newsletter No Peace Without Justice, IX-2013

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September 2013
Editor-in-Chief: Nicola Giovannini
Managing Editor: Alessandro Manno

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 Highlights




UNGA 68th session: NPWJ welcomes Ministerial Working Meeting to foster implementation of FGM worldwide ban
 


On 27 September 2013, in the framework of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York, a Ministerial Working Meeting will be convened to discuss measures aimed at fostering the implementation of the resolution calling for a worldwide ban on female genital mutilation (A/RES/67/146), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 2012.

The meeting, entitled “Making UNGA Resolution 67/146 to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilations a Reality for Millions of Girls and Women”, is organised by the Permanent Missions of Burkina Faso and Italy to the United Nations, in partnership with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, UNICEF and UNFPA. No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) is among the keynote speakers, who will include also other key-players in the process that led to the adoption of the Resolution: Ms. Chantal Compaoré, First Lady of Burkina Faso; Ms. Emma Bonino, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and founder of NPWJ; Ms. Mariam Lamizana, President of the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children. 

This meeting, involving high-level representatives from governments, U.N. Agencies and civil society, provides an important opportunity to strategise and further recommit ourselves to ensure that Resolution 67/146 realises its full potential as a concrete tool to ban female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide.  As explicitly called for by the Resolution, the international community as well as individual states should take effective action to address and prevent this human rights violation through “all necessary measures, including enacting and enforcing legislation to prohibit FGM and to protect women and girls from this form of violence, and to end impunity”.
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Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor appeals judgment is an historic step in the fight against impunity
 


Today, in The Hague (Netherlands), the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) handed down its decision in the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, upholding the judgment and sentence delivered by the Trial Chamber of the SCSL last year. On 26 April 2012, Charles Taylor was found guilty of having planned, aided and abetted war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international law for his role in supporting Sierra Leonean rebel groups during the armed conflict. On 30 May 2013, the judges handed down a sentence of 50 years in prison against him.
 
No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) applaud the final judgement in the trial of Charles Taylor, which sends a deterrent and unequivocal message to leaders considering committing serious crimes in violation of international law: nobody is above the law and even those at the highest level will be held to account for their actions.
Today’s decision, that we have all been waiting for since its indictment in 2003, marks an historic step in Sierra Leone’s long road towards achieving accountability for the horrors of the armed conflict as well as, crucially, providing justice and redress to the victims and populations affected by it. It also signals a major achievement for international criminal justice world-wide, being Charles Taylor the first former head of State whose case has been heard through to the appeals stage by an international tribunal since the Second World War and the Nuremburg trials.
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Bahrain: NPWJ and the NRPTT condemns arrest of prominent opposition leader Khalil Al Marzooq and calls for his immediate release
 


NPWJ and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) firmly condemn the arrest and detention of Bahraini political leader Khalil Almarzooqand call upon the Bahraini authorities to ensure his prompt and unconditional release.

The detention of a leading figure of the main opposition party, who has consistently condemned all forms of violence, is clearly an escalation in the repressive and retaliatory practices carried out by the Bahraini authorities against those who are engaged in political action to advocate peacefully for democratic reforms.  These latest actions blatantly demonstrate a lack of credibility in terms of their commitment to the ongoing National Consensus Dialogue, in which Al Wefaq is engaged as part of the political opposition in the country. We sincerely hope these actions are a mistake, since they otherwise further hamper the possibility of any meaningful change for the country’s political future, in both the short- and long-term.
NPWJ and the NRPTT stand in solidarity with Khalil Al Marzooq, who has dedicated his life to the promotion of democratic values, to nonviolence and to the respect of human rights in his country.  Bahrain must release Mr Al Marzooq and all other political prisoners whose only “crime” has been to speak out in favour of reform, in favour of human rights and in favour of bringing meaningful democracy to Bahrain.
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Khalil Al Marzooq, Political Assistant to Al Wefaq’s Secretary-General and former member of the Bahraini Council of Representatives, was arrested on 17 September 2013 arrested on the basis of politically motivated charges of incitement to violence and terrorism. Despite a number of threats, he is the first leading figure from Al Wefaq to be arrested since the emergency law crackdown of March 2011.




 NPWJ events



Tunisia: the Transitional Justice Academy enhances civil society capacity on documenting human rights violations and crimes
 


On 20-23 September 2013, Al-Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center (KADEM) and No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) convened in Hammamet a specialised training course of civil society on documentation of human rights violations and crimes under international law. The three-day activity, which was held within the framework of the Transitional Justice Academy, brought together 20 people who already have experience in transitional justice and documenting human rights violations. The group included judges, legal professionals, representatives of civil society and victims organisations.
 
