TRIAL International https://trialinternational.org/ A way to justice Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:43:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 Policy brief: Victims’ and Survivors’ Rights in a Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/policy-submission-victims-and-survivors-rights-in-a-convention-on-the-prevention-and-punishment-of-crimes-against-humanity/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:58:59 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27985 The policy brief entitled “Victims’ and Survivors’ Rights in a Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity”, publishes by REDRESS, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Global Survivors Fund (GSF) and TRIAL International, voices support for a prospective Convention on Crimes against Humanity and makes recommendations to States on reflecting progressive […]

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]]> The fight against impunity does not require recourse to the death penalty https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/the-fight-against-impunity-does-not-require-recourse-to-the-death-penalty/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 08:21:43 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27956 The fight against impunity does not require the use of the death penalty. TRIAL International expresses its deep concern at the decision to lift the moratorium on the execution of the death penalty in the DRC. Developments in international law and state practice demonstrate that capital punishment is incompatible with the fundamental principles of human […]

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]]> Recommendations for the investigation and prosecution of international crimes resulting in environmental damage https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/27939/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 08:36:07 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27939 TRIAL International contributed to the ‘An Environmental Compact for Ukraine’ report titled ‘A Green Future: Recommendations for Accountability and Recovery’ published in February 2024. Our recommendations include a number of strategic reflections regarding the investigation and prosecution through extraterritorial jurisdiction of international crimes resulting in environmental damage. They suggest making the fight against impunity for […]

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]]> Republika Srpska to Include War Torture Victims in Medical Rehabilitation Efforts https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/republika-srpska-to-include-war-torture-victims-in-medical-rehabilitation-efforts/ Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:16:14 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27856 TRIAL International, alongside Foundation United Women and Foundation Lara, welcomes the Government of Republika Srpska’s decision to include victims of war torture in the public call for medical rehabilitation. This move aligns with the Law for Protection of Victims of War Torture and marks a significant step towards proper access to the rights of victims […]

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]]> Rifaat al-Assad https://trialinternational.org/case/rifaat-al-assad/ Tue, 12 Mar 2024 10:38:29 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=case&p=27518 The post Rifaat al-Assad appeared first on TRIAL International.

]]> Former Syrian Vice President Rifaat al-Assad will stand trial in Switzerland on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/former-syrian-vice-president-rifaat-al-assad-will-stand-trial-in-switzerland-on-charges-of-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity/ Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:54:18 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27806 (Geneva, 12 March 2024) – Former Syrian Vice-President Rifaat al-Assad will stand trial in Switzerland for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has just charged him with ordering homicides, acts of torture, cruel treatments and illegal detentions perpetrated in the course of the February 1982 massacre in the […]

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]]> Towards a Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity: Recommandations to States https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/towards-a-convention-on-prevention-and-punishment-of-crimes-against-humanity-recommandations-to-states/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:33 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27661 Unlike other international crimes, such as war crimes, genocide, torture and enforced disappearance, there is still no international treaty specifically dedicated to crimes against humanity. It is widely recognized that this is a major gap in the international justice system and a specific legal instrument to address crimes against humanity is needed. In 2019, the […]

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]]> Ousman Sonko https://trialinternational.org/case/ousman-sonko/ Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:42:12 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=case&p=27043 Disclaimer: The present highlights of the trial are summaries of the most important points discussed during the hearings. TRIAL International does its best to summarize as accurately as possible what was said at the hearings and cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

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]]> Roger Lumbala Tshitenga https://trialinternational.org/case/roger-lumbala-tshitenga/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:55:00 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=case&p=27533 The post Roger Lumbala Tshitenga appeared first on TRIAL International.

]]> Video: punishing wartime sexual violence https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/punishing-wartime-sexual-violence/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:27:39 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27536 Olivera Simić is an Associate Professor at the Griffith Law School in Brisbane, Australia and co-author of “Punishing Wartime Sexual Violence”. In this video she explains how sentencing wartime sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still lenient and inconsistent.  The analysis is available here.

