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The International Justice Program works to promote justice and accountability for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in countries where national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. The program monitors the work of the International Criminal Court, the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Sarajevo War Crimes Chamber. We follow developments at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. We also look at the efforts of national courts, including in Iraq, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The International Justice Program supports the efforts of national courts to use their country’s universal jurisdiction legislation to try those charged with the most serious crimes under international law. Universal Periodic Review of Sri LankaHuman Rights Watch's Submission to the Human Rights Council Major hostilities between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) resumed in mid-2006 and in January 2008 the government formally withdrew from the ceasefire in place since 2002. Since then the fighting has claimed hundreds of civilians lives, and tens of thousands more have been displaced. Human Rights Watch has long documented serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by both parties to the conflict. We are deeply concerned that with the ceasefire’s end, abuses will intensify. May 5, 2008 Written Statement Printer friendly version Universal Periodic Review of Guatemala Human Rights Watch's Submission to the Human Rights Council The country continues to face high levels of violence associated with both electoral politics and common crime. Guatemala’s weak and corrupt law enforcement institutions have proven incapable of containing the powerful organized crime groups that, among other things, are believed responsible for continuing attacks on human rights defenders. May 5, 2008 Written Statement Printer friendly version Universal Periodic Review of Peru Human Rights Watch's Submission to the Human Rights Council Justice for past abuses is a leading human rights concern in Peru. While authorities have made some progress in holding accountable those responsible for some abuses committed during its 20-year armed conflict (1980-2000), most perpetrators continue to evade justice. Investigations of massacres and “disappearances” by government forces have been held up in part by lack of military cooperation. Other human rights concerns in Peru include torture and ill-treatment of criminal suspects , violence against journalists in some parts of the country, and government efforts to regulate nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). May 5, 2008 Written Statement Printer friendly version Open letter to the international and African communities from the International Committee for the Fair Trial of Hissène Habré (N’Djamena, Brussels, Dakar, April 15, 2008) - We write to draw your attention to Senegal’s long delay in opening proceedings against the former President of Chad, Hissène Habré. We appeal to the African and international communities to encourage Senegal to discharge the mandate it was given by the African Union, and to respect the decision issued by the United Nations Committee against Torture almost two years ago, calling for the trial of Hissène Habré. April 29, 2008 Letter Also available in 
Printer friendly version DR Congo: Suspected War Criminal Wanted International Court Unseals Arrest Warrant Against Bosco Ntaganda Congolese officials and UN peacekeepers should take swift action to enforce the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against a rebel leader accused of forcibly conscripting child soldiers and of other abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. April 29, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version EU: Tie Serbia’s Membership to Mladic’s Arrest EU Members Should Not Backtrack on Their Commitment to Justice The European Union’s (EU) signing of the Stabilization Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia today despite Belgrade’s failure to arrest accused war criminal Ratko Mladic is a setback to those seeking justice for genocide in Srebrenica, Human Rights Watch said today. EU member states should refuse to allow Serbia to take additional steps toward EU membership without full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), including the surrender of Mladic. April 29, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Justice for Darfur Letter to the European Union One year ago, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb for their alleged role in war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. On the anniversary of their issuance, we write to urge you to press the European Union to take immediate steps to ensure the prompt arrest and surrender to the ICC of these two suspects. April 24, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Justice for Darfur Letter to the United Nations Security Council One year ago, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb for their alleged role in war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. On the anniversary of their issuance, we write to you to urge the Security Council to take immediate steps to ensure the prompt arrest and surrender to the ICC of these two suspects. April 24, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version ‘Justice for Darfur’ Campaign Launched Sudan Should Arrest War Crimes Suspects Now One year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two war crimes suspects in Darfur, human rights organizations around the world are launching a “Justice for Darfur” campaign, calling for the two to be arrested. April 24, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version US: Confront Sudan's Defiance on Darfur Letter to Condoleezza Rice ahead of US Security Council Presidency in June We are writing you in advance of the US assumption of the UN Security Council presidency this June to call your attention to the Sudanese government’s deliberate and ongoing defiance of Security Council resolutions aimed at protecting civilians and at providing accountability in Darfur. Given the gravity and magnitude of the Darfur crisis, we hope that your office will give this very serious matter your full consideration