The IJSD seeks to improve the administration of national justice
systems through the promulgation and implementation of international standards of good governance.
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The INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT is a research, development, and technical
assistance organization that seeks to develop international standards for the administration of law, and in
turn provide practical support to governments whose justice systems are in transition or post-conflict reconstruction.
The Institute also aims to provide assistance to those agencies, institutions, and practitioners who engage in international
development projects in the justice sector.
The Institute was established in The Hague, Netherlands, in June of 2006 with the support and guidance of the Lord Mayor
of The Hague and other Dutch institutions interested in the advancement of the rule of law. The affiliated office in the
United States was established in early summer 2006.
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5, November 2008 ICC Chief Prosecutor calls for arrest in Congolese conflict.
The International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has called for the arrest of Bosco Ntaganda following reports of war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Full Report. 9, October 2008 Assassinated President’s Palace to become museum for Rwanda.
The house once belonging to former President Juvenal Habyarimana has been designated to become a museum housing artifacts of Rwanda’s culture and the genocide that took place there in 1994. Full Report. 19, September 2008 Tutu calls for an independent probe into Beit Hanoun attack.
Desmond Tutu who headed the United Nations-backed investigation mission into the attack on Beit Hanoun concludes the incident may constitute a War Crime. Full Report. 30, July 2008 Karadzic to face genocide and war crimes charges
Radovan Karadzic’s arrest for war crimes, a long awaited day for Bosnians, not enough to settle war crime accounts. Full Report. 11, July 2008 Chief Prosecutor of the ICC will seek arrest warrant for genocide in Darfur
The International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor will seek an arrest warrant this week charging Omar al-Bashir, Sudan President with crimes against humanity and genocide in
Darfur. Full Report.
22, June 2008 Global justice, local courts
Rethinking The International Crime Court – Interview with Michael TH. Johnson by Wojtek Kalinowski. Full Report. 29, May, 2008 President Yar’Adua disagrees on pace of reform for Nigeria
Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua rejected charges that reform has come to a halt and noted an orderly and rational national culture will not exist without respect for the rule of law. Full Report. 29, April 2008
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has unsealed the arrest warrant against Bosco Ntaganda, alleged war criminal. Full Report. 27, April, 2008UN Secretary General condemns attack on Afghan President
Following the attack that took place during a victory parade today in Kabul, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon once again stated the UN’s support for rebuilding Afghanistan through "legitimate state institutions" that provides both justice and security and addresses the needs of the vulnerable. Full Report. 3, April, 2008UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to meet in Vienna 14-18, April 2008
The Seventeenth Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will be held in Vienna, Austria April 14-18 2008. Full Report. 17, March, 2008EU Commission calls for restraint in Kosovo
A spokesman for the EU urges all parties to build a multi-ethnic Kosovo based on the rule of law. Full Report. 19, Feb, 2008The reminder of the Rwandan genocide prompts support for Darfur
U.S. President George W. Bush announces $100 million to help train and equip peacekeepers for Darfur during his recent visit to Rwanda. Full Report. 30 Jan, 2008UN
Secretary General Ki-moon calls for highest standards of ethics
At a recent meeting with staff for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Mr. Ki-moon urged his staff to demonstrate the highest ethical standards and be exemplary to their subordinates.. Full Report.
7 Jan, 2008Charles Taylor Trial Resumes
Prosecutors present their first prosecution witness for testimony at Special Court for Sierra Leone. Full Report. 14 Dec, 2007National Constitution Conference held in Ndola
Chief Justice urges delegates to look at all views and work collectively on a Constitution that works for all Zambians Full Report. 7 Dec, 2007Torch lit for genocide victims
An Olympic style torch is lit in Sarajevo as a symbol of peace and solidarity. Full Report. 27 Nov, 2007U.N. Court dismisses genocide appeals for former Rwandan Ex-Colonel
The Tanzanian based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ruled no changes in the 25 year prison sentence for the former Rwandan Ex-Colonel, Aloys Simba. Full Report. 3 Nov, 2007Karuna Amman, detained on immigration charges, could face charges for War Crimes
UK urged to prosecute ex-rebel Karuna Amman for War Crimes before his return to Sri Lanka. Full report. 26 Oct, 2007Six Reservists in the former Yugoslav People's Army suspect in War Crimes
A hearing will be held on November 2, 2007 in a Montenegro Court to determine reservists involvement in war crimes in the coastal village of Morinj. Full report. 11 Oct, 2007Nigerian FEC Increases Inmate Food Cost Allotment
The Nigerian Federal Executive Council increased the cost of food allotment per inmate from N150 to N200 per day. Full report.
26 Sept, 2007International Justice on the march
While a number of safe havens still remain for those accused, the world is becoming a smaller place for people who commit atrocities and International Justice marches forward.Full report. 11 September, 2007EU renews call for Bosnia Police Reform, a key condition for signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA)
The European Union is warning Bosnian and Herzegovina Leaders that rejecting vital police reform will delay the signing of an SAA, moving the European perspective down the road.Full report. 5 August, 2007 Zambian president pardons over 800 prisoners
Concerned about the country’s congestion and condition of its prison facilities, President Mwanawasa pardoned 823 prisoners serving sentences for various crimes, and commuted 97 prisoners’ death sentences to life imprisonment, noting the changes would take immediate effect. The president stressed that the government was currently considering ways make the detention facilities “humane and bearable.” Full report. 20 August, 2007New Court an option in Ugandan Rebel Leaders Proceedings
A Special Court could be the venue to hold proceedings against Ugandan rebel leaders instead of the International Criminal Court (ICC) according to Uganda’s Minister of Internal Affairs.Full report. 15 August, 2007 UN Study: Northern Uganda wants justice
A new UN human rights report based upon 1,725 private interviews of atrocity victims reveals that the Northern Ugandan population believes both the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government should be held accountable for atrocities committed during a conflict occurring for more than 20 years. Respondents expressed an “overwhelming desire for reconciliation,” as well as a consistent desire to prevent impunity.Full report. 15 August, 2007 Amnesty International critical of Nepal’s draft Truth and Reconciliation bill
Human rights group Amnesty International reports that Nepal’s current draft bill includes provisions that would grant amnesties to perpetrators of international crimes. The group also reports that the current version of the bill fails to provide witness protection and lacks provisions that would guarantee independence of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.Full report. 14 August, 2007 Charles Taylor trial postponed again
The trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor will not proceed as scheduled on August 20, after Taylor’s new defense team requested adjournment of the trial until January 2008, to allow for “adequate time and facilities.” A response filed by the Prosecution indicated the Defense had established good cause for their request. Full report. 14 August, 2007 United Nations-launched Children’s Parliament administers justice in the Congo
The U.N. initiative begun five years ago and run almost entirely by children has become a well-respected body in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The body hears cases from children, and offers advice to parents and children alike based on their study of Congolese law and U.N. conventions on children’s rights. The U.N. has initiated other children's parliaments in Africa, which will convene later this year.Full report. 13 August, 2007 France to offer aid to organize trial for former president of Chad
French secretary of state for human rights proposed last week “materials and logistical aid from France to organize and finance” a trial for Former Chadian President Hissene Habre, who is accused of causing the deaths of 40,000 people and using torture at his detention centers during his eight-year presidential reign. Full report. 10 August, 2007 Dutch government supports Afghan reconciliation program
The Netherlands has pledged €150,000 to the Takhim-e-Solh, or "Strengthening Peace," program in Uruzgan province which grants amnesty to mid- and low-level insurgents with the goal of assimilating former militants into Afghanistan's civil society. Full report. 9 August, 2007 Nepal: more Muslim women prosecuting husbands for abuse of divorce law
Claiming that they are the victims of an abuse of Islamic law, Muslim women in Nepal are increasingly bringing their cases before Nepal's courts. Islamic law permits a man to divorce his wife by repeating the word "talaq" three times, though religious scholars and intellectuals assert that "talaq" can be said only when there is constant fighting between husband and wife and divorce is by mutual consent. Full report. 9 August, 2007 Rights group alleges bias in Pakistan justice system
The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) is calling on the United Nations Committee on the International Convention Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to address "religious apartheid" and "rampant discrimination based on the ethnic, linguistic and racial identities" in Pakistan. The group reports that while Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis make up around 4 percent of population, they are disproportionately the victims of blasphemy laws. Full report. 9 August, 2007 Training for Liberian journalists to center on transitional justice reporting
