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.

Headed to The Hague: Bemba Defence Counsel, Political Allies Arrested

Few issues have stirred as much controversy at the International Criminal Court (ICC) than the use and misuse of evidence and the treatment and mistreatment of witnesses. The trial of Thomas Lubanga was almost thrown out twice because the prosecution … Continue reading

Posted in Central African Republic (CAR), Defense Counsel, Democratic Republic of Congo, ICC Prosecutor, Jean-Pierre Bemba, Witnesses | 15 Comments

Victim Participation at the ICC – What’s the Deal?

Today, at the Assembly of States Parties conference in The Hague, the issue of victim’s participation will take centre stage. We’re thus thrilled to have regular JiC contributor Chris Tenove join JiC today to share his remarkable research and analysis … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Between Skepticism and Reality: LRA Leader Joseph Kony in “Surrender Talks”

Numerous reports are suggesting that the notorious leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Joseph Kony is currently in “surrender talks” with the government of the Central African Republic. According to African Union’s special envoy on the LRA Francisco Madeira, Kony … Continue reading

Posted in Central African Republic (CAR), International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Uganda | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Kenya and the ICC: Coming to a Head?

Starting this week, member-states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will gather in The Hague for the ICC’s yearly Assembly of States Parties (ASP) conference. This meeting of member-states is shaping up to be one of the most contentious – … Continue reading

Posted in African Union (AU), Article 16, Assembly of States Parties, Kenya, Kenya and the ICC, UN Security Council | 7 Comments

International Justice and the Prevention of Mass Atrocities: Paper Series

The debate over the relationship between peace and justice isn’t going to go away any time soon. Yet, despite all of the attention the ‘peace versus justice’ debate has received over the years, scholarship on the subject still suffers from … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Conferences, Conflict Resolution, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel, Justice, Liberia, Palestine, Palestine and the ICC, Serbia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen | Tagged | Leave a comment

Kenyatta’s Next Move: What Kenya Wants from the ICC

Kenya’s dreams of getting the UN Security Council to defer the cases against President Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice President William Ruto have collapsed, at least for the time being. Key members of the Security Council aren’t willing to go for … Continue reading

Posted in Deferral, International Criminal Court (ICC), Kenya, Kenya and the ICC | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Searching in Vain: Perfect Justice in Syria

A hot topic for many of the best and brightest in the field of international criminal justice is the ongoing conflict in Syria. Is it possible for justice to be delivered for the commission of atrocities – on both sides … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Syria, UN Security Council | 5 Comments

From Justice Delayed to Justice Denied: Katyń in Strasbourg

In April 1940, the Soviet secret police initiated a secret massacre of some 20,000 Polish officials and officers. The struggle to establish the truth of what happened in the Katyń forests came to dominate much of contemporary Polish political life … Continue reading

Posted in Historical Justice, Justice, Poland | Tagged | 1 Comment

Orbiting in Space – Suspended Justice in Sierra Leone

Laura Martin joins JiC for this timely and critical examination of the over-relieance of legal, retributive modes of justice in Sierra Leone. Laura is a currently Ph.D candidate in the Centre for African Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Her … Continue reading

Posted in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Special Court for SIerra Leone (SCSL), Transitional Justice | 6 Comments

Putting the ICC’s Kenya Cases on Ice

Kenya wants the United Nations Security Council to halt the trials of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. With the African Union at its side, Kenya has asked the Security Council to temporarily defer ICC prosecutions through the … Continue reading

Posted in Article 16, International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Justice, Kenya, Kenya and the ICC, UN Security Council | Tagged , | 12 Comments