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.

Separating Fact from Fiction: Melinda Taylor and the ICC Staff’s Detention in Libya

In times of crisis or scandal, misunderstandings are an unfortunate but inevitable consequence of not having sufficient information and only getting it in fits and spurts from political actors with competing interests. The continuing controversy surrounding the detention of ICC … Continue reading

Posted in Defense Counsel, Libya, Libya and the ICC | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Updates on Melinda Taylor, Helene Assaf and ICC Staff Detained in Libya

Dear readers, I have decided to create a post dedicated to updates on the ICC staff detained in Libya. Unfortunately, the media is likely to tire of this story quickly and I figured JiC could contribute to creating a space … Continue reading

Posted in Defense Counsel, International Criminal Court (ICC), Lebanon, Libya, Libya and the ICC, Russia, Spain | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

Did the ICC just issue an Apology to Libya?

Readers of JiC are likely already aware of the ongoing saga facing the ICC’s staff members in Libya. The ICC has just issued a press release regarding the situation facing Melinda Taylor, Helene Assaf, Alexander Khodakov, and Esteban Losilla, employees of the Court who were detained in … Continue reading

Posted in Defense Counsel, Libya, Libya and the ICC | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Libya Explains Detention of ICC Staff to the UN Security Council

I have just received a copy of a letter, dated June 19 2012, and sent from Libya’s Ambassador and Permanent representative to the United Nations. For the time being, I will withhold any elaborate commentary on the letter but, in … Continue reading

Posted in Libya, Libya and the ICC, UN Security Council | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A Touching Moment with Aung San Suu Kyi

I had the once in a lifetime opportunity today to see Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese democracy and human rights champion. Suu Kyi participated in a roundtable on the rule of law at the LSE and was her typical, passionate … Continue reading

Posted in Burma/Myanmar, Film, Human Rights, Justice | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Few Thoughts on ‘Nuremberg: Its Lessons for Today’

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to see a screening of the Schulberg/Waletzky restoration of the film, Nuremberg – Its Lessons for Today. The film provides a fascinating insight into the infamous International Military Tribunal, which was held from … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Holocaust, Nuremberg, Nuremberg Trials | Leave a comment

Changing of the Guard: Bensouda In, Ocampo Out

Fatou Bensouda has officially replaced Luis Moreno-Ocampo (who is off to FIFA!) as the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. With dozens of writers and observers scrambling to publish their thoughts on what Bensouda’s tenure will and should focus … Continue reading

Posted in African Union (AU), Fatou Bensouda, Human Rights, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC) | 1 Comment

ICC Staff Locked up in Libya: An Unfolding Debacle

It isn’t getting any better for anyone involved. Many will already be aware of the arrest of four ICC staff by a militia in Zintan, Libya, on allegations of spying. The controversy it spawned revolves around Melinda Taylor, an Australian … Continue reading

Posted in Defense Counsel, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

The End of Amnesty: Whither “Peace Versus Justice” in Northern Uganda?

I couldn’t resist contributing to the discussion that Mark Schenkel has begun with his fantastic post on the expiration of northern Uganda’s Amnesty Act. Readers shouldn’t let the fact that the story hasn’t been widely covered fool them into believing … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty, Peace Processes, Transitional Justice, Uganda | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Path Towards Prosecution: An End to Amnesty in Northern Uganda

Mark Schenkel joins us for this insightful and thought-provoking guest-post on the expiry of Uganda’s Amnesty Act and its implications for transitional justice in northern Uganda. Mark is a Dutch journalist based in Kampala, Uganda. He covers developments in East … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty, Kwoyelo Trial, Transitional Justice, Uganda | Tagged , | 3 Comments