The BBC World Service and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) launched a two-week training program on Monday for 20 Liberian journalists in Monrovia that would enhance public awareness and debate around transitional justice issues in post-conflict African countries. Full report. 8 August, 2007 Ukraine offers to detain ICTY convicts
Yesterday, the Ukraine became the first country outside of Western Europe to offer to incarcerate convicts of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Currently, suspects are detained in a maximum security prison on the outskirts of The Hague, and 26 convicts are serving sentences in nations including France, the U.K., Norway and Denmark. Full report. 8 August, 2007 Philippines: 5 military tribunals to address extrajudicial killings
The head of the Armed Forces, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., announced that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will create five military courts that will investigate potential military involvement in the extrajudicial killings of predominately members of left-leaning organizations. Rights groups have claimed that the military and government are responsible for over 800 unlawful deaths amid the conflict between the military and the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Full report. 8 August, 2007 ICC's Trust Fund for Victims offers money; support for war crimes victims
Andre Laperriere, head of the International Criminal Court’s Trust Fund for Victims, describes his travels to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in June and the opportunities of the fund for a report by the Institute of War and Peace Reporting. Full report. 7 August, 2007 Philippines: Senator alleges political manipulation of justice sector budget
Senator Francis Pangilinan yesterday claimed that the government is reducing the justice sector budget by P1 billion and the government's contribution to a World Bank-sponsored justice sector project in retaliation for the Supreme Court's sponsorship of an international summit to address extrajudicial executions. Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya has denied the allegations. Full report. 7 August, 2007 Congolese prisoners escape alleging starvation conditions in detention
Over 100 inmates escaped from the delapidated central prison in Uvira in South Kivu, following demonstrations over conditions of starvation. Full report. 7 August, 2007 Egypt to lift emergency laws by 2008
Judicial Affairs Minister Mufid Shehab announced on Saturday that a 25-year state of emergency will be replaced by new anti-terrorism legislation by June 2008. Full report. 7 August, 2007 UN welcomes reinstatement of Pakistan Chief Justice
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy, recently applauded the reinstatement of Pakistan's Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, in a move that has been widely viewed as resolving a national crisis in executive-judicial relations. Full report. 6 August, 2007 Liberia to establish special court for rape cases
Liberian Vice President Joseph N. Boakai announced yesterday the establishment of a Fast Track Court, dealing only with cases of rape and sexual related assaults. Boakai emphasized the necessity of such a court, noting that cases of rape take longer to be tried, often lending parents of victims to become frustrated, and in turn, more likely to wave their rights. Full report. 4 August, 2007 Sierra Leone, U.N. collaborate on human rights workshop for police
In preparation for next week’s elections, the Republic of Sierra Leone and the United Nations hosted a three-day workshop, attended by 50 mid-level police officers. The event focused upon gender issues, mediation, crowd control, security, and electoral laws. The 11 August presidential and parliamentary polls are the country’s second elections since emerging from a ten-year civil war. Full report. 3 August, 2007 Rwandan law abolishing death-penalty hoped to encourage extradition
Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama hopes Rwanda’s 25 July legal reforms will encourage extradition of genocide suspects to Rwandan courts. Previously, countries holding genocide suspects refused to extradite suspects to Rwanda, fearing they might be executed, choosing instead to try the suspects in their own national courts. Under the new law, Rwanda cannot extradite a genocide suspect to a country which allows the death penalty, and previously-imposed death sentences are commuted to life imprisonment.Full report. 3 August, 2007 Zambian president pardons over 800 prisoners
Concerned about the country’s congestion and condition of its prison facilities, President Mwanawasa pardoned 823 prisoners serving sentences for various crimes, and commuted 97 prisoners’ death sentences to life imprisonment, noting the changes would take immediate effect. The president stressed that the government was currently considering ways make the detention facilities “humane and bearable.” Full report. 1 August, 2007 Liberia: Johnson-Sirleaf urges TRC to address “structural flaws”
Speaking to officials of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf urged the commission to promote reconciliation among Liberians by addressing the “root causes” of Liberia’s “social cleavages.” Full report. 1 August, 2007 Reform in Angola stresses expansion of justice services
The Justice Director of Cunene province, Adriano Gabriel Ndemupomito, has announced that the training of legal staff in civil registration and the expansion of justice services in the south of the province will be prioritized for the 2008/2009 period. The initiative is intended also to streamline the civil identity card system by computerizing the process of issuing the cards. Full report. 1 August, 2007 Sudan's Commission on the Rights of Non-Muslims forms specialized committees
The government’s Commission for the Rights of Non-Muslims is forming specialized committees to manage non-Muslim affairs, including the Judicial Committee, which is charged with raising awareness of legal and constitutional rights for non-Muslims and with monitoring the justice sector’s respect for religious practices. Full report. 1 August, 2007 Khmer Rouge chief charged with war crimes
Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, was charged Tuesday with crimes against humanity for his role in the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians in the 1970s. Duch was relocated from a military detention center to the war crime tribunal’s headquarters outside of Phnom Penh. Trials at the tribunal are expected to begin next year.Full report. 1 August, 2007 Namibian human rights group requests the ICC to investigate founding president
The National Society for Human Rights asked the ICC on Tuesday to probe Namibia’s founding president Sam Nujoma, who was commander-in-chief of the Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia and commander-in-chief of the Namibia Defence Force. The group accuses Nujoma of gross human rights violations, including the disappearance of 4,200 people. The international court has received the group’s request, but has not yet issued a decision whether to investigate. Full report. 31 July, 2007 Tanzania Justice Ministry presents new set of reforms to Parliament
The Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Justice, Dr Mary Nagu yesterday called on the Parliament to approve the ministry's 2007/08 budget, which includes funds for the construction of more courts and the employment of magistrates, the creation of a new law school in Dar es Salaam, the translation of key articles into Kiswahili, and the separation of the work of investigators and prosecutors. Full report. 31 July, 2007 Serb opinion split on hosting Hague war crimes convicts
Serb government officials and NGOs are split over whether or not the Serb justice system can follow ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte’s suggestion last month that war criminals convicted in The Hague should be imprisoned in their country of origin. Rasim Ljajic, the president of the Serbian national committee for cooperation with the tribunal, will meet with tribunal president Fausto Pocar in September to discuss the issue. However, Serbian public opinion on the ICTY is mixed, with some accusing prosecutors of targeting only Serbs for prosecution. Full report. 31 July, 2007 UN Special Rapporteur: DRC justice system fails victimized women
Professor Yakin Erturk, Special Rapporteur to the UN Human Rights Council on violence against women issued a statement on Friday highlighting the sexual brutalization of women in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a particular emphasis on the justice system's inability to address the crimes and provide sufficient support to those abused. Full report. 31 July, 2007 DRC government: Uganda owes reparations for plunder during conflict
Bilateral discussions regarding the $10 million reparations sum demanded by the DRC from the government Uganda have been inconclusive. Human Rights Watch estimates that the Ugandan military plundered over $9 million of from the DRC's Ituri province between 1999 and 2003. Though the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) found the Ugandan state guilty in 2005 of war crimes and crimes against humanity during its five-year occupation, enforcement of the ICJ ruling will likely prove difficult. Full report. 30 July, 2007 Guatemalan parliament debates aid to criminal justice system
Legislators will decide on whether or not to support a joint government-UN plan, agreed in December 2006, that would create an International Commission Against Impunity to investigate criminal subversion of the justice system. Full report. 30 July, 2007
UNDP launches access to justice project in Bangladesh
The $3 million technical assistance project is a joint effort of the UNDP and the Bangladeshi government. In addition to supporting the creation of a human rights commission and an independent judiciary, its goals include strengthening access to the judiciary for the poor. Full report. 29 July, 2007
Sierra Leone reviews customary laws
