeance so that those who have been victimized by human rights violations find justice. You will gain a deeper understanding of the concepts, controversies, and institutions surrounding the implementation of post-conflict strategies, including security, justice, political, and social mechanisms.  You will examine which elements have contributed to success and which to failure, as well as gain a thorough understanding of the interplay between dynamics that can and cannot be controlled in a given scenario.

All participants will receive a Post-Graduate Certificate in “Post-Conflict Transitions & International Justice” upon completion of the course.  Participants  who choose to undertake additional rigorous assignments will have the opportunity to earn a  Post-Graduate Certificate in “Post-Conflict Transitions & International Justice with Distinction.”

For more information, please see:

http://ipsinstitute.org/the-hague-2016/

Cameroon Continues Battle Against Boko Haram

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

ABUJA, Nigeria – This Friday Cameroon reported that its military, working in conjunction with Nigerian forces, had killed 92 Boko Haram militants and freed 850 villagers from the small Nigerian town of Kumshe. This is the latest victory claimed in the fight against Boko Haram, a group that the U.S. has labeled as the most violent armed group in the world.

Photo of a raided Boko Haram camp in Nigeria. Photo Courtesy of the Guardian

It is reported that during the raid five soldiers were injured and two Cameroon soldiers were killed when a mine accidentally exploded. Besides freeing 850 villagers the multinational group also seized arms, ammunition, and what seemed to be a homemade mine production site.

While nations like Nigeria and Cameroon continue to have success against Boko Haram in traditional combat settings, guerrilla type tactics continue to be a problem. These types of attacks are reported to be responsible for the deaths of over 20,000 and the displacement of over 2 million since 2009, when Boko Haram first started their campaign.

Cameroon and Nigeria have seen some of the worst of the Boko Haram campaign but the violence has spilled over to Chad and Niger as well. In just this past year Cameroon has lost as many as 1,000 people to Boko Haram attacks and suicide bombings. The group has shown no signs of slowing down through the first two months of 2016.

Beginning in January the group attacked the northern Nigerian village of Dalori multiple times in a string of days and killed 86 and injured multiple others. February began with two suicide bombings in Cameroon that killed 12 and injured as many as 50. Boko Haram later claimed responsibility for those bombings.

Besides death and destruction the actions of this group have had other negative effects on the area. The group is known for targeting children and in response many parents have kept their children out of school for fear they will be taken. This group first gained national recognition after they kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from a Nigerian boarding school.

Nigerian president Buhari ran on a platform that promised to defeat Boko Haram by the end of 2015. Unfortunately, it does not appear that his goal was met although, he says that there have been marked improvements on the ground. Boko Haram’s switch to guerrilla style tactics and heavy use of IED’s is seen as a positive sign by the president instead of a negative.

 

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Cameroon: 92 Boko Haram fighters killed in Nigeria – 27 Feb. 2016

All Africa – Cameroon – 92 Boko Haram Fighters Killed in Nigeria – 27 Feb. 2016

The Guardian – Cameroon says 92 Boko Haram militants killed and 850 captives freed – 26 Feb. 2016

Reuters – Cameroon says its army kills 92 militants in operation with Nigeria – 26 Feb. 2016

China Gives Protestant Pastor 14 Year Prison Sentence

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China –

A Chinese court has convicted Protestant pastor Bao Guohua and his wife Xing Wenxiang of corruption, financial crimes, and gathering people to disturb the social order.

Protestant pastor Bao Guohua and his wife Xing Wenxiang. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

Chinese media report that Mr. Bao and Ms. Xing have been found guilty of embezzling money from his church congregation in Zhejiang Province. They’ve been accused of “living greedy lives” by local law enforcement and state-run media, who claim that valuables and cash from church members’ donations were found in the couple’s home. Mr. Bao and Ms. Xing will serve 14 year and 12 year sentences, respectively. The court also ordered the confiscation of $92,000 from each spouse and fines totaling around $30,000.

Mr. Bao and his wife have been detained since August. A court has also sentenced 10 other people, including members of Mr. Bao’s church and potentially members of Jinhua, a Christian group. The details of those charges are not yet clear.

The couple’s arrest could be part of a government crackdown on Christianity in the region. Zhejiang Province has worked in recent years to limit the influence of Christian churches and organizations. Over 1,200 crosses have been removed from churches throughout the past two years, and some churches have been completely demolished. Authorities in the area claim that the crosses violate planning rules. Human Rights Watch reports that at least 100 Christians have been detained for resisting the cross removals.

Mr. Bao’s church had previously been officially approved by the government, but he then defied an order to take down the church’s cross. He was one of only a few government-approved pastors who defied the orders to remove crosses.

Around 60 million Protestant Christians live in China, with 23 million belonging to state-backed Three-Self Patriotic Movements. Only five religions are officially approved and may only be practiced in specific religious premises.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC News – China Pastor Who Resisted Cross Removals Jailed for Corruption – 26 February 2015

The New York Times – Pastor in China Who Resisted Cross Removal Gets 14 Years in Prison – 26 February 2016

FTC Publications – Chinese Pastor Jailed for Corruption – 26 February 2016

Radio Free Asia – China Jails Protestant Pastor Couple For 12, 14 Years – 25 February 2016