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.

You Say Genocide, I Say Genocide: Some Thoughts on the Genocide Debate

In an article on the continued debate about the meaning and use of the term ‘genocide’, The Economist writes: “Prosecutors, judges, historians and politicians have made huge efforts in recent years to describe the boundaries of genocide: when mere mass … Continue reading

Posted in Crimes against humanity, Genocide, Peace Negotiations, Ratko Mladic, Rwanda, Sudan, United States | 8 Comments

The ICC’s Next Top Prosecutor: The Candidates

Last week, we had a fascinating and lively discussion about some of the criteria and political issues regarding the election of the International Criminal Court’s next Prosecutor.  In December, the ICC’s state-members will converge to elect the Court’s second Prosecutor. … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Next ICC Prosecutor, Special Court for SIerra Leone (SCSL) | 9 Comments

The Arab World and the ICC: A New Chapter or Smoke and Mirrors?

To date, the most fascinating, dynamic and at times frustratingly contradictory relationship the ICC has had has been with the African Union (AU) and its member states. Today, however, the relationship which appears set to define the Court’s second decade … Continue reading

Posted in African Union (AU), Arab League, Egypt, Human Rights, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC, Middle East, Qatar, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Uganda, UN Security Council | 1 Comment

Pursuing and Serving Justice Fairly: Is Mladic Fit to Stand Trial?

In a post a few months back, I pondered what a trial of Gaddafi would be like, given his aptitude for emotional and delusional outbursts. It was at that time that legal scholar Dov Jacobs of Spreading the Jam suggested … Continue reading

Posted in Balkans, Genocide, Human Rights, ICTY, Justice, Libya, Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic | 1 Comment

Mladic Reunited with Karadzic: Arrested and Heading to the Hague

Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are united again, just not in the way they had hoped. Today, Mladic, seen by many as the Bosnian Serb architect of death for his role in the Bosnian war, was arrested by Serb authorities. … Continue reading

Posted in Balkans, Genocide, Human Rights, ICTY, Peace Negotiations, Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic | 4 Comments

The ICC’s Next Top Prosecutor

The term of the ICC’s first Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, is slowly, albeit dramatically, drawing to a close. In December 2011 the members of ICC’s Assembly of State Parties will convene to choose the Court’s next Prosecutor. He or she will … Continue reading

Posted in ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Next ICC Prosecutor | 14 Comments

The ICC and the Tripoli Three: Time, It’s on our Side

As other actors involved in the Libyan conflict have appeared to dither and issue mixed messages, the ICC’s Prosecutor has been remarkably decisive and concrete with his work. Within three months of having had the situation in Libya referred to … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty, Darfur, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, Sudan, Truth Commission, Uganda | 5 Comments

A Few Things Worth a Watch and a Read: Terrorism and IL, bin Laden’s Death and Justice(s)

While JiC is almost only used as place for commentary rather than synopses or snap-shots of others views, I figured I would grant some respite to those tired of hearing what I think and highlighting three particularly interesting pieces. First, … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Human Rights, Justice, Middle East, Osama bin Laden, Osama bin Laden and international law, Pakistan, Terrorism | 2 Comments

Gaddafi Regime Decries Uneven Justice – And They’re Right

It appears that Gaddafi, his regime and the human rights community are on the same page about at least one thing: Libya should not be the only state investigated for committing crimes against its own people. In reaction to yesterday’s … Continue reading

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Middle East, Syria, UN Security Council | 2 Comments

ICC to Seek Arrest Warrant for Gaddafi Today: Some Thoughts on What it Means (Updated)

It looks like the remarkably speedy investigation of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) will produce its first request for arrest warrants for Libyan officials tomorrow. The Prosecutor of the ICC will be holding a press conference tomorrow, May … Continue reading

Posted in Article 16, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC, NATO, Peace Negotiations, Sudan, The Tripoli Three (Tripoli3) | 12 Comments