Author Archives: Mark Kersten

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About Mark Kersten

Mark Kersten is an Assistant Professor in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, and a Senior Consultant at the Wayamo Foundation in Berlin, Germany. Mark is the founder of the blog Justice in Conflict and author of the book, published by Oxford University Press, by the same name. He holds an MSc and PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a BA (Hons) from the University of Guelph. Mark has previously been a Research Associate at the Refugee Law Project in Uganda, and as researcher at Justice Africa and Lawyers for Justice in Libya in London. He has taught courses on genocide studies, the politics of international law, transitional justice, diplomacy, and conflict and peace studies at the London School of Economics, SOAS, and University of Toronto. Mark’s research has appeared in numerous academic fora as well as in media publications such as The Globe and Mail, Al Jazeera, BBC, Foreign Policy, the CBC, Toronto Star, and The Washington Post. He has a passion for gardening, reading, hockey (on ice), date nights, late nights, Lego, and creating time for loved ones.

The Next ICC Prosecutor: Someone who has never wanted the job?

Job Alert! Are you someone who believes, to your core, that all victims and survivors of atrocities – regardless of who they are or where they live – deserve justice and accountability? Do you have experience in prosecuting complex cases … Continue reading

Posted in Assembly of States Parties, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Defending the ICC is about defending Sovereignty

A version of the following article was originally published in the Globe and Mail, and relates to the implications of Canada‘s decision to allow ICC suspect Benjamin Netanyahu to travel through its airspace. However, Canada was not alone. As covered … Continue reading

Posted in Benjamin Netanyahu, Canada, France, Greenland, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, Israel, Italy, Palestine, Palestine and the ICC, State Sovereignty, United Nations, United States | Tagged , | Leave a comment

If the ICC dies, it won’t be Trump that kills it, but the indifference of the Court’s supposed backers

The International Criminal Court is once again under attack from the United States. The reason behind the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the institution is simple: an insistence that they enjoy wholesale impunity. In numerous contexts, including the Caribbean, Venezuela, Palestine, Afghanistan, … Continue reading

Posted in Assembly of States Parties, ICC Sanctions, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, United States | Leave a comment

New Article: Crimes Against Migrants as Crimes Against All of Us: The Relevance of International Criminal Law to Migrant Control

Dear readers, I wanted to share a new academic article that I wrote with you, on a topic I know is close to the hearts and minds of many: the atrocities and human rights violations faced by refugees and migrants … Continue reading

Posted in Academic Articles / Books, Canada, Crimes against humanity, Immigration, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Refugees, United States | Tagged , | Leave a comment

To Sudan, from Kenya: The case for prosecuting RSF atrocities in the courts of a regional neighbour

The following article was written by Mikel Delagrange, Senior International Legal Advisor at the Wayamo Foundation and Mark Kersten, Senior Consultant at the Wayamo Foundation and the founder of Justice in Conflict Experts call it the worst humanitarian crisis currently facing the … Continue reading

Posted in Darfur, Kenya, Sudan, Universal Jurisdiction, Wayamo Foundation, William Ruto | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Obligations, up in the Air? Are ICC member-states obligated to arrest Netanyahu when he enters their airspace?

In late July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the White House with a mission: get America to continue its war against Iran and to support him in his forthcoming election campaign. On his way to Washington, the aircraft … Continue reading

Posted in Benjamin Netanyahu, Canada, France, Greece, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Law, Italy, Mark Carney, State Sovereignty | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Under pressure from Washington, states are withdrawing from the ICC: Time for a Membership Drive?

It has been barely two weeks since U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Washington’s intention to “dismantle” the International Criminal Court “brick by brick”, and now two states have announced their withdrawal from the Court. Both Venezuela and Chad … Continue reading

Posted in Chad, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, International Law, United States, Venezuela | Tagged | 3 Comments

Karim Khan is removed as ICC Prosecutor. What now?

Member-states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have voted to oust chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. The British lawyer has faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct by a member of his staff and was also a lightning rod for criticism from … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, Israel, Karim Khan, Palestine, United States | 4 Comments

The Business of War Crimes: Western states warn companies they can be held accountable for West Bank atrocities

In late May, nine Western leaders issued a statement regarding the situation in the West Bank. It was largely a repeat of past condemnations of settler violence and Israeli moves to displace Palestinians and establish new illegal settlements, including the so-called E1 plan. … Continue reading

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Canada cannot tackle repression in the country by deporting perpetrators back to oppress others: Linking transnational repression in Canada to rights violations and atrocities committed abroad

Dear JiC readers: I had the privilege of testifying this week at the Canadian House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. The topic was Transnational Repression (TNR). In my … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Canadian War Crimes Program, Crimes against humanity, Genocide, Iran, Transnational Repression, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment