Monthly Archives: March 2014

Report of the Human Rights Advisory Panel

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HRAP

The Human Rights Advisory Panel rendered its annual report for 2013. The Panel issued a number of important opinions in the past year, deciding whether and to what extent facts alleged by the complainants had led to different violations of human rights by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Those opinions particularly deserving of attention came from cases involving allegations of a lack of an adequate police investigation in connection with abductions, disappearances, and killings related to procedural obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as allegations of violations of Article 3 of the Convention against victims and close relatives. The importance of the right to truth has also been recognized by the Panel.

In these opinions, as well as in other cases, the Panel has continued to elaborate its own jurisprudence, taking into consideration the international human rights standards expressed in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and other international bodies, including, in particular, the UN Human Rights Committee. Continue reading →

Summer School: Transitional Justice, Conflict and Human Rights

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Geneva Academy Summer School 2014Date: 7-11 July 2014

Location: Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights,
Villa Moynier - Rue de Lausanne 120B - CP 67 - 1211 Geneva 21 - Switzerland

The Antonio Cassese Initiative for Justice, Peace and Humanity and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights open their application process for the Summer School 2014.

The 2014 Antonio Cassese Summer School offers an intensive course on transitional justice principles and processes, with a special focus on post-conflict situations.

Based on both scholarly and practitioner expertise across a range of areas (including human rights, international criminal law, security reform, legal philosophy, gender politics) and country situations, the programme combines a general course on

transitional justice with complementary topic-specific lectures. The general course will be delivered by leading transitional justice scholar Naomi Roht-Arriaza, Professor of law at the University of California.

For further information about the Summer School please click here.

Event: Lecture on Genocide Prosecution in a National Court

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Asser InstituteDate: Wednesday 9 April 2014

Venue: T.M.C., Asser Institute, R.J. Schimmelpennincklaan 20-22, 2517 JN Den Haag

Lecture: “Genocide Prosecution in a National Court: Guatemala’s Rios Montt Trial in Latin American Context“

Speaker: Naomi Roht-Arriaza, Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

SCL Lectures are public and free of charge. Registration is not necessary, seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Charles Blé Goudé Makes First Appearance Before the ICC

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Charles Blé Goudé

Today, Charles Blé Goudé appeared before the Single Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi set the date of the beginning of the confirmation of charges hearing in the case for 18 August 2014.

The Chamber will soon set a calendar for proceedings leading to the confirmation of charges hearing, including for upcoming status conferences and for the disclosure of evidence.

Background: On 22 March 2014, Charles Blé Goudé was surrendered to the ICC by the national authorities of Ivory Coast on the basis of a warrant of arrest issued by ICC judges on 21 December 2011 and unsealed on 30 September 2013.

Charles Blé Goudé, national of Ivory Coast, allegedly bears individual criminal responsibility, as indirect co-perpetrator, for four counts of crimes against humanity, namely murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, and other inhuman acts, allegedly committed in the territory of Ivory Coast between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011.

Event: International Weapons Law Course

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Geneva AcademyDate: 4-29 August 2014

Venue: Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Villa Moynier – Rue de Lausanne 120B – CP 67 – 1211 Geneva 21 – Switzerland

Aim and Objectives of the Training:

The aim of the course is to instil participants with a detailed understanding of international weapons law: police use of force, use of weapons as a means or method of warfare, disarmament, and small arms control.

Objectives:

  • Acquire detailed knowledge and understanding of international legal regimes governing weapons.
  • Be able to apply the law to use of force by police, military, private security companies, and armed non-state actors.
  • Understand the characteristics and effects of different weapons from a handgun up to a nuclear weapon.

Lecturers:

The training course is taught by members of academia and senior professionals from international organisations and NGOs. In addition to staff from the Geneva Academy, former police officers, and experts on robotics, biological and chemical weapons, and others will provide the tuition.

If you wish to apply, click here.