Category Archives: Human Rights

The US and the ICC: Towards A Closer Relationship?

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Mark Kersten

A number of recent events and statements have brought the relationship between the United States and the ICC back into focus. Most notably, the US was amongst the permanent members of the UN Security Council which agreed to refer Libya … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Sudan, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, UN Security Council, United States | 57 Comments

The ICC and R2P – Bridging the Gap

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Mark Kersten

Update: I have written an article on this subject which can be downloaded here. See here for an abstract. Comments and feedback are very much welcome! **************************************** I have wondered for some time now about the relationship between the ICC … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Liberal Peace, Libya, Responsibiltiy to Protect (R2P) | 5 Comments

Will Kenya’s Most Wanted Walk the Walk or just Talk the Talk?

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Mark Kersten

On the same day that the ICC summoned six senior Kenyan officials to appear before the Court to face charges linked to post-election violence in 2007/2008, Kenya officially asked the UN Security Council to suspend the ICC investigation under Article … Continue reading →

Posted in Article 16, Elections, Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Kenya, UN Security Council | 2 Comments

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

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Mark Kersten

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?

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Mark Kersten

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

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Mark Kersten

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

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

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Mark Kersten

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

Sudanese President Charged with Genocide: Some Initial Thoughts on Why it Matters

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Mark Kersten

The decision by the ICC to add genocide to the charges facing Sudanese President al-Bashir is surely to be a politically controversial. Below are some initial thoughts on why the charges of genocide, acts committed with intent to destroy, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Darfur, Genocide, Human Rights, International Criminal Court (ICC), Peace Negotiations, Sudan | Leave a comment