TRIAL International

TRIAL International u Bosni i Hercegovini in cooperation with the Akcija za ljudska prava-Human Rights Action, organized a workshop in Podgorica titled "Exchange of experiences and knowledge between civil society organizations of BiH and Montenegro on mechanisms for supporting witnesses in war crimes cases". Representatives of civil society organizations from BiH - Medica Zenica and Viva Žene Tuzla, the Witness Support Department of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with the High Court in Podgorica and the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office, as well as representatives of civil society organizations from Montenegro attended the workshop. During the discussion, the participants exchanged experiences in working with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and discussed the importance of providing support to witnesses before, during and after testifying. The participants agreed that a sensitized approach to witnesses and survivors of war crimes is crucial for the successful conduct of criminal proceedings. Such an approach not only contributes to strengthening the trust of the injured in the judicial system and institutions but also ensures their greater willingness to participate in court processes. Special emphasis was placed on the need for continuous and professional support for witnesses, as well as on the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation between judicial institutions, civil society organizations and other relevant actors to ensure comprehensive protection and support for survivors and criminal proceedings. This activity was organized as a part of a project supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bosnia and Herzegovina which is implemented by TRIAL International in cooperation with Akcija za ljudska prava - Human Rights Action. 📷 Human Rights Action

📣 Le 10 mars 2025, la Cour des plaintes du Tribunal pénal fédéral (TPF) a rejeté la demande de deux parties plaignantes dans l'affaire de Khaled Nezzar, ancien ministre de la Défense algérien, mis en accusation en août 2023. ⚖️ Elles avaient demandé la constatation de la violation du principe de célérité des autorités pénales, ayant constitué un déni de justice. Le décès du prévenu 6 mois avant son procès, avait constitué un empêchement définitif de le poursuivre, entrainant le classement de la procédure en juin 2024. Malgré une procédure qui a duré plus de 12 ans, le TPF a refusé de reconnaître le déni de justice et d’indemniser les plaignants, représentés par Me Orlane Varesano et Me Sophie Bobillier, pour les lenteurs de l’instruction. TRIAL International regrette cette décision et est prête à continuer à soutenir les victimes dans leur combat pour la reconnaissance des manquements survenus dans l’enquête. L’organisation continuera de soutenir les plaignants, y compris en envisageant une requête devant la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme, pour faire reconnaître le déni de justice qu’ils ont subi. Notre communiqué de presse 👉 https://lnkd.in/dfahu6bR

This May, Imperial War Museum in London will open the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to highlighting sexual violence in conflict titled “Unsilenced: Sexual Violence in Conflict “, which will include the work of TRIAL International through curatorial notes. From May 23rd to November 2nd, the visitors wil be able to entounter 162 objects, as well as testimonies and interviews, and see the highlights of the ongoing work of four NGOs working in the field of sexual violence, including the work of TRIAL International, for free. Along with the historical overview of the sexual slavery and abuse from World War II and of the Soviet Red Army in Berlin, the Unsilenced will feature the legal challenges of children born of wartime rape, and their path to the status of civilian victims of war in Brčko district and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are looking forward to the opening of the exhibition and to be able to be a part of it. More details can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dQTD-kpD.

Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and Project Sunflowers published a report on the accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine, following an international conference which they organized in November last year, where Ajna Mahmić, legal coordinator of TRIAL International u Bosni i Hercegovini has participated as a panelist. The document refers to the insights of the panel where Mahmić shared the importance of the support for witnesses and survivors in criminal proceedings. The recommendations mentioned in the report include the importance of holistic support to survivors which refer to the access to psychological, legal, and social assistance throughout every stage of the process — before, during, and after the criminal trial. In addition, the discussion highlighted the need for comprehensive reparations for victims and survivors, including the right to rehabilitation, as well as recognition of the truth about the crimes committed - established by independent courts, UN institutions, credible human rights organizations and academic bodies. This report offers recommendations on concrete steps that Poland can take to promote accountability for crimes committed during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, support for survivors and respect for international law. 🔗 The rest of the recommendations included in each panel of the conference can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eKTXFNxb.

