HELP: towards a human-rights coordinated against terrorism
2022-06-22 08:00 - 2022-06-23 17:00 (Europe/Rome)
The threat of terrorism and the means to fight it efficiently with full respect of the rule of law and human rights is the concern of policy makers, law enforcement agencies and population at large. Operations conducted by many states within the framework of the so-called “war on terrorism” in recent years “have shown that a wide range of human rights are affected by counter terrorism measures, notably the right to life, the prohibition on torture or inhuman or degrading treatment, the right to liberty and security, the right to a fair trial, and respect for private and family life”.
Counter terrorism and radicalisation measures should respect, promote and ensure the protection of human rights. As stated by the United Nations Human Rights Council in its resolution 31/30 “the objectives of countering terrorism and of the protection and promotion of human rights are not conflicting but complementary and mutually reinforcing”. Policies which are compliant to human rights standards uphold the values that terrorist groups endeavour to destroy, weaken support for radicalism among potential advocates, and reinforce public confidence in the rule of law.
In this context and in the scope of supporting regional dynamics around the prevention and the countering of radicalisation, violent extremism and terrorism, the Council of Europe organises in Tunis on 22-23 June 2022 a “Regional Conference on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Human rights Coordinated approach” within the framework of the European-Union and the Council of Europe joint programs, the Regional Support to Reinforce Human rights, Rule of Law and Democracy in the Southern Mediterranean Program (South Programme IV) and the Support to Independent Bodies in Tunisia Project (PAII-T).
The event is organised jointly with the National Commission on Counterterrorism in Tunisia, the Higher Authority for Audio-visual Communication and No Peace Without Justice. The Conference has two objectives. The first is to establish the basis for a HELP regional training on repatriation, reintegration and rehabilitation of children in their countries. The second is to present two HELP contextualised courses on Counterterrorism and Violent Extremism, i.e Radicalisation Prevention and Combatting Hate Speech in the Audio-Visual Sector.

Concept note and program of the conference

For further information, please contact: Frej Fenniche: ffenniche@npwj.org – +216 56 441 505 (English, French, العربية)

Lebanese institutional and civil society representatives to discuss penitentiary and judicial system reform with their Italian counterparts
2022-06-30
No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), together with ARCS, Antigone, ARCI Toscana and the Guarantor of the Rights of Detainees of the Tuscany Region are partners of a project called “DROIT” which aims to contribute to the improvement of the Lebanese penitentiary and judicial system, through a) the strengthening of rehabilitation, social reintegration and assistance services aimed at prisoners, people at risk and families, b) the training of operators in the sector, and c) the support to local civil society organizations in advocacy for the sector reform.
In this context, on 30 June NPWJ will host a Lebanese delegation of representatives of institutions and civil society and will organize a day of meetings with Bernardo Petralia, former Head of Penitentiary Administration Department, Rita Bernardini, Activist, former Member of Parliament and Roberto Giachetti, Member of Parliament, to discuss about the situation of prisons in Italy, the initiatives undertaken to promote justice, the rights of prisoners and their condition in the facilities and the proposals for a penitentiary reform in Italy.
At the end of the meetings, a visit to the Rebibbia Penitentiary Institute has been organized, with the aim of sharing experiences and practices on the issues of prisoners’ rights and the management of prisons.

