Author Archives: Mark Kersten

Unknown's avatar

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.

How Many More Crimes Can Putin Commit Before the World Calls Him A War Criminal?

On February 24, during a United Nations Security Council meeting, Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN was informed that Russia’s invasion of his country had begun. Moments later, Kyslytsya turned to his Russian counterpart Vassily Nebenzia and told him: … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Russia, Ukraine, War crimes | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Justification of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine under International Law

To help any and all interested observers, media, and curious diplomats, we have provided an authoritative analysis into the question: what is the justification of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine under international law? The answer, in 20+ languages: None. Жодного. никакое. … Continue reading

Posted in Donetsk, Lugansk, Ukraine | Leave a comment

Calling COVID-19 vaccine mandates a ‘crime against humanity’ isn’t just wrong, it’s dangerous

Among the many claims made by demonstrators converging on Ottawa for the “Freedom Convoy” is that the Canadian government’s vaccine mandate constitutes a “crime against humanity”. For over a decade, I have studied mass atrocities and worked with people in … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Crimes against humanity, Indigenous Peoples | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The Real Victims of Australia’s Migration Policies aren’t Tennis Stars, They’re Refugees

The furor over whether or not Novak Djokovic will or will not be allowed to compete in the Australian Open has pitted the Serbian tennis star and vaccine skeptic against the government of Australia. But Djokovic is no victim and the government … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Human Rights, Immigration, International Criminal Court (ICC), Nauru, Refugees | 1 Comment

Enough is Enough: The ICC Should Announce an Investigation into Migrant Abuses

The scenes are all too familiar: migrants desperately clinging onto dilapidated dinghies as towering naval ships armed with heavy-duty guns encircle them. Some migrants make it to Europe. Many perish. Thousands are sent back each year to Libya. Back on … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A Sea Change or Business as Usual? The Review of the International Criminal Court Continues

Gabriele Chlevickaite joins JiC for this blog post on the status of the review and reform of the International Criminal Court. Gabriele worked in the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC in 2014-2017, and Independent Expert Review in 2020. … Continue reading

Posted in ICC President, ICC Prosecutor, ICC Registry, International Criminal Court (ICC) | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Sudan Coup Puts Justice for Atrocities in a Lurch

Following the military coup last week, the future of Sudan has been thrown once again into uncertainty. Despite reports of live rounds being shot into open crowds, Sudanese demonstrators have given what Rebecca Hamilton has called a “masterclass in nonviolent resistance”. As … Continue reading

Posted in ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, Omar al-Bashir, Sudan | 1 Comment

A case for prosecuting Omar Bashir in Sudan: Low hanging fruit for the International Criminal Court

James Nyawo joins JiC for this post on where former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir should be tried. James is currently a Visiting Researcher with Global Sites of International Criminal Justice (JustSites) at Copenhagen University. He is a lecturer at Kenyatta … Continue reading

Posted in Complementarity, Darfur, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, Sudan | Tagged | 2 Comments

International Justice Day 2021: To Stop Mass Atrocities, Address How They’re Funded

The following article was written to mark International Justice Day (17 July 2021) and is based on ongoing research I am conducting into the linkages between mass atrocities and transnational organized crime (see here for some preliminary insights). A version … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, ISIS, Islamic State, Kosovo, Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Kosovo Specialist Chambers, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), northern Uganda, Sierra Leone, Transnational Organized Crime | 4 Comments

Justice for Indigenous Peoples in Canada: All Options on the Table, including Universal Jurisdiction

Melissa McKay joins JiC for this guest post on responses to the Residential School atrocities committed in Canada. Melissa is an international criminal lawyer, with experience at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Guest Posts, Indigenous Peoples, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, Universal Jurisdiction | Tagged | 2 Comments