The Justice Sector Development Programme (JSDP) recently hosted a stakeholder meeting in Moyamba to review the draft report on the Restatement of Customary Laws with the goal of clarifying Sierra Leone's customary laws. The results of the meeting are expected to standardize the laws, reduce the arbitrary exercise of power, and foster a more responsive justice sector. Full report. 28 July, 2007
Haiti: increase in lynchings linked to distrust of justice system
Edmond Mulet, UN Special Envoy to Haiti, expressed concern over 105 known cases of lynching in the country since 2005 and urged that the rise in mob violence is linked to a lack of confidence in Haiti's justice system. Full report. 28 July, 2007
De Klerk refuses to assume responsibility for apartheid crimes
On Thursday, South Africa's former President FW de Klerk stood by his testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in refusing to assume responsibility for crimes committed during apartheid including assassinations and murders because those actions were committed under an unreasonable interpretation of official policies. He further affirmed that he had never personally discussed or been privy to decisions resulting in the murders or grave violations of human rights. Full report. 27 July, 2007
UN Chief urges officials not to testify at Timor-Indonesia truth commission
Arguing that UN policy forbids the endorsement of policies that would grant amnesty for crimes against humanity and genocide, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has urged UN officials not to testify before the Commission of Truth and Friendship in Timor. The Commission is a joint Indonesian-Timorese effort to investigate the 1999 unrest in East Timor, during which an estimated 100,000 Timorese died. Full report. 26 July, 2007
Uganda: LRA seeks US$2 million for post-conflict justice system
Leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) are struggling to raise US$ 2 million to sponsor efforts to create a hybrid justice system that would address crimes committed during Uganda’s civil war. The LRA specifically seeks funds to cover a one-week consultation meeting and to sponsor travel to such countries as South Africa, Sierra Leone and Argentina “to do research so that we can build a strong case of justice and reconciliation,” according to LRA chief negotiator Martin Ojur. Peace talks between the government and the LRA were set to continue on July 31, though this date will be postponed, according to the government. Full report. 26 July, 2007
Montenegro announces judicial reform strategy
Justice Minister Miras Radovic publicly announced yesterday a new set of judicial reforms, including strict criteria for selecting legal representatives, a revised judicial ethics code, and further anti-corruption efforts in the justice system. The new strategy was planned with the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other international organizations. Full report. 26 July, 2007
UN unveils renovated Liberian prisons
United Nations representatives in Monrovia yesterday unveiled renovated detention facilities, including a functional sewage system and other improvements that would safeguard the human rights of detainees. The Inspector-General of Police Beatrice Monah Sieh thanked the UN mission and the Dutch government for the rehabilitation work and affirmed the need for the Liberian police and penal system to accord with international standards. Full report. 25 July, 2007 Iran’s Chief Justice tours Africa to promote judicial ties
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi will visit Morocco and Senegal to discuss the creation of a forum of Muslim countries' clergies, courts specializing in Islamic laws, and judicial relations that would bolster the “unity and coherence of Islamic countries… the source of growth and prosperity for them,” according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. Full report. 25 July, 2007 ICC Judge urges transfer of Lubanga war crimes trial to DRC
Judge Adrian Fulford yesterday advocated the transfer of the war crimes trial of Thomas Lubanga, a former leader of the Union des Patriotes Congolais militia, from the International Criminal Court to the Congolese judiciary. Fulford argued that hearing cases in the DRC would increase public investment in the trial process. Full report. 25 July, 2007
Botswana Justice Ministry: redesign of case management to increase efficiency
Chief Justice Nganunu recently announced plans for a case management system co-sponsored by the UNDP and US Embassy and jointly administered by judges and attorneys that would reduce unnecessary delays in processing the backlog of cases and introduce alternative forms of mediation. Full report. 25 July, 2007
Appeal of SCSL decision seeks to criminalize forced marriage as breach of international humanitarian law
On June 19, the Special Court for Sierra Leone found Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Bazzy Kamara, and Santigie Borbor Kanu guilty of war crimes including sexual slavery, though trial judges dismissed charges of forced marriage as a war crime. Chief Prosecutor Stephen Rapp will appeal this decision that, if successful, would create legal precedent that would criminalize forced marriage as a breach of international humanitarian law separate from sexual slavery. Full report. 24 July, 2007
Sierra Leone creates two electoral courts in Freetown
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Electoral Assistance Team has helped establish new courts for resolving electoral matters. The Electoral Offences Court will handle criminal matters, while the Election Petitions Courts will handle civil matters. The creation of the courts is considered a substantial advancement in the rule of law for Sierra Leone. Full report. 24 July, 2007
U.N. asks The Hague to host Lebanese tribunal
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has requested a special court to be held in The Hague to try suspected killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, who died in February 2005 in a Beirut car bombing. The U.N. Security Council voted in June to set up the tribunal, which will likely take a year to set up. Full report. 23 July, 2007
Fiji endorses new Problem Solving Court
The Fiji Law Society and the Ministry of Justice yesterday endorsed the new Problem Solving Court, created to address the high rates of recidivism and imprisonment among indigenous Fijians. Representatives from the Muslim League, leaders of the Sangam community, and divisional commissioners endorsed the plan when it was presented in the provinces of Nadroga and Bua. Full report. 23 July, 2007
Indonesia: UNDP study highlights lack of access to justice for rural communities
An 18-month study in rural Indonesia has revealed widespread distrust of judicial institutions, inadequate access to legal aid, and low levels of awareness of legal rights among villagers, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the National Development Planning Agency. The two agencies are currently sponsoring programs such as the Legal Empowerment and Assistance for the Disadvantaged (LEAD) program to address the issues discussed in the report. Full report. 23 July, 2007
Amnesty International: Nigerian prisons uninhabitable
Human rights organization Amnesty International reports that poor facilities and over-crowding plague the Nigerian prisons, posing serious health risks and inhumane living conditions for inmates. On a recent visit by officials of the organization, over 90 percent of inmates in prisons visited were awaiting trial, most having already waited between three and ten years. The organization will make recommendations to international organizations and Nigeria’s federal government for making the facilities habitable. Full report. 22 July, 2007
Nigeria alleges fraud against Pfizer pharmaceutical company
In addition to criminal charges, the government of Nigeria has launched a civil suit against Pfizer Inc., adding a fraud charge to allegations that the American-based drug manufacturer tested an experimental drug on children without authorization or the full understanding of their families during a 1996 outbreak of meningitis, according to government lawyer Babatunde Irukera. Pfizer claims that the study was approved by the Nigerian government and that none of the deaths was caused Trovan or inadequate treatment. Full report. 22 July, 2007
Kyrgyz rights groups say abolition of death penalty not enough
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed a law abolishing the death penalty on June 29 in a widely-applauded reform of the judicial system. Activists from the Kylym Shamy NGO allege that the alternative, life in prison, in Kyrgyzstan's disease-prone and overcrowded facilities is itself inhumane. They urge for that sentences be reduced to a maximum of 20 years, in order to allow for the eventual reintegration of prisoners. Full report. 22 July, 2007
Uganda: Museveni will not ask ICC to lift arrest warrants
Despite reports to the contrary, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni stated that he will not ask the International Criminal Court to lift its indictments of LRA leadership, urging instead that the rebels sign the comprehensive peace agreement in Juba, South Sudan. According to the President, "[i]f they conclude the peace deal, that is when the government can write to the ICC to say we have found an alternative solution." Full report. 22 July, 2007
Community correction program to ease pressure on Chinese prisons
A four-year community correction program will allow "low risk" convicted criminals to be employed and lead a normal life provided that they regularly report to government authorities and is expected to ease the burden of the China's correctional facilities. According to judicial officials, a 2003 version of the program was successful with less that 1 per cent of participants committing crimes. A 2000 report on the state of Chinese prisons noted that there were 240,000 more prisoners than the facilities could accomodate. Full report. 21 July, 2007
Georgia: new bill may ban audiovisual recording in court
While journalists and the public may observe hearings, recording equipment will be banned, due to a concern that media coverage of high-profile trials is easily manipulated and "makes certain politicians decide to put on shows which we then have to watch," according to Giga Bokeria of the Georgian Parliament. Media outlets and NGOs have appealed to President Saakashvili to veto the bill. Full report. 21 July, 2007
Eighth Annual Conference of Caribbean Heads of Judiciary to focus on environment; criminal justice reforms
