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.

Transitional Justice and Graffiti in Libya

It may not be as ‘sexy’ as international trials or even truth commissions. It’s not as political or high-stakes either. Memorialization, however, is an essential element of transitional justice. In this context, a fascinating debate is taking place about what … Continue reading

Posted in Libya, Memorialization, Peace Processes, Transitional Justice | 6 Comments

The Crime of Aggression: Why (Not) Care?

As promised, here is my response to last week’s post on the crime of aggression. I had intended to have it ready earlier, but the dramatic events of last week (see here, here and here) have kept me occupied. I … Continue reading

Posted in Crime of Aggression, Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice | 3 Comments

A Done Deal: Bensouda is Next ICC Prosecutor

According to Colum Lynch and a few other observers, Fatou Bensouda will become the next top Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court. Earlier this week, the ICC announced that the four short-listed candidates (Robert Petit of Canada; Andrew Cayley of … Continue reading

Posted in Fatou Bensouda, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Next ICC Prosecutor | 9 Comments

The ICC Nabs its First Head of State: Laurent Gbagbo Heading to The Hague

To all those who have bemoaned the International Criminal Court for its inability to lure heads of state before its judges: you have about a day or so to get it out of your system. If reports are correct, the … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Ivory Coast / Côte d'Ivoire, Ivory Coast and the ICC | 2 Comments

Making War Illegal – The Crime of Aggression and the ICC

Over the next few days, we will be publishing three pieces on the crime of aggression. With the first post, JiC welcomes Teddy Nicholson, an MSc International Relations student at the LSE with an avid interest in the subject. In … Continue reading

Posted in Crime of Aggression, International Criminal Court (ICC), Nuremberg Trials, UN Security Council | 2 Comments

Beyond Criminal Justice: A Truth Commission in Libya

A fascinating debate about where to try the two surviving members of theTripoli Three – Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi – is currently raging (see here, here and here). It’s an important debate, and, as readers will know, I … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3), Traditional Justice Mechanisms, Transitional Justice, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Truth Commission | Leave a comment

The “Crown Jewel” of Justice in Libya: Senussi, not Saif

Since the NATO-backed rebellion in Libya began to sweep away at the four-decade rule of Muammar Gaddafi, the international attention (deficit disorder) paid to Libya has tended to only concentrate on one of the Tripoli Three at a time. For … Continue reading

Posted in Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3), Uncategorized | 1 Comment

ICC Confirms: Trial in Libya by the Court is a Possibility!

So it wasn’t such a crazy idea after all. Tucked away and close to the end of a Reuters article from last night were words that sped up my heart-rate. In the context of the ongoing debate about where to … Continue reading

Posted in ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3), Transitional Justice | 4 Comments

Saif Gaddafi Arrested: What now for Justice in Libya?

Last Friday night, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, dressed in the traditional garbs of the Tuaregs, was detained whilst on the run, likely to neighbouring Niger. With the death of his father, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam had become the most wanted … Continue reading

Posted in Complementarity, Human Rights, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3) | 3 Comments

Who Gets to Serve Justice: Saif Gaddafi and ICC Due Process

Mathias Holvoet, a PhD-Candidate, studying international criminal law, at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), joins us to discuss the possible surrender of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi to the ICC. Specifically, Holvoet covers the issue of due process of the accused … Continue reading

Posted in ICTY, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Libya, Libya and the ICC, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3) | 2 Comments