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]]> Defamation trial: Bern court dismisses Kolmar Group AG’s claims https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/defamation-trial-bern-court-dismisses-kolmar-group-claims/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:15:41 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27539 The Regional Court of Bern-Mittelland has acquitted the authors of a report published by Public Eye and TRIAL International of the charges of “defamation and slander”, following a criminal complaint filed by Kolmar Group AG. Their investigation exposed the Zug-based trader’s involvement in the trade of gasoil from Libya between 2014 and 2015, when the […]

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]]> Human Rights and Justice Centre: Facilitating justice for victims and survivors of Nepal’s civil war https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/human-rights-and-justice-centre-facilitating-justice-for-victims-and-survivors-of-nepals-civil-war/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 15:24:34 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27485 The 13th February marks the 28th anniversary of the beginning of the civil war in Nepal which lasted 10 years. However, 18 years after the Peace Accord, victims have yet to receive justice. Launch of the Human Rights Justice Center in January 2018, Kathmandu – © Robic Upadhayay   The Nepal Civil War, also known […]

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]]> Ending the cycle of impunity in Ukraine and beyond! https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/ending-the-cycle-of-impunity-in-ukraine-and-beyond/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:39:47 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27481 Two years ago, the world watched with dismay as Russian forces invaded Ukraine. This conflict, far from fading, continues to claim lives, destroy critical infrastructure and blatantly violate international law. Civilians, the primary victims of this tragedy, are suffering atrocities that should never occur again. I have personally witnessed the devastating consequences of impunity for […]

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]]> All parties have been heard: Summary of the proceedings of the third week of the trial of Ousman Sonko https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/summary-of-the-proceedings-of-the-third-week-of-the-trial-of-ousman-sonko/ Fri, 26 Jan 2024 11:17:37 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27379 (22-24 January 2024, Federal Criminal Court, Bellinzona, Switzerland) Examination of the March 2006 charges in relation to the persecution of journalists (acts of torture, false imprisonment and sexual violence committed as crimes against humanity) As part of an attempted coup d’état in March 2006, Ousman Sonko is being accused, as an accomplice of a group […]

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]]> A note at the centre of the argument: Summary of the proceedings of the second week of the trial of Ousman Sonko https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/summary-of-the-proceedings-of-the-second-week-of-the-trial-of-ousman-sonko/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:44:57 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27337 (15-19 January 2024, Federal Criminal Court, Bellinzona, Switzerland) 15 January 2024 – Day 6 Examination of Ousman Sonko’s responsibility over Baba Joe’s murder in 2011 Ousman Sonko is accused of having intentionally killed Baba Jobe – a former member of the National Assembly – in Banjul in October 2011, in complicity with a group of […]

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]]> The end of a long wait: Summary of the proceedings of the first week of the trial of Ousman Sonko https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/summary-of-the-proceedings-of-the-1st-week-of-the-trial-of-ousman-sonko/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 09:24:38 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27192 (8-12 January 2024, Federal Criminal Court, Bellinzona, Switzerland) The trial of Ousman Sonko opened on 8 January 2024 before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court (FCC). A panel of three judges is examining the former Gambian Minister of Interior’s responsibility over the numerous crimes against humanity that he is accused of having committed between 2000 and […]

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]]> Burundi: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ rights once again condemns Burundi over a case of extrajudicial execution https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/burundi-the-african-commission-on-human-and-peoples-rights-once-again-condemns-burundi-over-a-case-of-extrajudicial-execution/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:00:51 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27091 In its decision in the case of the Family of the late Jackson Ndikuriyo v. Burundi, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) recognises the extrajudicial nature of Mr Ndikuriyo’s death and (once again!) calls on Burundi “to put in place mechanisms to combat widespread impunity for extrajudicial executions.” ACAT-Burundi, APRODH, […]

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]]> Switzerland/Gambia: Jammeh-Era Crimes on Trial https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/switzerland-gambia-jammeh-era-crimes-on-trial/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:49:43 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=27018 Gambian Ex-Minister Sonko Faces Crimes Against Humanity Charges (Geneva, January 5, 2024) – The opening of a Swiss trial on January 8, 2024, for serious crimes committed in The Gambia represents a significant advance for justice for the victims of grave abuses, Gambian and international groups that are part of the Jammeh2Justice campaign said today. The former Gambian […]

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]]> Landmark trial against former Gambian Minister of Interior for crimes against humanity to start in Switzerland https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/landmark-trial-against-former-gambian-minister-of-interior-for-crimes-against-humanity-to-start-in-switzerland/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 07:30:58 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=latest&p=26993 (Geneva, 4 January 2024) – The trial of Ousman Sonko, former Gambian Minister of Interior, will open before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court on 8 January 2024 and last until 30 January. Ousman Sonko is accused of multiple counts of crimes against humanity, allegedly committed under the regime of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. TRIAL International filed the […]

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]]> Khaled Nezzar https://trialinternational.org/case/khaled-nezzar/ Mon, 01 Jan 2024 15:45:18 +0000 https://trialinternational.org/?post_type=case&p=27412 Khaled Nezzar died on 29 December 2023 in Algiers, just days after the announcement of the dates for his trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Switzerland. The official procedure is not officially closed yet. TRIAL International will continue monitoring further developments and supporting the plaintiffs, for whom this was the […]

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