From July 25 to 27, the Cayman Islands will host representatives of 17 Caribbean nations and the Caribbean Court of Justice for the Eighth Annual Conference of Caribbean Heads of Judiciary on the theme of "The Role of the Judiciary in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development." Representatives will compare judicial practices and share information about judicial reforms, particularly relating to delays in the criminal justice system. Full report. 21 July, 2007
OSCE lauds Croatia's progress on legal and refugee policy
Representatives of the he Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe recently affirmed that the Croatian government has made progress in reintegrating ethnic Serb refugees, though further action is needed to accommodate the 80,000 ethnic Serb refugees still living in Serbia. Further reform of the judiciary and the return of ethnic Serb refugees are preconditions to Croatia's accession to the European Union. Full report. 21 July, 2007
U.S. Federal Appeals Court mandates release of Guantanamo information
Yesterday, a federal appeals court ordered the government to turn over significant amounts of classified information on Guantanamo detainees who are challenging their detention, often under habeas corpus appeals. The ruling rejects an appeal by the Department of Justice and the White House to restrict information regarding the status of the "enemy combatants." Full report. 20 July, 2007
The Special Court for Sierra Leone sentences three for war crimes
The Court sentenced Alex Tamba Brima, Santigie Borbor Kanu, and Brima Kamara, senior members of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, for war crimes including murder, rape, and mutilating civilians. The court has thus far indicted 12 people in connection with the Sierra Leone’s civil war, including former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Full report. 20 July, 2007
Bosnia court acquits ex-justice minister of war crimes
The War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina acquitted former Bosnian Serb justice minister Momcilo Mandicof all charges on Wednesday, including war crimes against civilians and crimes against humanity. The charges related to abuses at Bosnian Serb government-operated detention facilities, as well as an April 1992 Serb attack against a police training center in Sarajevo. Full report. 19 July, 2007
Indonesian court finds restrictions on speech unconstitutional
Indonesia’s constitutional court has ruled that articles 154 and 155 of the criminal code prohibiting “public expression of feelings of hostility, hatred or contempt toward the government” are unconstitutional as an infringement on free speech. Human Rights Watch has called for all prisoners held under the articles to be released. Full report. 19 July, 2007
In Southern Africa, a push to make legal instruments accessible online
The Southern African Legal Information Institute (SAFLII), an initiative that provides online access to legal material from 16 different countries, would enhance the rule of law in African countries and make comparison of laws and judgments more effective, according to Justice Albie Sachs of South Africa’s constitutional court. Full report. 19 July, 2007
Rwanda asks U.N. to act against alleged smuggling
Rwanda has accused U.N. peacekeepers in eastern Congo of trading food and intelligence with Rwandan Hutu rebels for gold. The rebel group, Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, controls large parts of North Kivu along the Rwanda-Congo border. Rwanda has blamed the U.N. mission in Congo in the past for failing to disarm the rebels, and now calls for a rededication of U.N. forces. Full report. 19 July, 2007
Spanish court to try suspected Argentine war criminal
Under a domestic law granting jurisdiction to Spanish courts to try war crimes suspects in the absence of prosecutions in the suspects’ home states, a Spanish court will try Argentine junta officer Ricardo Cavallo for crimes associated with the dirty war of the 1970s and 1980s. Full report. 18 July, 2007
Multi-stakeholder seminar focuses on reform of DRC's prison system
Yesterday, representatives of the DRC Ministry of Justice, the European Union, France, and MONUC gathered for a five-day seminar on reforming Congolese prisons, 90 per cent of which are underfunded and overpopulated. Citing the prison service as the “foundation of the rule of law,” Justice Minister Georges Minsay Booka affirmed the government’s desire to align prison standards with international law governing the humane detention of inmates. Full report. 18 July, 2007
NGOs: War crimes trial of mining executives in DRC a miscarriage of justice
Four Congolese and international NGOs yesterday published a report on “serious flaws and irregularities” in the trials of Congolese soldiers and executives of Anvil Mining for complicity in war crimes occurring in 2004 during an offensive against suspected rebels in Kilwa. Nine Congolese soldiers and the three executives, two South Africans and a Canadian, were acquitted by a Congolese military court on 28 June in proceedings that the NGOs allege were manipulated by the government. Full report. 18 July, 2007
Malawian minister calls for respect of prisoners’ rights
Deputy Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Simon Vuwa Kaunda condemned delays in the prosecutions of suspects whose detentions cause prison overcrowding and urged for more humane treatment of detainees. Full report. 18 July, 2007 Ethiopia sentences opposition leaders to life
Ethiopian courts ruled on Monday that 35 opposition politicians and activists are guilty of inciting violence in an attempt to overthrow the government and sentenced them to life in prison. Full report. 17 July, 2007 World Bank delays in corruption charges
The World Bank has temporarily banned two companies for charges of collusion and corruption, delaying some $700 million in loans to India for health programs in 2005 and 2006. This has resulted in the call for consistent standards in the World Bank for handling corruption cases.Full report. 17 July, 2007 Rwanda: Gacaca courts to close in December 2008
The Minister of Justice, Tharcise Karugarama, said at a plenary session of the senate that Rwanda’s Gacaca hearings for suspected genocidaires will end on December 2008, citing evidence that the courts have had a positive impact on reconciliation. Several senators pointed out allegations of corruption within the courts and the danger of miscarriages of justice if the process is rushed. Full report. 17 July, 2007 Japan expected to join International Criminal Court
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court reports that the Japanese government is expected to deposit papers today with the UN legal department to signal its ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC. Japan will be the 105th member of the court and is expected to contribute 19 per cent of the court’s €90 million annual budget. Full report. 16 July, 2007 Mock trials prepare Japanese to adopt jury-style courts
The Japanese justice system will adopt jury-style trials in 2009, despite surveys that indicate that 80 percent of those polled are dreading the change and do not want to serve as jurors, preferring to address questions to judges. Mock trials and public information campaigns are in place to prepare for the shift. Full report. 16 July, 2007 Uganda may ask ICC to scrap indictments against LRA leaders
In 2003, President Yoweri Museveni himself called for the Hague-based ICC to investigate LRA leaders for war crimes, the first of the fledgling court’s indictments. Given recent progress on peace talks with the LRA, Museveni is expected to ask that any prosecutions revert to the Ugandan justice system in a controversial reversal of the government’s position. Full report. 16 July, 2007 Afghanistan's Action Plan for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation (APTJR) a failure, according to experts
According to UN and Afghan officials, the Action Plan for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation (APTJR) has suffered a lack of political commitment and disruptions due to armed conflict. Only one of the five key points of the plan, acknowledgement of past crimes, has been implemented by the government. The policy, according to a commissioner at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Ahmad Nader Nadery, has been "almost a complete failure." Full report. 16 July, 2007 Proactive Tajik prosecutors to investigate child labor
Producers under pressure to fulfill government-set quotas for cotton production are removing children from school to work in the fields, according to Tajik prosecutors. Full report. 16 July, 2007 Maldives appoints first female judges
Leandro Despouy, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, commended the appointment of the Maldives’ first two female judges on Wednesday and urged continued reforms. Full report. 15 July, 2007 Angolan Justice Minister calls for renewed fight against human trafficking
At the close of the Third Conference of the African Prosecutors' Association, Angolan Justice Minister Manuel da Costa called for a renewed commitment to anti-human trafficking conventions. The conference centered on the exploitation of children and women through organized criminal networks, the implementation of conventions dealing with the issues, sexual violence as crime of war, and the protection of children, among other topics. Full report. 15 July, 2007 Rwandan opposition calls for end to Gacaca trials
Members of the opposition Banyarwanda Political Party have petitioned Britain's Queen Elizabeth II to call for an immediate end to the Gacaca court system in Rwanda, alleging that the trials are manipulated by the current regime. Full report. 13 July, 2007 Sierra Leone Peace-Building Fund approves US$4 million for justice sector
The four new projects will address the priorities jointly established by the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations, including enhancing the capacity of the justice sector, improving sanitation and water facilities in military barracks, and supporting the National Human Rights Commission. A national Steering Committee of government and UN officials and representatives of civil society will manage the projects. Full report. 13 July, 2007
Jamaican Justice calls for businesses’ support in reforms
In an address to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Justice Hugh Small recruited the support of Jamaican businesses in justice sector reform, citing that the delayed enforcement of business contracts renders the economy less competitive.
