ICTJ World Report

2/20/14, 7:09 PM

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ICTJ World Report

February 2014

In Focus
ICTJ Forum: A Critical Time for Justice in Uganda
In the latest episode of the ICTJ forum, Michael Otim, Director of ICTJs Uganda program, explains why the country has arrived at a critical moment in the struggle for truth, justice, and reparation for victims.
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World Report
AFRICA The trial of Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda opened at the International Criminal Court, where Ntaganda, widely known as the Terminator, is accused of committing war crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Concerns have emerged in Cote dIvoire that justice is being undermined; out of the 86 cases arising from the 2010-2011 election violence, only one has been pursued. The majority of those on trial for murder, economic crimes, kidnapping and other serious offenses are former senior army officers and top politicians close to deposed president Laurent Gbagbo. The formation of the International Crimes Division (ICD) at the Kenya High Court continues to be delayed, sparking public criticism of the judiciary and the government. The ICC has postponed the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is charged with crimes against humanity. A landmark genocide trial of Rwandas former army captain Pascal Simbikangwa, began in Paris; Simbikangwa is accused of complicity in the 1994 genocide that left more than 500,000 people dead. Meanwhile, Rwandas exparamilitary chief, Augustin Ndindiliyimana, was acquitted by the ICTR after previously being convicted of genocide.
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AMERICAS In Colombia, as peace negotiations with the FARC in Cuba resumed, the government created an expert commission to advise the Minister of Justice on issues concerning transitional justice. In addition, one of the most ambitious reconciliation projects was created, which aims to show examples to overcome the conflict and regain confidence. Victims of forced sterilizations in Peru are demanding further investigation of former President Fujimori after his exoneration due to lack of evidence. In Guatemala, the Supreme Court upheld its ruling that the country's attorney general, Claudia Paz y Paz, must step down in May, seven months before her term was to end. Paz y Paz was responsible for highlevel prosecutions of generals for genocide and crimes against humanity, including former de facto president, Efrain Rios Montt. El Salvador took a historic step when the Supreme Court of Justice ordered an investigation into a massacre in which 45 people were killed, allegedly by military troops, during the 1980-1992 war. The countrys 1993 amnesty law has so far impeded the prosecution of war crimes. Meanwhile, after significant stalling, Mexico has established the National System for Victims Assistance, the official entity which will oversee the implementation of the countrys 2013 Victims Law.
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ASIA In Nepal, more than two months after an election marred by fraud accusations from the defeated Maoist party, leaders from across Nepals political divide have pledged to draw up a constitution for Nepal within a year. UCPN leader Top Bahadur Rayamaji urged the Parliament of Nepal to form the TRC as soon as possible, taking strong objection to the issues relating to the peoples war being raised in parliament. Pressure is mounting for Myanmar to conduct investigations amid reports that dozens of the persecuted Rohingya minority were killed. A new report containing accusations that security forces in Sri Lanka destroyed evidence of mass civilian killings are among allegations that violations of human rights were committed in the final months of the civil war. If proven at trial, the allegations could lead to the conviction of senior military commanders and Sri Lankan government officials, as well as surviving member of the LTTE. A change to the criminal prosecution code in Afghanistan bans relatives of an accused person from testifying against them and will allow men to attack their wives, children and sisters without fear of judicial punishment.
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EUROPE Spain is seeking to limit the countrys power to pursue foreign officials suspected of genocide and torture. On February 5, residents in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina laid wreaths at the scene of the carnage 20 years ago when the marketplace was hit by a mortar shell which killed 67 people and wounded more than 140 more. Visegrad municipal officials removed the word genocide from a memorial plaque erected for Bosniaks killed the town in eastern Bosnia during the 1992-1995 war, an
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act that outraged survivors and families of those missing or killed. The ICTY has asked for the acquittal of former Yugoslav Army general Momcilo Perisic to be reconsidered by the court. Perisic was sentenced to 27 years in prison for war crimes in Sarajevo and Srebrenica but was since cleared of the charges. In response to a subpoena issued by the ICTY, former Bosnian-Serb army commander Ratko Mladic said he will not testify in war crimes trial against Radovan Karadzic, citing health reasons and prejudice against his own case.
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MENA The president of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon officially joined the case of Hassan Merhi to the trial of the four alleged Hezbollah supporters accused of plotting and executing the massive explosion that killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri nine years ago. Peace talks between the government of Syria and the opposition are not making much progress, the international mediator acknowledged after a face-to-face meeting of the rival parties in Geneva. In Tunisia, crowds gathered to mark the third anniversary of autocrat Zine el-Abidine Ben Alis downfall, celebrating in the closest the Arab world has to a model transition to democracy. On January 26th, Tunisia passed one of the most progressive constitutions in the Arab world, only a week after members of the Independent High Electoral Commission (ISIE) of Tunisia were sworn in, tasked with overseeing the upcoming presidential and legislative elections. On January 26, President Adly Mansour announced that Egypt will hold a presidential vote before parliamentary polls, in a change to a political roadmap that could pave the way for the swift election of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. In a recent report on Iraq, the UN has found that 300,000 people have now been displaced by the fighting between Sunni militants and security forces in the western province of Anbar.
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Publications
Towards a Transitional Justice Strategy for Syria
This briefing paper focuses on establishing a credible approach to accountability and human rights in a post-conflict Syria.
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Upcoming Events
February 21, 2014

Social Innovation Symposium at New York University

Location: New York, New York View Details

March 11, 2014

Lebanons Legacy of Political Violence

This report compiles information on hundreds of incidents of serious human rights violations that occurred in Lebanon from

The International Criminal Court in Africa: Bias, Legitimate Objections, or Excuses for Impunity?
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1975 to 2008, including mass killings, enforced disappearances, assassinations, forced displacement, and the shelling of civilian areas.
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Location: New York, New York View Details

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Copyright 2011 International Center for Transitional Justice

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