SYNERGY FOR JUSTICE

🔵 Annual Report 2023-2024 is Now Available We are proud to share our Annual Report, highlighting a year of progress advancing justice and accountability. This report covers key milestones such as expanding our work into Iraq and South Sudan, and strengthening our commitment to justice for Syrian survivors of torture and sexual violence.    We thank all our donors and partners for their ongoing commitment, and we invite you to read the full report and learn more about the impact of our work. https://lnkd.in/dp-gJeu2 #humanrights #justice

Maryam Akbari-Monfared should have been released today She just finished a 15-year sentence in Iran but is being forced to serve another 2 years. Her crime? Seeking justice for her siblings murdered in the #1988Massacre. This brave mother of 3 has stood up for accountability from behind bars. Read more about her story and join us in demanding her release! 👇   https://lnkd.in/eC4p-uSZ #FreeMaryamAkbari Volker Türk Mary Lawlor

"Without a safe and stable environment for all who operate within it, the International Criminal Court cannot effectively fulfil its mandate." Our Executive Director Alix Vuillemin highlighted our key priorities in a recent presentation to the Assembly of States Parties’ Committee on Budget and Finance, including: 🔴 Action on gender-sensitive institutional development - 30% of ICC staff continue to experience harassment in the workplace 🔴 Greater support for the ICC’s Focal Point for Gender Equality and the upcoming Gender Action Plan from the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC. 🔴 Gender-responsive budgeting to ensure resources effectively reduce gender inequality. Together with presentations from Yasmina Gourchane from the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, Matteo Tonella🍉 from the International Bar Association, and ‎Ahmed Abofoul from ‎Al-Haq Organisation | مؤسسة الحق‎, we underscored the fundamental need for the Court's proper funding.  🔗 Read the full statement here: https://lnkd.in/ePjr2xwD

🔵 Synergy for Justice has recently developed three resources that provide critical insights and research on sexual violence. These publications shed light on the experiences of survivors and aim to drive change in justice responses: 1.There is No Justice in This Country: Experiences of Sexual Violence Survivors in South Sudan: https://lnkd.in/diR5VWaM This report amplifies the voices of 45 women survivors of sexual and gender-based violence from South Sudan. It serves as a call to action for justice actors to transform the experience of justice for survivors and help heal their pain.   2.Syria Supplement to the Second Edition of the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict: https://lnkd.in/dRXQXGng A practical guide tailored to the Syrian context, this supplement provides crucial insights for the effective documentation and investigation of sexual violence to strengthen justice and accountability efforts.   3. Study on Long-term Symptoms in Syrian Men Subjected to Detention and Conflict-related Sexual Violence: https://lnkd.in/dW4ebz8Q Published in eClinical Medicine (a Lancet journal), this study explores the long-term physical and psychological symptoms experienced by Syrian men subjected to sexual violence and torture in state detention over a ten-year period. #humanrights #justice #accountability

"UN Commission finds war crimes & crimes against humanity in Israeli attacks on Gaza health facilities and treatment of detainees, hostages" Full report here: https://lnkd.in/gsAMG2Xs

Ukraine moves closer towards becoming the 125th State Party to the #ICC Rome Statute after the Ukrainian Parliament adopted bill 11484 partially implementing the treaty into domestic law, a condition to complete the ratification process. ❗ Next step: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should sign this bill into law & deposit the ICC Statute instrument of ratification with the United Nations.    ☑️ Ukraine will then become the 125th member state of the International Criminal Court the 1st day of the month after 60 days from deposit ➡️ 1 January 2025 if the deposit happens in October. The Coalition for the International Criminal Court looks forward to welcoming Ukraine as an #ICC member at a time when the Court is under further threats and sanctions. We call on Ukraine to reconsider using Article 124 of the Statute that is contrary to the spirit of the treaty. For more on Art.124 📄 ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5RNcN8V 

One year ago, Israel announced a siege of Gaza, stating that “no electricity, no food, no fuel” will be allowed to enter. Over the past year, we have seen escalating violence perpetrated against Palestinians in violation of both humanitarian and human rights law in Gaza and the West Bank.   The ongoing airstrikes and on-ground invasion have killed more than 41,000 people, caused mass displacement, and inflicted immeasurable suffering due to catastrophic conditions in Gaza. Now, Israel’s military offensive has expanded to Lebanon, violating international law and resulting in more civilian deaths and cruel destruction, escalating the conflict further.   Today, we condemn Israel’s ongoing violations and disregard for life outside its borders, and we stand in solidarity with those whose voices are silenced and whose lives are torn apart by Israeli aggressions.

Excited to share our latest blog post written by Volume 40 Junior Staffer, Keisuke F.! This insightful piece delves into the upcoming prosecution of Michael Sang Correa, a former member of Gambia’s Junglers, marking a critical step in U.S. efforts to uphold the UN Convention Against Torture and strengthening its leadership in the global fight against human rights abuses. Be sure to check out this article if you are interest in: - Learning about Correa's alleged crimes and the implications of this prosecution. - Understanding how U.S. law supports prosecuting torture committed abroad. - Discovering how this case strengthens U.S. efforts to hold human rights abusers accountable. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/e7BnhvzY

Sexual Torture: Understanding the Issue and the Role of Stigma The IRCT International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims Fall Webinar Series has brought together global experts to understand the complex issue of sexual torture during war and armed conflicts. You can now watch the recordings of the first two sessions featuring Christy Fujio, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Synergy for Justice, who was a panelist at both webinars:   🔹 Sexual Torture – What Is It, What Is It Not? In the first session, experts, including UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Dr. Alice Edwards, explore what constitutes sexual torture, its various forms, and how it differs from other types of torture. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/dFsuNQMP   🔹 Stigma: What Role Does It Play in Sexual Torture? In the second webinar, experts explore the role stigma plays in cases of sexual torture and its lasting impact on survivors, their families, and communities.  Watch here: https://lnkd.in/dCFz8ZFw   We invite you to watch the recordings and stay tuned for the upcoming sessions in the IRCT International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims Fall Webinar Programme to continue the conversation and be part of a global effort to address and prevent sexual torture. #humanrights #sexualtorture

🔵 At Synergy for Justice, we know that communicating human rights issues effectively is key to mobilising support and creating change. In this video, Anna Dobrohorska, our Communications Officer, explains how we use online platforms to raise awareness about our work—whether it’s supporting survivors, elevating women’s voices, or promoting accountability. Check out our Annual Report to learn more about our projects: https://lnkd.in/dGevw44Z #humanrights #synergyforjustice