15 June 2022 - NPWJ News Digest on International Criminal Justice

Articles

‘Justice’ for Ukraine overshadowed by cost of living concerns, polling shows
The Guardian, 15 Jun 2022

 Survey across 10 European countries and UK shows respondents favouring an end to the conflict rather than holding Russia accountable.
 

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Rwanda asylum flight cancelled after legal action
BBC News, 15 Jun 2022

 The first flight due to take asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda was cancelled minutes before take-off after legal rulings on Tuesday evening. Up to seven people had been expected to be removed to the east African country. But the flight was stopped after a late intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) led to fresh challenges in the UK courts.

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Israeli anti-torture body refers Israel to International Criminal Court
Middle East Eye, 10 Jun 2022

 An Israeli anti-torture body has referred its own country to the International Criminal Court (ICC) after concluding that Israel is “not interested and unable to stop the use of torture against Palestinians”. The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) said on Friday it had demanded that Israelis involved in torture be tried as part of an investigation by the Hague-based ICC over suspected war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories. It said that after 30 years of fighting torture it had “reached the unfortunate conclusion” that Israel has no wish to end torture, honestly investigate victims' complaints and prosecute those responsible.
 

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Iran: International community must act urgently to stop horrific plan to amputate fingers of eight prisoners
Amnesty International, 10 Jun 2022

 The international community must use all diplomatic means available to stop the Iranian authorities from amputating the fingers of eight men, at least three of whom were convicted based on torture-tainted “confessions” following grossly unfair trials, said Amnesty International today. According to information obtained by the organization, the authorities have informed the men that they will be transferred to a prison with a guillotine machine in the coming days to implement their sentences. “Amputating prisoners’ fingers is a form of torture, and is yet another shocking reminder of the shameless inhumanity of the criminal justice system in Iran, which legalizes torture, a crime under international law. Carrying out such heinous punishments is not justice – it is an abhorrent assault on human dignity.

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Murder of Paraguay prosecutor Marcelo Pecci shows international crime links
El Pais, 09 Jun 2022

 The murder of Paraguayan Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci while he honeymooned on one of Colombia’s Caribbean islands has exposed collaboration between crime organizations across the continent. Five people have been arrested for the May 10 murder on the resort island of Baru, just 45 minutes from Cartagena. Colombian authorities say they are pursuing a sixth suspect. “The suspect still at large is Gabriel Carlos Luis Salinas, and we believe he has fled to Venezuela,” said General Jorge Vargas, who heads the Colombian police force. Vargas announced that Interpol has issued a notice for his capture. “Although we don’t collaborate much with the Interpol office in Venezuela, we have requested their assistance in finding and arresting Salinas.” Vargas has led the joint effort by Colombian and Paraguayan police.

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Russian war crimes in Ukraine: EU supports the International Criminal Court investigation with €7.25 million
European Commission, 08 Jun 2022

 Today, the European Commission has launched a new project, under its Foreign Policy Instrument, to support the investigation capacities of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with €7.25 million. This project, which was first announced by HRVP in Kyiv, is part of the EU's efforts to fight impunity for international crimes globally. In particular, it will help the ICC to scale up its investigation capacity to respond to the ongoing investigations into war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.

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