ASF, in collaboration with the non-governmental organisation, REDRESS, supports the setting up of a Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic. A workshop that brought together civil society, legal and international players has drawn uprecommendations for the next stages of establishing this Court. The stakes are crucial: to launch trials for serious crimes and pave the way to reconciliation and a lasting peace in the CAR.

ASF just published its Training Manual on International Criminal Law at a lawyers training. This manual will serve as information and training tool and resource for legal trainers in Uganda. Ultimately, the objective is to support legal actors in defending the rights of victims of international crimes, as well as those who perpetrated these crimes during armed conflicts.

Following on from International Justice Day, ASF recognises the courage of the men and women who fight against the impunity of those behind international crimes. As well as a brief statement about the actions of the International Criminal Court, the NGO has taken a look at the sometimes overlooked consequences of international crimes.

The International Criminal Court sentences the former leader of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo, Jean-Pierre Bemba to 18 years’ imprisonment for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by his troops in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003. ASF supports the prosecution of other perpetrators of serious crimes committed in CAR, including through the effective establishment of the Special Criminal Court.

Since 2010, ASF has been implementing a project on international criminal justice and transitional justice in Uganda. In this context, ASF has conducted close consultations with victims and affected communities about prosecution of alleged perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Victims have shown a strong interest and willingness to be involved in criminal proceedings, both at international and national levels. They seem, however, lacking sufficient information and understanding as to their rights and as what participation to criminal proceedings might encompass.

Lawyers without Borders Canada (LWBC) presented a report on the impunity mechanisms present in the Colombian justice system. The report is the outcome of two years of observation, monitoring and analysis of 15 cases of international crimes which took place in Colombia. It contains practical recommendations to strengthen compliance with international standards and victims’ rights in the conduct of investigations and criminal trials in Colombia.

New Government Should Quickly Establish Special Court – 21 Central African and international human rights organizations issued a statement today calling on the new president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, to make justice for grave international crimes a top priority for his government. President Touadéra was sworn in on March 30, 2016, and his new government took office on April 11.

Northern Uganda is currently the scene of two significant ongoing trials: Thomas Kwoyelo and Dominic Ongwen are both facing Justice for the international crimes they allegedly committed as ex-Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commanders. In this context, Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) and the Foundation for Justice and Development Initiatives (FJDI) are providing assistance to victims to promote their participation. The activities confirmed that affected communities wish to follow and be informed about the course of both trials.

While the ICC just confirmed the charges against D. Ongwen, ASF shares views from the victims on the prosecution of the alleged Commander of the Lord Resistance Army. During a two-day live screening held in January 2016 by ASF and the Justice and Reconciliation Project in Gulu, Northern Uganda, victims and affected local communities had the opportunity to follow the pre-trial hearings taking place in The Hague, where the ICC is based. Participants and victims were able to react to the hearings and expressed their views and feelings concerning the role of justice and the fight against impunity more generally.

The International Criminal Court declared Jean-Pierre Bemba guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by his troops in the Central African Republic (CAR). For ASF, this decision concerning the former political and military leader from Congo is only the first step towards fighting against impunity and dealing with past crimes in the CAR. The Central African Special Criminal Court must rapidly initiate trials for these serious crimes and open the way for reconciliation and durable peace in the country.