Colloque sur le Sahel: développement, gouvernance et droits humains
2022-07-27 08:00 - 2022-07-28 17:00 | Online event
Nouakchott, Mauritanie, 27-28 juin 2022 et sur Zoom
Organisé par Fight Impunity, Maria Arena et le Groupe S&D, le Représentant spécial de l’UE pour le Sahel et No Peace Without justice.
Participer à la réunion Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89695483009?pwd=[REDACTED]
ID de réunion : 896 9548 3009 Code secret : [REDACTED]
Présentation du colloque:
Les pays de la zone sahélienne sont confrontés à des défis majeurs d’ordre sécuritaire, politique, économique et environnemental. Depuis plus d’une dizaine d’années le contexte de violence accrue dans la région amène à s’interroger sur l’efficacité des politiques, stratégies, instruments et dispositifs de réduction de la violence, de stabilisation et de développement tels que proposés par les bailleurs de fonds en partenariat avec les autorités nationales. Ces dernières années ont été sanglantes dans tous les pays de la région, causant des milliers de morts civils et militaires. Les violences commises par toutes les parties ont causé le déplacement de plus de quatre millions de personnes.
Le colloque de Nouakchott, sera l’occasion pour réfléchir sur les besoins et réalités vécues par les populations vivant dans des conditions économiques, sociales climatiques et sécuritaire difficiles ainsi que sur le rôle que l’Union européenne et les partenaires internationaux jouent dans la région en évaluant leur intervention et les résultats lesquels jusqu’à présent, n’ont pas été à la hauteur des attentes pour faire face aux défis sécuritaires de la région.
Les conclusions du colloque serviront à penser une approche nouvelle de partenariat entre l’Union européenne et les pays du Sahel dans le but de :

Améliorer les connaissances et éclairer les parlementaires européens sur les enjeux dans la sous-région et les outiller avec des éléments d’analyse pour pouvoir réfléchir au rôle de l’UE dans la région ;
Analyser les rôles et les limites de l’intervention des partenaires internationaux des pays de la région en vue d’approfondir la réflexion sur les réels besoins en termes d’interventions à faveur de la stabilité, les droits humains et la paix dans la région ;
Écouter les populations locales et les analystes locaux pour mieux intégrer leur point de vue dans la définition des politiques de l’UE dans la région ;
Formuler des recommandations en directions des décideurs africains et internationaux en vue d’un retour à la stabilité dans les pays de la région ;
Impliquer le grand public et la jeunesse dans la réflexion sur les thèmes de la stabilité et droits humains de la région.

Il s’agira donc, de dégager des recommandations concrètes pour une re -stabilisation durable du Sahel intégrant les préoccupations citoyennes.
Revue de presse:

https://tchad24.tv/le-sahel-une-digue-mal-en-point-les-promesses-de-colloque-de-nouakchott-du-27-au-28-juin/?fbclid=IwAR2ho43kQiSQ8Dnr9b27kl1G9g-TYzD-guPobViA9YWDR-P8r5RqObYksHM
https://cridem.org/C_Info.php?article=757471
https://www.camer.be/mobile/91330/6:1/afrique-g5-sahel-marie-arena-initie-une-grande-rencontre-entre-societe-civile-et-gouvernements-saheliens-africa.html