Accountability mechanism face a number of challenges in Tunisia with respect to holding perpetrators accountable, including for the difficulty of providing reliable evidence. By boosting the capacity of civil society actors to undertake investigations and documentation of human rights violations, the program will allow them to contribute to the work of State institutions. The training course was specifically dedicated to strengthen the capacity of participants to investigate and bring credible information to accountability processes and bodies, including the Commission on Truth and Dignity which is foreseen in the Draft Transitional Justice Legislation.
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Libya: NPWJ supports Transitional Justice Outreach Initiative in Sebha
 


In the framework of its project aimed at promoting accountability, rule of law and transitional justice in Libya, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) supported and contributed to a Transitional Justice Outreach Initiative in Sebha, the administrative capital of the southern Fezzan region situated approximately 700 km from Tripoli, organised by the local civil society organisation Ahrar Libya Organisation.
 
Under this initiative, two workshops on Transitional Justice were held in Sebha on 5 and 7 September 2013, with more than 80 participants including local and international experts, representatives from local civil society organisations, representatives of the Sebha Local Council, military officers, community leaders, members of the local press as well as members of the local business community.
The aim of the workshops was to raise awareness about accountability and transitional justice across different sections of society in Sebha and the surrounding area, focusing on topics related to ending impunity, responsiveness to victims’ needs and civil society key role in the light of the specific challenges encountered within the Libyan context. Participants agreed on a list of practical recommendations designed to strengthen transitional justice mechanisms in the south of Libya.
Read more
  1. Visit the special page on NPWJ Transitional Justice Program in Libya



 NPWJ on Radio Radicale




Have Breakfast with No Peace Without Justice
 

 


No Peace Without Justice and Radio Radicale, the foremost Italian nationwide all-news radio, have an ongoing partnership to provide news and information on our activities to a broad Italian audience. This partnership features an in-depth weekly program on NPWJ’s current campaigns and activities. The program is broadcast in Italian every Friday morning immediately before the main news summary.

The latest episodes have focused on issues related to International Criminal Justice and MENA Democracy. Kenya's proposal to withdrawal from ICC has been analysed by Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, NPWJ Secretary General, and Greta Barbone, Coordinator of the Transitional Justice Project in Tunisia. On the occasion of Charles Taylor appeals judgment in The Hague, Niccolò Figà-Talamanca has commented the a sentence of 50 years in prison against the former Liberian President and also stressed the importance of such a trial with respect to the future challenges of the international criminal justice. Other topics included NPWJ activities in Lybia with Stefano Moschini, Libya Project Coordinator, and the appointment of Aminata Touré as new Prime Minister of Senegal.

Listen to the episodes




 NPWJ press releases







Informal Ministerial Network for the ICC: NPWJ praises commitment to enhance impact of the Court through robust and early outreach strategy
Brussels – Rome – New York, 27 September 2013

UNGA 68th session: NPWJ welcomes Ministerial Working Meeting to foster implementation of FGM worldwide ban
New York, 27 September 2013

Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor appeals judgment is an historic step in the fight against impunity and signals imminent successful completion of SCSL mandate
Brussels-The Hague, 26 September 2013

Cambodia: Marco Pannella at the UN in Geneva with the democratic opposition to denounce human rights violations and the recent electoral process
Geneva, 24 September 2013

Tunisia: the Transitional Justice Academy enhances civil society capacity on documenting human rights violations and crimes
Tunis, 23 September 2013

UPR/Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: NPWJ calls for removal of death penalty and strict application of due process guarantees.
Brussels-Rome, 19 September 2013

Bahrain: NPWJ and the NRPTT condemns arrest of prominent opposition leader Khalil Al Marzooq and calls for his immediate release
Brussels – Rome - New York, 17 September 2013

Kenya: ICC trial is a landmark step to end impunity for politically-motivated mass crimes
Brussels-Rome-New York, 11 September 2013

Libya: NPWJ supports Transitional Justice Outreach Initiative in Sebha
Sebha, Libya, 9 September 2013

Interview with Niccolo' Figa-Talamanca on international criminal justice, Syria and Kenya
Radio Radicale, 6 September 2013

Kenya: withdrawal from the ICC is a shameful embrace of impunity
Brussels-Rome-New York, 5 September 2013

NPWJ and the NRPTT welcome nomination of Aminata Touré as Prime Minister of Senegal
Brussels-Rome-New York, 3 September 2013




 NPWJ in the news




The Hague: Charles Taylor Loses Appeal
Patriotic Vanguard (Sierra leone), 27 September 2013

UN, ITALIAN FM SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CHILD BRIDES
AnsaMed, 27 September 2013

Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor appeals judgment is an historic step in the fight against impunity and signals imminent successful completion of SCSL mandate
Sierra Express Media, 26 September 2013

Onu: Bonino, ancora in troppi Paesi piaga spose bambine
ANSAmed, 26 September 2013

AU to debate ICC as Kenyatta/Ruto trial continues
By Laura Angela Bagnetto, RFI-English, 21 September 2013

Southern towns could set transitional justice example
Libya Herald, Tripoli, 19 September 2013

Le Kenya se fait le porte-parole des Etats africains opposés à la CPI
Par Stéphanie Maupas (La Haye, correspondance), LE MONDE, 6 September 2013

Kenya: withdrawal from the ICC is a shameful embrace of impunity
African Herald Express, 5 September 2013




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