Coalitionfortheicc.org: Weekly #GlobalJustice news and civil society views

Weekly #GlobalJustice news and civil society views
Mali / Civil society welcomes transfer of Timbuktu crimes suspect Al Hassan to ICC
Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud appears before ICC judges on 4 April 2018. © ICC-CPI

This week, Malian authorities surrendered suspected Islamist Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he made his first appearance before judges with his defense team on Wednesday.

The Malian Coalition for the ICC welcomed the development and the congratulated Malian authorities for its "bold action" in fighting impunity in adherence to the Agreement for Peace and National Reconciliation of Alger.

Al Hassan is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in 2012 and 2013 in Timbuktu, Mali. The ICC Prosecutor alleges he was the head of police during the Ansar Dine jihadist group's occupation of the UNESCO world heritage city.

Al Hassan is purported to have taken part in the destruction of mausoleums of Muslim saints in Timbuktu. Additionally, he allegedly participated in instating a policy of forced marriage, victimizing female citizens of Timbuktu, which resulted in repeated rapes and the diminution of women and young girls to sex slaves.

Mama Koite Doumbia, President, Mali Coalition for the ICC, said sexual crimes and crimes of a sexist nature should not go unpunished "in the name of peace, and for peace," and appealed to Malian civil society to mobilize in a concerted effort towards the fight against impunity.

Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, stated that, “[t]he recognition of forced marriage as a distinct crime from sexual slavery under ‘other inhumane acts’ allows prosecutors to recognise the victims of these crimes and the particular social stigmatisation they face.”

A confirmation of charges hearing to determine whether to send to case to trial is provisionally scheduled for 24 September 2018. Al Hassan has yet to enter a plea.
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE FOR ATROCITIES
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Medium
Vacancy / Join our team in The Hague as a Legal Associate. Deadline 14 April.
ROME STATUTE AT 20
Organization of American States / States reiterate commitment to ICC

On 15 March 2018, the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS) held its 10th Working Meeting on the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Meeting brought together member states and observer states of the OAS, high-ranking officials from the OAS and the ICC, and members of civil society.

“With this new Working Meeting on the ICC, the Organization of American States again reaffirms not only the role that States form the continent have played –and continue playing– in the establishment and development of the International Criminal Court, but also the important support of the OAS towards the ICC and international justice”, said Michelle Reyes Milk, Coalition America Regional Coordinator. “ The input and contributions of the Americas are, in this way, more relevant now than ever as we commemorate, throughout 2018, the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, which represents an opportunity for all of us to reaffirm our commitment and support to the Court and to strengthen our belief in the fight against impunity."
Video / Mustafa Adam Ahmed, Executive Director, Zarga Organization for Rural Development
Videos / Rome Statute 20 Interactive Forums
RS 20 Hub / Statements and upcoming events for RS20
#GLOBALJUSTICE NEWS
Spotlight / Palestinian killed in Gaza protests | New ICC registrar elected | Death of genocidaire Ríos Montt

Palestinians killed in Gaza Protest

Reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, based on the review of footage from an incident at the Gaza border leaving 15 Palestinians dead, state that protesters were shot while slowly walking towards the border empty-handed, while retreating, and some were shot while throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at the IDF.

Human Rights Watch also suggested that the use of force was authorised by Israeli military and civilian hierarchy; evidenced by public statements made by senior officials that “instigators” and those who approach the border be targeted.

New ICC registrar elected

On the 28th March 2018, ICC judges elected Mr. Peter Lewis of the UK as the new ICC registrar, to succeed Mr. Herman von Hebel once his term ends on 16th April 2018.

While campaigning for the post of ICC registrar, Mr Lewis completed a Coalition questionnaire, in which he described the main challenge for the ICC in recent years has been efficiency and organisation within the court and the registry and improved planning and transparency with regards to financial planning.

Death of Rios Montt

Efraín Ríos Montt, has died of a heart attack at the age of 91 years old. The former Guatemalan dictator was convicted in 2013 of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 80 years in prison.

Amnesty International called his conviction at the time a "milestone for justice", while Human Rights Watch hailed the result as an "unprecdented step towards establishing justice and accountability" for victims of Guatemala's civil war.  His conviction was overruled shortly afterwards over trial irregularities, and he was being retried in absentia at the time of his death.
READS OF THE WEEK
Appointment of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Letter to UN Secretary General, H.E. Mr António Guterres
Universal Rights Group Geneva

Afghanistan Preliminary Examination
Will The International Criminal Court Prosecute Americans Over Afghanistan?
Forbes
CAR Crisis
Persistance de la crise en Republique Centra Africaine- Comprende pur Agir
CAR Coalition for the ICC
Cambridge Analytica
Propaganda and Accountability for International Crimes in the Age of Social Media: Revisiting Accomplice Liability in International Criminal Law
Opinio Juris
NEED TO KNOW
Peter Lewis elected ICC Registrar
Read response to Coalition questionnaire
2017 at a Glance: ICC
Don't miss a beat.
ICC cooperation treaty
Join the APIC campaign.
#GlobalJustice News Center
Missed something?
UPCOMING
SCL lecture, The Hague
ICC investigation into 2008 Georgia-Russia conflict: the ongoing impact of international crimes 10 years later
On the 12th April from 19.00 to 20.30 hrs in Leiden University, the Hague, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its Georgian counterpart, the Human Rights Center (HRIDC), with the support of the Grotius Centre and Asser Instituut, will hold a panel discussion on ICC investigations into the 2008 Georgia-Russia conflict and the ongoing impact of the crimes committed in that conflict.

ROME STATUTE AT 20: EVENTS
Check out events taking place worldwide for the 20th anniversary of the ICC Rome Statute. Let us know if you are planning an event to add to the list.
WHAT'S NEW?
Get the latest documents and publications in our library.
Civil society? Join the fight for justice in your country.
Calling all writers, translators, designers, coders, and video-makers!
Is there something you want explained or covered? Let us know.
JOIN THE FIGHT
Take action to end atrocities
Donate to advance justice

COALITION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Civil society in 150 countries fighting for global justice genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes
We made international justice happen. Now we're making it work.
coalitionfortheicc.org
coalitionfortheicc.org
Policy on ICC investigations and cases
The Coalition is an independent civil society network fighting for global justice for grave crimes through the International Criminal Court and national courts. The Coalition does not endorse, promote or take a position on any ICC situations, investigations or prosecutions. Individual Coalition members may endorse referrals, provide legal and other support on investigations, or develop partnerships with local and other organizations in the course of their efforts.

Disclaimer
This email is an informal and unofficial summary of news coverage. The Coalition does not take a position on or endorse any articles summarized in this email. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the Coalition is not responsible for any omissions or inaccuracies contained within source articles or this email, which is provided for informational purposes only.

The content of this email is not exhaustive - please send us material for inclusion.
Copyright © 2018 Coalition for the International Criminal Court, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up to be included on our information lists either on our website at www.coalitionfortheicc.org or by emailing info@coalitionfortheicc.org.

Our mailing address is:
Coalition for the International Criminal Court
708 Third Ave., Suite 1715
New York, New York 10017

Add us to your address book


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list