Présentation radiophonique

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EcNeQH3tNhbH8sc3LWU4g

Rights, Justice and Needs in Lebanese Prisons.
2022-11-17 15:30 - 17:30 | Beit Beirut – Museo e centro culturale urbano (Beit Beirut – Museum and Urban Cultural Center), VGP5+Q8X, Beirut, Libano
On Thursday, November 17, as the closing event of the DROIT project, the “Rights, Justice and Basic Needs in Lebanese Prisons” meeting was held at Beit Beirut, an important opportunity to present and discuss the results achieved through the DROIT project and analyze the increasingly urgent needs of the prison system in Lebanon.
Speakers at the event included the Director of the Italian Development Cooperation Agency in Beirut, the Director of ARCS, representatives from the Ministry of Justice and ISF, the two project partner NGOs Mouvement Social and AJEM, the Task Force Coordinator, and former Lebanese Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud.
The DROIT project, co-funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, was managed by ARCS in partnership with Lebanese NGOs Mouvement Social and AJEM and Italian partners ARCI Toscana, the Garante dei Diritti dei Detenuti delle Regione Toscana, Antigone, and No Peace Without Justice.
Background
Lebanon has a prison population of more than 8,000 inmates (between prisons and other detention facilities), nearly 80 percent of whom are awaiting trial.
In Roumieh Prison alone, the country’s largest, the number of detainees exceeds the planned capacity by three times, and the proportion does not differ much in other prisons, such as in Tripoli in the north and Zahle in the Bekaa Valley.
At the operational level, it is the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), then the Ministry of Interior, that is responsible for management, despite often lacking specific knowledge and training to work as prison guards.
As of 2019, Lebanon is experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis. GDP per capita has fallen by 40 percent, the local currency has seen 95 percent of its value lost in the face of rising inflation, and recent data has pushed about 80 percent of the population below the poverty line. The World Bank says Lebanon is experiencing one of the three worst global economic slumps since 1850.
If the country’s socioeconomic crisis is dramatic in general, the consequences are even more severe within prison facilities. Cases of escapes from detention facilities, the most recent of which occurred from the Adlieh underground prison in Beirut, reflect their unsustainable situation. The quality and quantity of meals distributed by the prison administration have decreased. Inflation is reducing inmates’ financial means and making food supplies difficult. Family visits are increasingly infrequent, partly due to the high cost of fuel (a full tank of gasoline, after the removal of state subsidies, has come to cost as much as an average state salary), as has the supply of basic necessities.
Activities carried out
In this context, civil society organizations are often called upon to provide many of the services that by law should be guaranteed by the state: legal assistance, staff training, psychological or medical support. The DROIT project, in partnership with the Lebanese NGOs Mouvement Social and AJEM, active since 2018, has contributed to enhancing recovery services, social reintegration, assistance aimed at prisoners/prisoners, people at risk and their families, and training of prison workers. The intervention, in particular, supported the strengthening of services offered in two Lebanese prisons (Roumieh and BEK), to improve the general conditions of detention, and at the Rabieh rehabilitation center, to support the rehabilitation and social reintegration processes of detained persons.
It also included the meeting and exchange of practices on prison issues thanks to the collaboration with the Italian partners of ARCI Toscana, the Garante dei Diritti dei Detenuti delle Regione Toscana, Antigone and No Peace Without Justice. In addition to a series of roundtables organized in-person and online between 2019 and 2022, in June this year a Lebanese delegation, composed of representatives of NGOs, the Lebanese Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior, paid a visit to several Italian penitentiary centers, in Tuscany and Rome, during which it was possible to compare the two systems and the legislative traditions underlying prison management, while also putting on the table the common difficulties and challenges faced, starting with the issue of overcrowding

Women’s Strength
2022-12-06 | Spazio Europa, Via Quattro Novembre 149, Rome, Italy
The event “Women’s Strength”, hosted by Emma Bonino and organised by No Peace Without Justice and Le Contemporanee, with the support of +Europa, will be held on 6 December 2022 at “Spazio Europa” in Rome, via Quattro Novembre 149.
On the eve of Human Rights Day, it aims at supporting the struggles, courage and determination of women who take to the streets and fight for their rights, for those of future generations and for the human rights of all.
In the world’s most repressive societies, women lead the change, from Afghanistan to Iran, from Ukraine and Belarus to Iraq. This should come as no surprise: women are and always have been inherently strong.
From a young age, women are taught to be the wind under someone else’s wings, to be the “inner” force that enables men to be strong and successful in public. Now, during times of adversity, (almost always) women take on the leadership: they are the ones who manage the scarce resources to ensure the survival of the most vulnerable; they are the ones who play a series of roles to guarantee essential services and whatever else is necessary. But too often the difference – due to the ancestral patterns of respective social roles – is that women have been “allowed” to demonstrate their strength in the private sphere, but are still not allowed to do it fully in the public one.
Violence against women in public and private life is an integral part of this construct. But this is changing: violence against women in public life is increasingly in the spotlight, while women are rediscovering their strength and increasingly asking not to be excluded from the decision-making processes that affect their lives, and not to be treated as victims, but as holders of rights which deserve justice and reparation when violated.
“Women’s Strength”, with the testimonies of many activists and leaders fighting in the field, has the objective of recognizing, sustaining and encouraging these requests, for it is only this way that society as a whole can benefit from the collective strength, that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Preliminary Program
Concept note

For further information, please contact gschiavoni@npwj.org

Global crisis and the potential of the ICC: relevance of ecocide as the fifth crime
2022-12-06 13:15 - 14:45 | Online event
21th ASP to the ICC, The Hague, 6 December 2022