⚖️ Last week, as a part of the project "𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐳𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞” a workshop with prosecutors from #Bosnia and Herzegovina and #Montenegro titled “Workshop for the exchange of experience and knowledge between the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro on the prosecution of war crimes cases" was organized in Podgorica, Montenegro. The workshop covered the topics of the application of substantive law in the war crimes prosecution, conducting investigations in war crimes cases, as well as procedural and non-procedural witness protection measures. The event identified the problems as well as recommendations needed for them to be solved. We would like to thank the prosecutors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro for their willingness to cooperate and we look forward to the continuation of the constructive exchange of knowledge. This activity was organized as a part of a project supported by the government of the Netherlands, which is implemented by TRIAL International in cooperation with the Akcija za ljudska prava-Human Rights Action. 📷 TRIAL International in #BiH

🔊 With the ongoing violence in eastern #DRC, the need for accountability for international crimes has never been more urgent. In this episode of Asymmetrical Haircuts, Julie Baleynaud, TRIAL International's legal advisor for the DRC program, discusses the evolution of international crime prosecution in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting a crucial shift towards holding high-ranking officials and militia leaders accountable as well as the need to improve judicial processes and better support victims of sexual and gender-based violence. "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐂𝐂 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬”, she notes.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥!   ➖ The situation in eastern 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨 threatens the progresses made towards justice and the rule of law. TRIAL International is monitoring the situation very closely and will do its best to 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐬. This situation shows how urgent it is to take action at all levels to protect human rights. ➖ That is why we are members of the Coalition pour des multinationales responsables and as such we actively support the popular initiative aimed at strengthening regulations for Swiss companies whose activities have harmful consequences for human rights and/or the environment.   ➖ In line with this, we are launching a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬. Operating in fragile or conflict zones, some of these actors exploit these situations to maximize their economic interests, fueling violence and human rights and/or environmental violations. Our program aims to support victims' access to justice and advocate for stronger international legal frameworks. To fight impunity in all its forms, act now! Donate or become a member of TRIAL International 👉 https://lnkd.in/e59YXUQ9 🚨 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐚𝐱-𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, thanks to our partnership with Myriad USA. Donate here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d4F6apvJ

🚨 Tout juste un an après la signature de la Convention de Ljubljana-La Haye par la Suisse, le Conseil fédéral lance aujourd'hui la consultation sur son approbation et sa mise en œuvre en droit suisse. Pour rappel, cette consultation englobe aussi l'inclusion du crime d’agression dans le code pénal - une première pour ce pays ! 🗓️ La consultation est ouverte jusqu'au 30 mai 2025. 👉 Pour le communiqué du Conseil fédéral : https://lnkd.in/ePKHHhW6

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 – Call for an end to the violence and impunity in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (#DRC) Following the takeover by the March 23 Movement (#M23) of the city of Bukavu in South Kivu on Friday 14th February, 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬. We hope to resume our activities as soon as the situation allows. We are deeply concerned about the current situation and the escalation of violence in Bukavu and other parts of eastern DRC. The region has been plagued by repeated cycles of violence for the past 30 years, marked by large scale human rights violations, for which many victims are still awaiting justice and reparations. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐰. 📢 We urge all parties and the international community to take immediate actions to end the violence, protect civilians and find a durable solution for peace. 𝐈𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐰, collect and preserve evidence of international crimes, and identify those responsible for atrocities to contribute to efforts to hold them accountable. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dh-Vnqiu

📢  We urge all states to promptly join the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention on international cooperation in prosecuting crimes under international law   On the first anniversary of the signing conference of the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes, we join forces with Amnesty International, Asia Justice Coalition, International Commission of Jurists and REDRESS to urge all states to promptly sign and ratify this crucial treaty, conclude the process of its adoption without reservations, and implement it fully under domestic law. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭? ➡️ The Convention 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, thereby improving access to justice for victims and advancing accountability for the most serious crimes ➡️ It 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 “𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬” 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, by requiring states to investigate and prosecute or extradite international crimes suspects who are present within their jurisdiction Read our joint statement ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eWq3EQNK   #LjubljanaTheHagueConvention