Full report. 13 July, 2007
EU Court lifts ban on De Beers diamond trading
Stock market shares for gold producer Anglo American increased yesterday with a ruling by the second highest EU court, which lifted a ban that had prevented Anglo American's subsidiary firm De Beers from trading with a Russian mining company. Full report. 12 July, 2007 Liberia moves to seize Taylor’s assets
The Liberian government has recently submitted a bill to parliament asking for legislative power “to seek the assistance of other nations in tracking, freezing and confiscating the funds, properties and assets” of the ex-president and others concerned.”
Full report. 13 July, 2007
Habre to stand trial in Senegalese domestic court, not international tribunal
Senegalese justice minister Sheik Tidiane Sy said President Abdoulaye Wade had approved the use of a modified criminal court in order to reduce the costs of the trial of Chad's exiled dictator, which is expected to involve 20,000 witnesses. An initial inquiry into the establishment of an international court projected costs at US$90 million.
Full report. 12 July, 2007 Nigerian Chief Justice calls for separate courts for children
Citing the need to pay more attention to cases involving children, Chief Justice Kutigi called for free legal aid for disadvantaged youth and urged judges in Nigeria’s sub-national courts to set aside specialized courts to handle the delicate cases. Full report. 12 July, 2007 Britain agrees to imprison Charles Taylor if he is convicted
The Registrar of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), Lord Malloch-Brown, announced yesterday that through a special agreement with the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Charles Taylor would be imprisoned in the U.K. if he is convicted of war crimes. The SCSL is trying Taylor in The Hague, having found that his continuing presence in Sierra Leone was a threat to the nation’s stability.
Full report. 12 July, 2007 Egypt condemns demand for legal reform as condition for military aid
The Egyptian government condemned as unacceptable legislation recently proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would withhold $200 million in military aid unless the government acts more decisively to curb police abuses, reform its judicial system, and combat arms smuggling.
Full report. 12 July, 2007 BiH investigative journal extends justice coverage to Lower Courts
The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, with the support of USAID Justice Sector Development Programme, will soon be expanding its coverage of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s transitional justice and war crimes trials to the lower courts.
Full report. 11 July, 2007 World Bank releases updated Governance Indicators dataset
The indicators cover all countries from 1996 to 2006, and indicate that some of the poorest states in Africa have made “significant progress” in improving governance and minimizing corruption. The six indicators included in the data set are Voice and Accountability, Political Stability and Absence of Major Violence and Terror, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, and Control of Corruption.
Full report. 11 July, 2007 Bosnian High Representative suspends Bosnian Serb police
Miroslav Lajcak, the new high representative for Bosnia, has fired and suspended police personnel who have been suspected of participating in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of 8,000 Muslims.
Full report. 11 July, 2007 Zimbabwe prisons struggle to cope with incarcerations over price wars
At least 133 corporation directors and shop owners have been arrested for refusing to lower their prices since companies were ordered to reduce prices by 50% or risk a takeover, according to the government’s new anti-inflation policy. This government-mandated slash in prices has caused consumers to flood Zimbabwe’s shops and engage in looting, causing police crackdowns.
Full report. 11 July, 2007 Moroccan magistrates evaluate detention center in move to reintegrate juvenile offenders
Moroccan magistrates visited the Centre for the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Young Offenders in Casablanca last week to evaluate the institution and to distribute several thousand books to the prisoners, which are being used as an “instrument to train, cultivate and educate young offenders.”
Full report. 11 July, 2007 Khmer Rouge tribunal to select lawyers
The Defense Support Section of the new 6-million dollar joint UN-Cambodia tribunal has issued a call for lawyers to represent its defendants. The list of lawyers is open to both Cambodian and international lawyers who demonstrate competence in criminal law and procedure at a national or international level.
Full report. 10 July, 2007 Victims' groups shun ICTY's Carla del Ponte in anticipation of memorial ceremony
Several organizations representing mothers of the victims of Srebrenica have expressed that they do not want the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, present at tomorrow's commemoration of the victims' deaths citing dissatisfaction with her tenure and the failure to prosecute several prominent fugitives.
Full report. 10 July, 2007 Former Thai Prime Minister to be tried
The date of August 14, 2007 has been set for the first court hearing of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai Prime Minister. The hearing is to be held at Thailand’s Supreme Court in relation to corruption allegations raised against Shinawatra and his wife.
Full report. 10 July, 2007 Rwanda to reduce prison population
Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama reports that the Rwandan government will decongest prisons in three ways, including through their community service Travaux d'Interet General, release on parole, and presidential pardon. Prisoners charged with genocide, as well as other convicts, will be considered for the decongestion policy. Rwanda currently has approximately 80,000 prisoners in 16 prisons.
