International Justice

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a press conference at the State Department in Washington DC, on March 17, 2020.

Former Officials Challenge Pompeo’s Threats to the International Criminal Court

A statement by former U.S. Ambassadors for War Crimes and U.S. Chief Prosecutors.

Mar. 18, 2020 Todd Buchwald, David M. Crane and 4 more

Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) hearing to receive oral arguments in the appeals of victims and of the Prosecutor against Pre-Trial Chamber II's "Decision Pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome Statute on the Authorisation of an Investigation into the Situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan". The Appeals Chamber in this appeal is composed of Judge Piotr Hofmański, Presiding judge, Judge Howard Morrison, Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa and Judge Kimberly Prost. December 4, 2019

The “Interests of Justice” at the ICC: A Continuing Mystery

David Luban explains how the ICC Appeals Chamber missed an opportunity to clarify what "interests of justice" the Prosecutor must consider in authorizing an investigation in the…

Mar. 17, 2020 David Luban

Syrian Army defector "Caesar," (in a blue hooded jacket) who has smuggled out of Syria more than 50,000 photographs that document the torture and execution of more than 10,000 dissidents, listens to an interpreter during a briefing before House Foreign Affairs Committee July 31, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Balancing Syria Advocacy and Witness Safety: Have We Lost Sight?

Groups documenting war crimes and other violations must revisit their methods of evidence collection and improve compliance with “do no harm” principles.

Mar. 10, 2020 Deyaa Alrwishdi

Int’l Criminal Court’s Afghanistan Decision Expands Prosecutor’s Power: What to Expect Next

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorized a formal investigation into alleged crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan on Thursday, overturning…

Mar. 6, 2020 Randle DeFalco

Exterior View of the new International Criminal Court building in The Hague on July 30, 2016 in The Hague The Netherlands.

No “State”-ing the Obvious for Palestine: Challenging the ICC Prosecutor on Territorial Jurisdiction

The judges have been tossed the hot statehood potato in a situation where neither the factual circumstances nor legal issues are sufficiently clear.

Feb. 27, 2020 Jeremie Bracka

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir attends a meeting with his new 20-member cabinet as they take oath at the presidential palace in the capital on March 14, 2019.

Head of State Immunity is Too Important for the International Court of Justice

If the United Nations General Assembly, or another competent U.N. organ, simply requests an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, then its member States would…

Feb. 24, 2020 Adil Ahmad Haque

Sudanese protesters wait at a train station in Khartoum to board a train to Atbara on December 19, 2019 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their protest movement that brought down Omar al-Bashir last April after a thirty-year rule.

Sudan Takes Two Big Steps toward Normalizing Relations: USS Cole and Bashir

Sudan’s transitional government took two significant steps toward improving its international standing and normalizing relations with the United States by first agreeing for…

Feb. 21, 2020 John Hursh

Demonstrators holds up placards and banners while demonstrating, asking for Yahya Jammeh, the former President of the Gambia, to be brought to justice, in Banjul on January 25, 2020. One of the signs says, "No Place for Enforced Disappearance in Gambia."

Senators Call for Prosecution of Gambian Paramilitary Fighter in US Custody

Rare opportunity to criminally prosecute a person implicated in extremely grave human rights abuses in a U.S. court.

Feb. 21, 2020 Randle DeFalco

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (C) along with Army Commander Shavendra Silva (L) and Navy Chief Piyal De Silva stand to attention during Sri Lanka's 72nd Independence Day celebrations in Colombo on February 4, 2020.

U.S. Issues Travel Ban on Sri Lankan Military Leader

The U.S. State Department’s announcement of a travel ban on Sri Lankan Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, current commander of the Sri Lankan Army and acting chief of the Defense…

Feb. 20, 2020 Randle DeFalco

Sudan's deposed military ruler Omar al-Bashir stands in a defendant's cage during the opening of his corruption trial in Khartoum on August 19, 2019.

Sudan Announces Intention to Have al-Bashir and Others “Appear” Before the ICC

Sudan's transitional government said al-Bashir and others indicted by the ICC for atrocities in Darfur must "appear" before the Court, but whether extraditions will occur remains…

Feb. 13, 2020 Randle DeFalco

A representative of the Rohingya group greets Gambian Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou at the meeting held at the International Court of Justice on January 23, 2020 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Behind Myanmar’s Military Alibi: A Path for Compliance with the ICJ’s Order to Protect Rohingya

It will be important to identify the pathways for Myanmar to comply within a governmental system that gives its military extensive autonomy, while not allowing it to hide behind…

Feb. 3, 2020 Grant Shubin and Akila Radhakrishnan

Rohingya refugees watch ICJ proceedings at a restaurant in a refugee camp on December 12, 2019 in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Myanmar’s Commission Report Delivers Genocide Denial Playbook

Ignoring such propaganda only risks undermining efforts to stop atrocities.

Jan. 31, 2020 Rebecca Hamilton