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04 October 2017- NPWJ News Digest on international criminal justice
Articles
ICC Prosecutor, Victims Continue to Oppose Lubanga’s Early Release
By International Justice Monitor, 04 Oct 2017
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has opposed a possible early release for Thomas Lubanga, the first person convicted by the court, who is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence. Similarly, the victims of Lubanga’s crimes have asked judges not to shorten his jail term. In a submission to the ICC appeals chamber considering a possible reduction of the sentence, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda stated that Lubanga does not deserve early release. “The gravity of the crimes for which he was convicted—the enlistment, recruitment, and use of children under the age of 15 to participate in hostilities, which exploited the vulnerability of the victims—require that he serves the full term of his 14-year sentence. He should remain in detention,” stated the prosecutor.
Military Lawyer Says Uganda Gave ICC Evidence on 15 LRA Commanders
By International Justice Monitor, 04 Oct 2017
One of Uganda’s top military lawyers told the International Criminal Court (ICC) that the evidence Uganda’s intelligence agencies gave to the court went beyond information on just Dominic Ongwen and involved about 15 commanders of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Nabaasa Kanyogonya told the court on Monday that he acted as a liaison between the Ugandan military, civilian intelligence agencies, and the ICC. He said he did this as the director of legal services at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, a position he said he has held since May 2004, but with some interruptions.
Syria: First Atrocities Trials Held in Europe
By Human Rights Watch, 03 Oct 2017
Efforts to bring those responsible for atrocities in Syria before European courts are starting to bear fruit, notably in Swedish and German courts, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. While various authorities in Europe have opened investigations of serious international crimes committed in Syria, Sweden and Germany are the first two countries that have prosecuted and convicted people for these crimes.
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UK donates GBP 250,000 to the Trust Fund for Victims
By International Criminal Court, 02 Oct 2017
On 29 September 2017, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a State Party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and an important long-time supporter of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV), announced a second voluntary contribution of GBP 250,000. The first contribution this year of GBP 150,000 was made in April 2017. This donation will enable the TFV to continue its assistance programme activities to provide support to victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The TFV will use the funds to support medical assistance and psychological rehabilitation projects in northern Uganda from September 2017 until April 2018.