Full report. 9 July, 2007 Indian e-courts project launched
According to the recommendations of the E-Committee on National Policy and Technology, 2500 of India’s courts will be equipped with computer rooms and judicial service centers. The e-courts project will also equip 15,000 judicial officers with laptops, and will eventually develop a common software application for the entire judicial system, regional language support, and a nation-wide juridical data center. The project is expected to enhance the transparency, accountability, and efficacy of the justice sector. Full report. 9 July, 2007 Algerian professor discusses negative justice sector report and presidential cover-up
In a recent interview with El-Khabar news agency, Professor Mohand Issad discussed his recent report on the Algerian justice system and strategies for reform. Full report. 9 July, 2007 South African judiciary project would increase number of female lawyers
Brigitte Mabandla, the Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, recently announced a new judiciary reform project that would, among other goals, increase the representation of women in the legal profession. Full report. 9 July, 2007 Taylor trial in The Hague denies access to Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone has been accused of denying the people of Sierra Leone access to the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, after failing to broadcast video from a public hearing on Wednesday, which was scheduled to explain last week’s decision to delay Taylor’s trial until 20 August. Taylor arrived unexpectedly at the hearing, pleading not guilty to the recently amended indictment. Full report. 9 July, 2007 Bosnia Constitution Talks leaving out the District of Brcko
The future status of the Brcko District, compromising 1 percent of the territory in Bosnia and Herzegovina, remains unclear as talks are being held in relation to the BiH constitution. The initial constitution, constructed under the guidance of the Dayton Peace Agreement, established Brcko as an autonomous entity within the Bosnian Federation, but does not state Brcko’s future independent standing. Some argue that Brcko’s existing legislative system might serve as a positive role model for any political and judicial reform made within BiH and should duly not be ignored. Full report. 8 July, 2007 Taylor allocated US$100,000 monthly for defence
Because the court has ruled that he cannot pay for his own defence, Former Liberian president Charles Taylor will receive US$100,000 monthly to cover expenses, including a US$70,000 per month legal team and office space in The Hague. An investigation into the funds Taylor is believed to have accumulated from timber and diamond extraction during the war is underway.
Full report. 6 July, 2007 Thailand parliament proposes placing police under Justice Ministry to curb abuse
Representatives of Thailand’s police force reacted defensively to a new bill that would place the police force, currently supervised by the Prime Minister's Office, under the Justice Ministry. The proposition follows the recommendations of the Police Reform Committee, which seeks to increase police accountability to the judiciary. Full report. 6 July, 2007 China’s Supreme People’s Court to release new standards on death penalty
Zhang Jun, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court, said that new guidelines for the application of the death penalty would be released within a year. The development follows recent criticism of the Chinese judiciary for approving the death penalty for economic and drug-related crimes. Full report. 6 July, 2007 Japan to assist Vietnam with judiciary reforms
After touring Vietnam last week, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong announced that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his cabinet backed judicial reforms in Vietnam, and look forward to broadening ties in an effort to become “strategic partners.” Prime Minister Abe noted that the Japanese government is currently considering three large-scale projects in Vietnam, while Deputy Prime Minister Trong expressed Vietnam’s appreciation of Japanese aid. Full report. 6 July, 2007 Macedonian government and opposition reach agreement on judicial reforms
In a landmark judicial reform meeting, the Macedonian government and opposition reached consensus on the law governing the office of the public prosecutor. The government, in consultation with the Council of Prosecutors, will propose the candidate who must then obtain parliamentary approval.
Other agreements reached yesterday included completion of a State Judiciary Council, which will elect and dismiss judges. A meeting outside of parliament to discuss composition of the State Court Council is expected by the end of the week.
Full report. 5 July, 2007 Uganda details new hybrid court will determine war crimes cases
An 11-page document signed in Juba detailed that Uganda had "national laws capable of addressing the human rights violations during the conflict." It proposes a hybrid approach to justice that would issue punishments for grave crimes, yet maintain an emphasis on reconciliation methods. Full report. 5 July, 2007 Declassified documents shed new light on Mitterand’s role during Rwanda genocide
Documents obtained by Le Monde suggest that despite warnings of the possibility of Hutu-led genocide, President Mitterrand and his administration promoted a policy that supported the Hutus during the 1994 conflict out of concern about France’s sphere of influence in the Great Lakes region. France claims its involvement promoted Hutu-Tutsi power-sharing, though France had armed the Hutu President Habyarimana’s regime in the early 1990’s. Full report. 5 July, 2007 European Union to initiate DRC penal system reforms
The chief of the EU mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Adilio Custodio, recently announced a new reform program targeting the penal justice system. The program officially began on July 1 and will operate for one year and involve 39 experts from 12 countries. Full report. 5 July, 2007 Amnesty International urges reform of Turkish judiciary
The Turkish police and gendarmerie are "torturing, ill-treating and committing murders," according to Amnesty International, in a press release urging judicial reform. Full report. 4 July, 2007
Afghan clerics urge reinforcement of Sharia law
Coinciding with the opening of a conference in Rome on the rule of law in Afghanistan, over 200 clerics in the western province of Herat called upon President Hamid Karzai to campaign “earnestly” for the enforcement of Sharia law on Monday. Full report. 4 July, 2007
Conference in Rome concludes; US$360 million pledged to Afghan justice system
The funds would train judges, construct prisons, and otherwise strengthen Afghanistan's justice system. Participants report that the conference went smoothly, though it was overshadowed by concern over the rising toll of civilian deaths in the country. Full report. 4 July, 2007 East Timor requests advisory opinion on constitutionality of amnesty law
President Jose Ramos Horta is expected to send an amnesty bill approved by parliament to the Court of Appeals in order to determine if it violates the constitution. The bill would grant amnesty for many types of crimes committed during the past year.
Full report. 4 July, 2007 Cambodian courts struggle to keep up with land disputes
The government and local courts say they lack the technology and infrastructure to settle the increasing number of land disputes by judicial means. The government claims that the poor illegally occupy state-owned property after selling their land for profit, while representatives of the Community Legal Education Center claim that the government seizes land as state property, illegally evicting Cambodians from their homes.
Full report. 3 July, 2007
EC to allocate €200 million for justice sector reform in Afghanistan
The sum will cover a justice sector reform program that will extend from 2007 to 2010 and focus on institutional reform of the judiciary, regularizing employee recruitment and pay, and funding the Law and Order Trust Fund (LOTFA) which pays for police salaries, among other goals. Full report. 3 July, 2007
Tajik government launches judicial reform; critics allege failure to consult public or independent legal advice
Neither the media nor the Tajik legal community has been able to access information about a new judicial reform project approved last week by President Imomali Rahmon. Though the program supposedly explains measures to secure judicial independence and combat corruption, experts say that a failure to consult the population and the legal community undermine the program’s legitimacy. Full report. 3 July, 2007
Kenya: live televised debate on judiciary highlights public dissatisfaction
Eighty-five per cent of the audience of a live debate on KTN’s weekly interactive show, Newsline, expressed intense dissatisfaction with the Kenyan justice system. Common complaints included that citizens are not educated about their justice system, and that inefficiency results in excessive waiting times. Prohibitive litigation costs compounded by bribery were also important concerns. Full report. 3 July, 2007
South Africa’s ANC pushes for supremacy of constitutional court
One thousand five hundred delegates to an African National Congress (ANC) policy conference recommended that the constitutional court should be South Africa’s final court of appeals, on both constitutional and non-constitutional matters, according to Policy Chief Jeff Radebe. Full report. 3 July, 2007
Charles Taylor trial delayed until August
The war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor has been postponed for the third time to August 20, to allow adequate preparation time for his new defense team. Taylor had previously fired his lawyer and decided to defend himself, but is currently demanding a more competent lawyer. Full report. 3 July, 2007
International Criminal Court impacting behavior of nations
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said yesterday that the ICC is increasing awareness about the right to be protected from war crimes among local communities, and that states now recognize that genocide will not continue with impunity. As of now, the Court is investigating cases in Sudan’s Darfur region, the Central African Republic, northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Full report. 3 July, 2007
