13 Oct 2021 - NPWJ News Digest on international criminal justice

NPWJ press release

Lebanon: NPWJ supports initiative aimed at improving the penitentiary and judicial system and enhance respect of prisoners' rights
No Peace Without Justice, 12 Oct 2021

On 12 October 2021, NPWJ is organizing an online roundtable on “Human Rights Standards in Prisons Based on International Law” for Lebanese CSOs. The event is part of the project ‘’DROIT: Rights, social reintegration, vocational guidance and protection for young adults, women and disabled people in Lebanese prisons’’, supported by AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development and implemented by ARCS culture solidali in partnership with NPWJ, ARCI Toscana, Garante Dei Diritti dei Prigionieri, Antigone and the Lebanese associations AJEM and Mouvement Social.

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NPWJ welcomes abolition of death penalty in Sierra Leone
No Peace Without Justice, 10 Oct 2021

NPWJ extends its heartfelt congratulations to the people of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Parliament and President Julius Maada Bio for the abolishment of the death penalty in Sierra Leone last Friday. In signing the Bill into law, Sierra Leone becomes the 23rd country in Africa to abolish the death penalty, after having had a moratorium on its use for some years, with the last execution taking place in 1998.  

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Articles

How to Prepare the International Criminal Court for Our Digital Future
Opinio Juris, 12 Oct 2021

Digital evidence is playing an increasingly central role in trials at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The growing use of digital technologies in armed conflicts, by civilians and combatants alike, is producing potentially relevant data at an exponentially rapid rate. However, the ever-increasing volume of digital information creates challenges for ICC investigators, who need to identify, collect, and preserve relevant evidence hidden in a sea of information that is vulnerable to alteration or destruction, while navigating an environment filled with mis and disinformation. 

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Central African Republic war crimes suspect 'beat' prisoners, ICC prosecutor says
Reuters, 12 Oct 2021

A former Central African Republic "Seleka" faction commander took part in beatings and mistreatment of prisoners suspected of supporting ousted President Francois Bozize, an International Criminal Court prosecutor said on Tuesday. Mahamat Said Abdel Kain was detained in January and transferred to The Hague where he faces accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in 2013.

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Chile’s billionaire president under scrutiny over Pandora leak
Al Jazeera, 11 Oct 2021

Chile’s public prosecutor has said it will investigate the sale of a mining project involving the family of President Sebastian Pinera after new details emerged about the transaction in the Pandora Papers leak. Marta Herrera, head of the office’s anti-corruption unit, On Friday said the agency would investigate possible bribery-related corruption charges as well as tax violations.

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Why Religious Persecution Justifies U.S. Legislation on Crimes Against Humanity
Council on Foreign Relations, 08 Oct 2021

The enactment of U.S. legislation on crimes against humanity would strengthen the prospect of the United States one day seriously considering ratification of the proposed Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity. In testimony before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on Sept. 30, I sought to explain the importance of the legislation currently being crafted on Capitol Hill.

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Gambia: UN Backs Hybrid Court for Jammeh-Era Crimes
Human Rights Watch, 08 Oct 2021

Human Rights Watch has joined 16 other groups in support of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances’ call for a hybrid court to prosecute crimes during the presidency of Yahya Jammeh in Gambia and for a new international inquiry of a 2005 massacre of West African immigrants.

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