The KGF is pleased to invite you to a “Discussion About Allegations of Crimes Against Humanity & War Crimes in Mexico” tomorrow in The Hague, at 12:30.
Please see below for details about the discussion and its location.
Date: 20 September 2019
Time: 12:30
Location: Bezuidenhoutseweg 99A, 2594AC, The Hague, The Netherlands
"In December 2006, the former Mexican President declared a ‘war on drugs’, and launched a policy which intended to increase security of the State and its population. Yet, in reality, it has led to an escalation of violence and human rights abuses. With evidence emerging that the violations have become widespread and systematic, civil society has turned to the International Criminal Court (‘ICC’) on the understanding that Mexico may be experiencing crimes that fall within the Court’s jurisdiction.
On at least five occasions, different actors have submitted information to the Office of the Prosecutor (‘OTP’) of the ICC alleging the commission of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Mexico. The information submitted to the ICC Prosecutor demonstrates that high-ranking officers, both civilian and military, were aware of the crimes that were being carried out and did not do anything to prevent them or bring those responsible to justice.
All this evidence should enable the ICC Prosecutor to announce the opening of a preliminary examination into the situation in Mexico, to assess the seriousness of the allegations. This would serve the broader interests of positive complementarity, namely encouraging States to meet their primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by high-level officials on their territory.
The main objective of this meeting is to discuss the alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes being committed in Mexico, and disseminate the information of the communications submitted to the ICC, among the delegations and NGOs present in The Hague.
Hope you can join us!"
Last Friday, our KGF and IHL Clinic Director, Dr. Robert Heinsch, was taking part in a panel discussion on “Promoting norms through innovative teaching” at the ICRC’s Advanced International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Seminar hosted at the Geneva Academy. Dr. Heinsch gave a presentation concerning “A universal teaching trend? Setting up and running an IHL clinic: opportunities, obstacles and solutions”. He shared his experiences at the Leiden and Bochum IHL Clinic, and discussed how to create and run an IHL Clinic; how the IHL Clinics allow interested law students to conduct practical work for cooperating partners; as well as the benefits of an IHL clinic for students, lecturers, and universities.
If you are interested in learning more about IHL or how to establish an IHL Clinic at your university, follow our page and check out our website!
Website: www.kalshovengieskesforum.com
"Fighting double standards before the ICC: Torture by UK forces in Iraq"
This event will be hosted by ECCHR - European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights at The Hague Humanity Hub on 1 October 2019!
Don't miss the discussion of this highly interesting and relevant topic, with an impressive line-up of speakers!
You can register for the event here: https://www.ecchr.eu/en/event/fighting-double-standards-before-the-icc-torture-by-uk-forces-in-iraq/
Curious what we've been up to, and about future opportunities with the KGF?
Check out our latest newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/96e95797c3c9/kgf-newsletter-september-2019
You can subscribe for upcoming newsletters on our website!
We are happy to announce that the KGF is hiring a Research and Teaching Associate for our ongoing project on Digitally Derived Evidence. For more information, see our vacancies page: http://kalshovengieskesforum.com/vacancies/
In the latest AJIL Unbound symposium, Dr. Emma Irving (Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum on International Humanitarian Law, Leiden Law School) "explores whether social media companies are legally obliged to suppress hate speech and incitement posted on their platforms under international, regional, or domestic laws."
In order to find out which gaps in legal obligations can be identified, and which opportunities presented by self-regulation carried out in a human rights framework can be considered, read the publication here!
Suppressing Atrocity Speech on Social Media | AJIL Unbound | Cambridge Core
Suppressing Atrocity Speech on Social Media - Volume 113 - Emma Irving
REMINDER: Please note that the deadline for our new Guest Researcher position(s) is this coming Thursday, 15 August 2019! More details you find in the link below...
Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum on International Humanitarian Law
We are looking for a 1 (or 2) new guest researchers as of 1 September 2019. You find the exact details of the position(s) on our website...
New information on Libya now available on the RULAC online portal of the Geneva Academy...
Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
The page on the non-international #armedconflicts (NIACs) in #Libya on our #RULAC online portal has been updated and now includes new parties to these #NIACs, including:
- New #armedgroups such as The Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC) and Derna Protection Force (DPF)
- New foreign powers including #Turkey, #France and the #UnitedArabEmirates
http://www.rulac.org/browse/conflicts/non-international-armed-conflicts-in-libya#collapse1accord
A terrible development...
American Bar Association International Criminal Court Project
A new UNSG Report on #ChildrenandArmedConflict found a "record high number of casualties as a result of killing and maiming" of children [since monitoring began in 2005] and an "increase in the number of violations attributed to int'l forces" in 2018.
Several conflicts examined in the report involve situations either under preliminary examination or investigation at the #ICC.
http://bit.ly/2yEjMZw
A very special vacancy announcement...
President of the Assembly of States Parties welcomes the publication of the vacancy announcement for the position of Prosecutor of the ICC
The term of the current Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will expire on 15 June 2021. The Assembly of States Parties, acting pursuant to its mandate under article 112 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (the Rome Statute), has initiated the process for the selection...