Georgian prisons overcrowded, pose public health crisis
Conditions once considered normal in Georgian jails have worsened, and the number of prisoners has reached record highs, skyrocketing from 9,052 prisoners in 2005 to 15,464 prisoners just one year later. Georgian human rights NGOs attribute the crisis to the absence of probation or alternative type sentences, and note that pre-trial detention has become a “norm, not an exception.” Full report. 2 July, 2007 South Australia legislation puts victims at center of criminal justice system
New legislation will give victims of crime a bigger role in South Australia. Victims or their families may now make impact statements at sentencing hearings, and may access increased information about offenders, including whether an offender is detained, has escaped, is recaptured, or released. The amendments to the laws also include increased grief compensation and payments for funerals. Full report. 2 July, 2007 Foreign Minister of Turkey criticizes court
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in an interview yesterday that a recent ruling by Turkey’s Constitutional Court would “drag the nation into chaos” and he vowed to reform Turkey’s judicial systems if his party wins parliamentary polls later this month. The court recently ruled that two thirds of deputies must be present in parliament during the first and second rounds of the presidential election, infuriating the government, who says the quorum has not been met in previous presidential elections. The government says the court has made the election of future presidents very difficult, while the court says it intended to encourage parties to compromise over presidential candidates. Full report. 2 July, 2007 Conference on Afghanistan’s justice system opens in Rome
President Hamid Karzai, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema are scheduled to address a two-day conference on Afghanistan’s justice system. Discussions will center on promoting access to justice, prison reform, and legal training. Italy, the conference’s host, has allocated €10 million towards judicial reform in Afghanistan, and plans to spend an additional €13.5 million. Full report. 2 July, 2007 HRW: Senegal failing to act on Habre prosecution
According to a Human Rights Watch statement released on Friday, Senegal has failed to produce a plan for the investigation of Hissene Habre, former dictator of Chad, who is currently residing in Senegal. One year ago, the government had stated that it would initiate prosecutions, though it refused to do so in 2000 and had previously refused to extradite Habre to Belgium. Protesters in Chad have demanded that the Senegalese government make good on its promise. Full report. 1 July, 2007 VP of Afghanistan’s lower house urges gender-sensitive judicial reform
Fawzia Koofi, vice president of Afghanistan’s lower house of parliament, has made an appeal to the international community to prioritize women’s access to justice during Monday’s conference on judicial reform. Koofia emphasized the need for long-term training of judges under Sharia, and a decrease in the numbers of cases concerning women and children that are tried at the local level, often by undertrained officials. Full report. 1 July, 2007 New program to allow citizens to review Kenyan justice system
The ‘Citizen Dialogue Card’ project will be piloted at eleven courts in Kenya. It will enable daily feedback from members of the public who engage the courts on issues of transparency, integrity, and accountability, according to Judges Association Chairperson Rosemelle Mutoka. Full report. 30 June, 2007 Uganda and LRA agree to hybrid legal approach to post-conflict justice
After more than one month of negotiations, the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have agreed to incorporate both the formal legal system and traditional mechanisms like the Acholi mato oput reconciliation process to achieve criminal accountability for atrocities occurring during the country’s civil war. The agreement is generally applauded by human rights groups, though the status of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants remains to be resolved. Full report. 30 June, 2007 Vietnam and Laos to cooperate on justice sector development
The justice ministries of Vietnam and Laos signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday that would enhance cooperation between the two countries on justice sector reform. Full report. 30 June, 2007 Guyana receives US government development grant for justice sector reform
A US$6.7 million grant to Guyana primarily designed to enhance tax administration will also strengthen the country’s judicial oversight committees. Full report. 30 June, 2007 Uganda’s Justice, Law, and Order Sector (JLOS) to earmark half of its funds to case backlog
Government officials at the twelfth joint JLOS review have decided that the JLOS will commit half of its resources to addressing the case backlog that has impeded Ugandans’ timely access to the courts. An additional 30% of JLOS funds will be used for initiatives fostering judicial independence. Full report. 30 June, 2007 Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission low on funds
In a statement to the international community, the chairman of the Liberian TRC expressed that the commission is three months behind on its work due to lack of funds. The commission was established in 2005 to promote peace and reconciliation and foster accountability for human rights crimes committed during the nation’s civil wars between 1979 and 2003. Full report. 29 June, 2007 Pakistan government accepts Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over Chief Justice inquiry
Pakistan’s government has declared that it will accept a Supreme Court investigation of Chief Justice Chaudry on charges of abuse of office. The government had previously pushed for a special judicial panel to hear the case, which is internationally regarded as a crisis in executive-judicial relations. Full report. 29 June, 2007 Property disputes fuel Uzbek-Kyrgyz tensions; Uzbeks allege discrimination
Property rights cases in Kyrgyz courts are becoming flashpoints for conflict between Uzbek and Kyrgyz settlers in South Kyrgyzstan, experts warn. Following several prominent squatting cases, Uzbek communities have alleged that they face discrimination in Kyrgyz courts. Full report. 29 June, 2007 International aid group urges Sudan to rewrite rape law
Refugees International, a U.S. organization, issued a report yesterday accusing government-backed armed groups of systematic sex attacks on women and girls in Sudan’s remote west. The report found that victims of rape not only lack access to justice, but that the government is more likely to take action against those who report rape than those who commit it. Sudan's Foreign Ministry declined comment on the report, while Khartoum has often denied that mass rape occurs in Darfur. Full report. 29 June, 2007 Taiwan’s Justices: “President to determine state secrets”
Thirteen Justices of the Constitutional Court under the Judicial Yuan decided unanimously that it was the president’s right to decide what constituted a state secret. The decision comes after President Chen refused to turn over documents regarding fund misuse, claiming doing so would undermine national security and trial of the case would interfere with his use of presidential powers. Presidential immunity to criminal prosecution shields the president from being investigated, prosecuted or tried on criminal charges as a suspect or defendant. The Justices noted that the president had the privilege to keep secret classified information concerning national security, national defense and diplomatic affairs if he or she determined that disclosure would compromise national security and interests. Full report. 29 June, 2007 Congo court acquits mining executives in war crimes case
Three executives of an Australian mining corporation accused of complicity in war crimes were acquitted yesterday at a military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The three are accused of having provided transportation for government troops who launched a counterattack in the town of Kilwa that resulted in massacres of civilians. Full report. 28 June, 2007 Tanzania Law Reform Commission promotes use of alternative dispute resolution, among other recommendations
The Law Reform Commission yesterday announced that it will share a position paper on the civil justice system with stakeholders that proposes making greater use of alternative dispute resolution in lieu of court cases and making pre-trial settlement a mandatory condition before going to court. The commission will make the report available to the public on September 30, 2007. Full report. 28 June, 2007 Amnesty urges Guinean government to take judicial measures to address police abuse
Calling the security forces “a permanent threat” to the Guinean people. Amnesty International called on the government today to prevent security forces from using violence against unarmed civilians. The organization also called on the government to provide judicial and material reparations to the families of the over 130 persons killed during the protests of January and February of this year. Full report. 28 June, 2007 EC criticizes Bulgaria and Romania on judicial reform
The European Commission (EC) recently informed the Bulgarian and Romanian governments that they have made insufficient progress on judicial reforms integral to their accession treaties. Romania recently established a National Integrity Agency and Bulgaria recently passed a constitutional amendment establishing judicial accountability. However, the prevalence of “contract killings” and judicial corruption led to the EC’s determination that progress has not been satisfactory. Full report. 28 June, 2007 Zimbabwe lawyers boycott courts
Representatives of the Law Society of Zimbabwe held demonstrations and led a nation-wide boycott of court proceedings on Wednesday to protest the state’s violation of their rights. The lawyers have petitioned the Justice Ministry to demand redress for the violent arrests of lawyers, many of whom have been representing political detainees. Full report. 28 June, 2007 Conference on judicial reform in Afghanistan
