Category Archives: Syria

Whose R2P Is It? The Responsibility to Protect Post-Syria

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Mark Kersten

If you haven’t already, do take the time to check out the fantastic symposium on intervention in Syria over at Opinio Juris. You’ll find a host of provocative and timely posts on the subject, including great pieces by Stephanie Carvin, Jennifer … Continue reading →

Posted in Responsibiltiy to Protect (R2P), Syria | 4 Comments

To Intervene or not to Intervene – R2P and the Murky Legal Options in Syria

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Mark Kersten

James P. Rudolph joins JiC for this guest-post on R2P and the legal options for intervening in Syria. James is an attorney in Washington, D.C. and California where his work focuses on international law. He has previously written on R2P in … Continue reading →

Posted in International Law, Responsibiltiy to Protect (R2P), Syria, UN Security Council, United Nations, United States | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Syria: War is Looming, but is Justice Possible?

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Mark Kersten

Dear readers, I wanted to share an op-ed I penned for the Globe and Mail on Syria and international criminal justice. It’s no secret that, over the past few days, the UK, France and the US have begun beating the drums … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Syria | Tagged | 4 Comments

Why Syria Still Won’t be Referred to the ICC

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Mark Kersten

Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad probably used chemical weapons in an attack on the outskirts of Damascus. The United Nations responded that it will probably investigate what happened. Still, the International Criminal Court (ICC) probably won’t be investigating … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Russia, Syria, UN Security Council, United Nations | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The ICC and Regime Change: Some Thoughts but Mostly Questions

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Mark Kersten

Few issues in international criminal justice are as contentious as the relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and regime change. After all, it goes right to the heart of the tensions between humanitarianism and the messy realities of conflict … Continue reading →

Posted in Conflict Resolution, Darfur, Humanitarian Intervention, International Criminal Court (ICC), Libya, Libya and the ICC, Syria | 8 Comments

If the ICC Intervenes in Syria, Where Will Assad Go?

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Mark Kersten

If the International Criminal Court (ICC) ever opens an investigation into Syria, it will almost assuredly become an irresistible trope to claim that the Court’s involvement caused President Bashar al-Assad to “dig his heals in” and “fight to the death”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Exile, International Criminal Court (ICC), Syria | Tagged | 1 Comment

Distinctly Arab? Questions about Transitional Justice and the Arab Spring (Part II)

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Mark Kersten

This is the second of a two-part post on transitional justice and the Arab Spring, by Kirsten Fisher. In her first post, Kirsten placed the Arab Spring and transitional justice in a historical context and posed critical questions regarding how … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring, Egypt, Guest Posts, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Libya, Libya and the ICC, Middle East, Syria, Transitional Justice, Truth Commission, Tunisia | 2 Comments

Go for it: Assad Supporters ask ICC to Investigate Syria

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Mark Kersten

Few doubt the need for justice in Syria. After a year and a half of unrest, escalating violence, forced displacement and thousands of deaths, the case for a judicial intervention, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) or some other international tribunal, … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Syria | 3 Comments

Justice through Graffiti and Cartoons in Syria

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Mark Kersten

A fascinating and common trend amongst ‘Arab Spring’ states has been the use of imagery, particularly graffiti and cartoons, to denigrate bloodthirsty leaders, to express exasperation with repressive regimes, and to evoke hope for a different and altogether more peaceful … Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Advocacy, Justice, Syria | Tagged | Leave a comment

The ICC in Syria: A Ticking-Time Security Council Referral?

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Mark Kersten

Like so many others, I find myself in the morally and politically ambiguous position of having no clue what the international community should do to stop the ongoing violence in Syria, recently described as descending into “a sectarian wasteland”. The … Continue reading →

Posted in International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice, Syria, UN Security Council | Tagged , | 7 Comments