in the weeks ahead. Come June, we look to the US government to use its full power and authority as the Security Council president to send a strong signal to Khartoum that its persistent obstructionism will no longer be tolerated. We believe that this is fully consistent with the aspirations of the administration’s Darfur policy. April 22, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Sudan: Militia Attacks Threaten Crucial Census Violence Deter Returns to Disputed Areas Militia attacks on travelers in disputed areas dividing northern and southern Sudan may reflect a Sudanese government attempt to skew a crucial census registration, Human Rights Watch said today. The attacks are deterring displaced people from returning to the disputed areas to register for the national census, which is important for future elections, a referendum on independence for the south, and resource distribution between Khartoum and southern Sudan. April 9, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Sanctions on Sudan now Without international pressure the victims of Darfur will never see justice and they face even more abuses By Lotte Leicht, European Union Advocacy Director Published in New Statesman Online Justice isn’t simply a moral luxury. The EU made a pledge to the victims of Darfur; it is high time that the EU delivered—that it moved from empty threats to action. April 2, 2008 Commentary Also available in 
Printer friendly version Fifth Meeting of the EU Network of Contact Points on Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Letter to Heads of Delegations to the Article 36 Committee We are writing in advance of the upcoming Article 36 Committee meeting in Brussels, at which you will discuss the EU Network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (EU Network). With this letter, the undersigned organizations wish to share their assessment of the EU Network’s achievements to date and urge the Article 36 Committee to support the strengthening of the EU Network, notably through the creation of a permanent secretariat. April 1, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version The Human Rights Crisis in Somalia Statement prepared by Human Rights Watch for the “Arria formula” meeting on Somalia Human Rights Watch welcomes this initiative by the United Nations Security Council to discuss the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Somalia. The situation in Somalia is one of the world’s starkest and most neglected tragedies. In basic human terms the scope of the crisis is enormous. It is also a situation with serious regional implications that must be squarely addressed by the Security Council. March 31, 2008 Testimony Printer friendly version Kosovo: Criminal Justice System Fails Victims Inadequate Witness Protection Key Challenge for Authorities Kosovo’s government should fully cooperate with the European Union’s newly deployed rule-of-law mission in reforming Kosovo’s criminal justice system that remains extremely weak, despite efforts to strengthen it over the past two years, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. The EU mission (known as “EULEX”) is expected to lead justice reform efforts. The riots in Mitrovica on March 17, 2008, underscore the need for Kosovo to build a strong and effective criminal justice system to deter, investigate and prosecute any such acts of violence. March 28, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Chad: Charge or Release Political Detainees The Chadian government should charge or release persons arrested following a February coup attempt, Human Rights Watch said today. At least eight individuals, and possibly many more, remain in custody following the lifting of the state of emergency on March 15. March 19, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Kenya: Justice Vital to Stability Prosecutions Key to Ending Violence, Police Abuses The new coalition government should bring to justice individuals responsible for recent and past episodes of political violence, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. The new coalition government can help stabilize the country by bringing to justice the organizers of violence on all sides. March 17, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Somalia: UN Security Council Must Not Ignore Abuses Video Footage From Mogadishu Shows Devastating Effects of Attacks on Civilians The UN Security Council should strongly condemn serious abuses of civilians in Somalia and establish a commission of inquiry to identify individuals responsible for these crimes, Human Rights Watch said. Later this week, the UN secretary- general is due to present his report on Somalia to the Security Council. March 11, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch Memorandum Political Considerations in Sentence Mitigation for Serious Violations of the Laws of War before International Criminal Tribunals On March 12 and 13, the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone will hold hearings on appeals against the convictions and sentencing of Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa. These individuals were convicted on several counts of serious violations of international humanitarian law in connection with acts that they had committed, or had been responsible for, while members of the government-backed Civil Defence Forces (CDF) during Sierra Leone’s decade-long conflict. The upcoming hearings will raise a very important issue for the enforcement of international humanitarian law: whether applicable international legal standards allow factors such as political motivations and the party to the conflict for which a perpetrator fought to serve as a basis for mitigation in sentencing. March 11, 2008 Memorandum Kosovo: EU Should Ensure International Mission is Accountable Success Will Depend on Effective Scrutiny of Human Rights Record The new European Union-led international mission to Kosovo must be subject to much greater scrutiny and accountability than its predecessor, the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), if it is to succeed, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee said today. The NATO-led Kosovo Force should also be subject to much greater scrutiny. March 10, 2008 Press Release Also available in
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