A two-day conference set for July 2 will focus on creating a common plan for justice assistance to Afghanistan and discuss how to better coordinate efforts between the country’s law enforcement and judicial sectors. President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Ban Ki-Moon and NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer will attend the conference in Rome. Full report. 28 June, 2007 Algeria: EC-supported prison reform project delayed
A joint committee from the European Commission and the Algerian government yesterday discussed delays in implementing the “Justice2” prison reform project. The committee resolved to act on the initiative, which will cost €17 million and comprise legislation, and treatment and rehabilitation of prisoners, in July. Full report. 27 June, 2007 Nepal’s Supreme Court orders Commission of Inquiry into disappearances
The Supreme Court recently ordered a government investigation into over 1000 allegations of enforced disappearances, in what analysts from Human Rights Watch urge will be a “test of the Nepali government’s commitment to establishing accountability and the rule of law.” The Supreme Court also ordered the government to conduct inquiries into alleged police abuse and provide immediate financial assistance to the families of the disappeared. Full report. 27 June, 2007 EC funds to support judicial reform in Yemen
Praising recent diplomatic and democratic reform achievements by the government of Yemen, the European Commission (EC) has earmarked €81 million to support a broad program from 2007-2010 that will include judicial reform. Full report. 27 June, 2007 Rwandan genocide survivors demand access to ICTR archives
IBUKA, Rwanda’s umbrella organization of genocide survivors, is claiming access to the files in order to “strengthen their campaign to reconstruct their history and that of the ‘dead.’” IBUKA claims that the documents would also assist in genocide trials and promote reconciliation. The group has also called the UN to compensate survivors and families of victims. Full report. 27 June, 2007 UNOCI promotes peace initiatives in Ivory Coast schools
The United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire is currently completing a series of public events on “The Rights of Young People in the Peace Process” at local high schools in an effort to promote a culture of non-violence among the nation’s youth. The students also contributed by performing games, sketches, poems and dances on the theme. Full report. 27 June, 2007 UNHCR training for Pakistan police officers to focus on refugee issues
Pakistani police officers in the North West Frontier Province, home to 64 percent of the 2.15 million Afghans living in Pakistan, recently completed a three-day training course on refugee rights sponsored by the UNHCR. The presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan has caused conflict and allegations of police abuse. Full report. 27 June, 2007 Freedom House reports deteriorating justice sectors in Central Asian republics
The US-based, pro-democracy group Freedom House recently reported that Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan have deteriorated in key areas such as justice sector reform, media freedom and corruption. Freedom House annually releases statistics about democracy and the rule of law. Full report. 26 June, 2007 Kenyan NGO highlights widespread capital punishment mistrials
A report entitled “Condemned to Die” by the Oscar Foundation has alleged that approximately 1000 death row convicts have suffered mistrials in a legal system that systematically disadvantages the poor. Furthermore, the report found that 40 per cent of the nation’s murder and violent robbery convictions have suffered mental problems due to the conditions of their detention. Full report. 26 June, 2007 China considering amendent to aid lawyers conduct criminal trials
The National People’s Congress on Sunday began considering a draft amendment that would make it easier for the country’s over 130,000 lawyers to practice. The revision of the Law on Lawyers would facilitate lawyers’ ability to meet with suspects, obtain evidence, and open law firms, among other developments. Full report. 26 June, 2007 Charles Taylor trial faces second round of delays
The war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor has been postponed for a second time to July 3, following Taylor’s refusal to present himself before the court. The Special Court for Sierra Leone, conducting the trial out of The Hague, has ruled that Taylor could not be allowed to represent himself. Full report. 26 June, 2007 Chemical Ali sentenced to death for genocide
On Sunday, Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali," was sentenced to death for ordering the use of poison gas during the genocidal Anfal campaign against Iraqi Kurds. His sentence was automatically sent to appeal and he will be hanged within 30 days of that ruling should the appeal fail. Full report. 25 June, 2007 Claims Commission aids Eritreans in securing reparations for human rights violations
For the past week, the Office of the Legal Advisor has been helping victims of human rights violations by Ethiopia during the 1998 conflict to prepare Claims Forums to be presented to the Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission (EECC). The Commission has determined that Ethiopia bears legal responsibility for injuries to Eritrean civilians and their property. To qualify, claimants must be Eritrean, and have either been expelled from Ethiopia, have owned property in Ethiopia, or have been imprisoned during the war. Full report. 25 June, 2007 Australia to increase financial support for Sierra Leone court
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Greg Hunt recently announced that Australia will provide a further $100,000 to fund the Special Court for Sierra Leone. The court had recently made an appeal for financial assistance in prosecuting those allegedly responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the civil war. Full report. 25 June, 2007 Zimbabwean activists reject government’s offer of human rights panel; urge legal reform
Arguing against superficial reform, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and the National Association of Non Governmental Organizations (NANGO) recently rejected a proposed bill that would establish the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. The groups said such a measure would only be effective if part of a broader pro-democracy constitutional reform project. The groups seek a repeal of such laws as the Public Order and Security Act, which they allege are repressive. Full report. 25 June, 2007 Pacific region faces shortage of lawyers
The head of the Justice Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat Katalaina Sapolu recently called for the recruitment of “indigenous drafters who are more aware of the needs of the people.” Governments in the region say they are having trouble retaining adequately-trained lawyers capable of drafting laws addressing public sector reform, education, and health care. Full report. 25 June, 2007 ICC Prosecutor stresses compatibility of Court and other justice projects
Speaking at a conference in Nuremberg from June 24 to 25, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo traced the legacy of the Nuremberg trials to the current development of the International Criminal Court. Noting that “lasting peace requires justice,” he argued that the Court must work in concert with existing peace and justice mechanisms worldwide. Full report. 24 June, 2007 Zambia releases funds to pay judicial employees, following strike
Following a strike coordinated by the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ), Zambia's government yesterday released 3.8 billion kwacha (US$950,000) towards housing stipends for judiciary workers. The employees are set to return to work on Monday after over a week of the strike, which originated over the employees' complaints that housing stipends had been withheld sporadically since 2003. Full report. 24 June, 2007 Nepal: OHCHR reports weak criminal justice system and law enforcement undermining peace process
A recent report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded that the impartial application of justice and deficiencies in law enforcement create conditions ripe for vigilante justice and human rights abuse. The report was compiled from interviews with representatives of most of Nepal's political factions and human rights organizations. Full report. 24 June, 2007 Commonwealth Youth Programme director calls for juvenile justice reform for Caribbean region
The Commonwealth Youth Program (CYP) Regional Director Henry Charles recently called for a "rights-based" approach to juvenile justice reform in the Caribbean region. Charles highlighted the need to de-stigmatize psychiatric treatment and sensitize the justice system towards the special needs of its youth and mentally ill offenders so as to avoid letting minors languish indefinitely in detention. Full report. 22 June, 2007 Tamil Nadu: Supreme Court judge advocates development of alternative dispute resolution
Supreme Court Judge S.B. Sinha recently called for the development of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a supplement to the existing legal system in the Tamil Nadu province in South-eastern India. At a meeting organized by the Tamil Nadu Mediation and Conciliation Centre and the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, Judge Sinha also commented on training of judicial officers in ADR techniques in Delhi. Full report. 22 June, 2007 Kenya to train prison officers of southern Sudan
Southern Sudan is working to rehabilitate prison systems which were ruined by more than two decades of civil war. The three-year agreement, signed by Kenyan Vice President Moody Awori and Minister for Internal Affairs for southern Sudan, Justice Paul Mayom Akec will also include an exchange of prison personnel. Forty Sudanese officers and liaison officers have already accepted training in Kenya. Full report. 22 June, 2007 Uganda to seek review of LRA indictments
Arguing that the ICC “has to give peace a chance,” Uganda’s internal affairs minister Ruhukana Rugunda said that the government will seek a review of the indictments of Lord’s Resistance Army officials by the ICC. The LRA has advocated the use of traditional justice methods instead of indictment at the international court. Full report. 21 June, 2007 I | |
