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.

Would Gaddafi Accept a Deferral-for-Peace Deal?

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned that it is generally assumed that perpetrators of human rights violations would accept a deferral-for-peace deal. It isn’t obvious that they necessarily would. The scenario in which Article 16, which allows the UN Security Council … Continue reading

Posted in Article 16, Libya, UN Security Council | Leave a comment

Could Justice be Deferred for Peace in Libya?

A lot has been said about the UN Security Council’s referral of the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The referral has sparked a fascinating debate on a multitude of legal and political issues. With regards to … Continue reading

Posted in Article 16, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Middle East, Sudan, UN Security Council | 5 Comments

ICC Opens Investigation into Libya – Political Implications and Promise

No surprise here. The ICC has officially opened an investigation into the situation in Libya just days after the UN Security Council unanimously referred Libya to the Court. The Prosecutor will investigate potential crimes against humanity committed by Muammar Gaddafi, … Continue reading

Posted in African Union (AU), International Criminal Court (ICC), Kosovo, Libya, Middle East, Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic | Leave a comment

Lost in the shuffle – Argentina Puts Dirty War Leaders on Trial

Argentina has long been at the vanguard of human rights and international criminal justice. In line with their commitment to accountability, this past week Argentina began a trial against former Argentine dictators Jorge Videla and Reynaldo Bignone and six others … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty, Argentina, Enforced Disappearance, Human Rights, Iraq, South America, Truth Commission | 1 Comment

China, the ICC and Libya: A New Level of Hypocrisy?

Perhaps the most surprising element of UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), which referred the situation in Libya to the ICC, was that it was supported unanimously. There is chatter on the blogosphere wondering where the African Union, which in … Continue reading

Posted in China, Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Sudan, UN Security Council | 1 Comment

Picture This: The ICC Trial of a “Delusional” Gaddafi

Today we get the news that an American diplomat has called Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi “delusional”. That makes enough sense. Gaddafi has denied that virtually anything bad is in Libya, playing a game of “if I can’t see it, it … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Humour, ICTY, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, UN Security Council | 4 Comments

Did the UN Security Council Just Outsource Peace in Libya to the ICC?

Is it possible that the UN Security Council referral of the situation in Libya to ICC was an act of outsourcing responsibility for peace? In the peace-justice debate, some critics of the ICC go so far as to argue that … Continue reading

Posted in Balkans, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Sudan, UN Security Council | 5 Comments

Libya Referred to the ICC – Initial Thoughts

The situation in Libya has been referred to the ICC by the UN Security Council. Much talk was made of international justice in Arab states in recent weeks. No doubt many are celebrating the impressive commitment the UN Security Council … Continue reading

Posted in Article 16, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, Sudan, UN Security Council, United States | 14 Comments

Sri Lanka and the Best Transitional Justice Joke Ever?

The final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war were particularly brutal. It has been repeatedly alleged that both the Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) committed war crimes. The International Crisis Group (ICG) … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, Humour, Sri Lanka, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions | 5 Comments

Biting the Hand that Feeds it: Transitional Justice as a Human Right?

There is a lot of confusion around what exactly a human right is, how we, as human beings, have them, where we have them from, and who is obligated to uphold them. Recent years have seen a burgeoning literature and … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Liberal Peace, Transitional Justice | Leave a comment