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.

Go for it: Assad Supporters ask ICC to Investigate Syria

Few doubt the need for justice in Syria. After a year and a half of unrest, escalating violence, forced displacement and thousands of deaths, the case for a judicial intervention, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) or some other international tribunal, … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Syria | 3 Comments

The US and the ICC: Why a Closer Relationship isn’t Necessarily a Good Thing

Few issues have captured as much attention in the politics of international criminal justice as the relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United States. Indeed, it is ironic that as much, if not more, time has been … Continue reading

Posted in Darfur, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC, Rome Statute ratifications, Uganda, United States | 19 Comments

The Best Evidence Yet that Kony is in Darfur?

As the hunt for Joseph Kony continues, all signs indicate that the notorious leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) won’t be found – at least not where regional East African military forces are currently looking for him. More persuasive evidence … Continue reading

Posted in Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights, Humanitarian Intervention, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), South Sudan, Southern Sudan, Sudan | Tagged | 3 Comments

Prosecuting crimes against cultural property in Northern Mali: Why it Matters

Jelia Sane joins us for this must-read post on the ICC’s investigation of cultural crimes in Mali. Jelia holds an LLM in Public International Law from University College London and has previously interned at the Appeals Chamber of the ICC, … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), International Law, Mali | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Libya vs. The ICC: Stalemate over Saif and Senussi

I recently had the opportunity to write a piece for the great folks at Think Africa Press on the ongoing battle between the ICC and Libya over the custody of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi. It covers much of … Continue reading

Posted in Admissibility, Defense Counsel, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Saif wants to be tried at the ICC – But that’s not all

Late last week, the Office of Public Counsel for the Defence (OPCD), which has been representing Saif al-Islam Gaddafi at the ICC, filed its official response to Libya’s admissibility challenge at the ICC. The impressive report, a whopping 92-pages long, should … Continue reading

Posted in Defense Counsel, Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3) | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Colombia and the International Criminal Court: New Prosecutor, New Standards?

Mariana Rodriguez-Pareja and Salvador Herencia-Carrasco join us again for this guest-post on the ICC and Colombia. Mariana is the Director of the Human Rights Program at Asuntos del Sur. Salvador is an LL.M. University of Ottawa, a human rights lawyer based in … Continue reading

Posted in Colombia, Guest Posts, Justice, Latin America, Sexual Violence | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Impact of the Taylor Trial in Sierra Leone and Liberia

Annie Gell joins us with this guest-post on the impact of the Charles Taylor trial in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Annie is the Leonard H. Sandler fellow in the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch (HRW). Immediately before joining HRW, Annie … Continue reading

Posted in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Special Court for SIerra Leone (SCSL) | Tagged | 3 Comments

Music on Trial: Genocide and Musicians

The following is a unique and fascinating guest-post by Catherine Baker,  a Lecturer in 20th Century History at the University of Hull (from August 2012). Catherine is the author of Sounds of the Borderland: Popular Music, War and Nationalism in Croatia … Continue reading

Posted in Genocide, ICTY, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), International Law, Justice, Kenya | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The ICC in Mali: Just Another ICC Intervention in Africa?

So there you have it: the first investigation opened by Fatou Bensouda, the ICC’s new Chief Prosecutor, will be in Africa. The ICC’s Office of the Prosecution (OTP) accepted a request by Malian government authorities for the Court to intervene … Continue reading

Posted in African Union (AU), Fatou Bensouda, International Criminal Court (ICC), Mali | Tagged | 9 Comments