The Rome Statute is intended to address the “most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole”, those acts which most “threaten the peace, security and wellbeing of the world”.
Mass damage and destruction of vital ecosystems through human activity now constitutes precisely such a threat on a global scale. Such damage and destruction, now increasingly referred to as “ecocide”, not only has direct and devastating consequences for communities and nations now, but also the severest of implications for the future of human civilisation as a whole, as well as for the wider community of species with whom we share our planetary home.
There is strong relevance to the ICC’s remit, therefore, of the inclusion of ecocide within the scope of the Rome Statute. This is being recognised and discussed by a growing number of States Parties, as well as by the Court itself, as acknowledged during the 20th anniversary conference on 1st July of this year.
This side event examines the rapid global progress of this discussion, the importance of the consensus legal definition of ecocide (Independent Expert Panel, June 2021) in that progress, and the potential for the ICC to play a decisive role in addressing the greatest challenge of our time.
Speakers:
Hon Elly van Vliet, Honorary Consul of Vanuatu in The Netherlands
Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, Former ICC President
Philippe Sands KC, University College London, Matrix Law
Darryl Robinson, Professor of Law, Queens University Canada
Jojo Mehta, Chair, Stop Ecocide Foundation
Josh Oxby, UN Youth Advisor
Moderator:
HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium
The event will be in English with French, Spanish and Arabic interpretation.
For more information, please check: https://www.stopecocide.earth

Strengthening Accountability Globally
2022-12-09 08:00 - 17:00 | The Hague, Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, The Hague, Netherlands
Side event to the 21st session of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC
The expanded conflict in Ukraine has triggered a strong response from the international community, including through unprecedented support for a variety of justice initiatives to pursue accountability for grave international crimes. The range of initiatives demonstrates just how interconnected are the different elements and dimensions of what may be understood as the “ecosystem” to deliver justice for serious international crimes. In Ukraine, it remains to be seen how all these elements will coordinate and interact with each other, as has also been the case in other situations. Renewed attention now on the role of the ICC and the importance of accountability provides an opportunity to reflect on the linkages within the broader system and the concrete ways in which governments through their support for a range of justice-related initiatives can bolster the system globally.
These dimensions include:

Providing financial, political, and practical support to domestic, hybrid, and international courts tackling grave international crimes;
Expanding the ICC’s membership to extend the court’s reach and victims’ access to justice;
Criminalizing and prosecuting grave crime domestically, including by ensuring that adequate legal and institutional frameworks are in place;
Showing greater consistency in the judicial response to atrocities wherever they occur; and
Restraining the use of the UN Security Council veto in situations of mass atrocities.

This side event aims to explore different elements and dimensions of the international justice ecosystem and discuss concrete steps that civil society organisations and governments are already taking to achieve the goal of bolstering accountability for serious crimes globally.
Opening remarks: Amb. Jaime Moscoso Valenzuela, Ambassador of Chile to the Netherlands
Panel:

Ehsan Qaane, Transitional Justice Coordination Group
Matevž Pezdirc, Head of EU Genocide Network Secretariat
Nadia Volkova, Ukraine Legal Advisory Group
Amb. Jose Antonio Zabalgoitia, Ambassador of Mexico to the Netherlands
Maria Elena Vignoli, Human Rights Watch

Moderator: Michelle Reyes Milk, No Peace Without Justice

Justice for the Rohingya: Paths Forward
2022-12-09 08:00 - 17:00 | The Hague, Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, The Hague, Netherlands
Side event to the 21st session of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC

Overview
Program Strategy
Program Activities
Program History
Partners & Donors

In the margins of the 21th Session of the International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties, the Delegations of Bangladesh and The Gambia to the ICC and No Peace Without Justice are convening a Side-event on “Justice for the Rohingya: Paths Forward”, to be held on 9 December 2021 (08h30 hrs CET).
In November 2019, at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Pre-Trial Chamber authorised the Prosecutor to open an investigation into the situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar over alleged crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution on grounds of ethnicity and/or religion against the Rohingya population. The investigation is currently ongoing.
At the same time, The Gambia suo moto filed the Rohingya case as a universal concern, by bringing genocide allegations before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); and seeking provisional measures directed towards ending the genocide, punishing the perpetrators who committed it and protecting and preserving the relevant evidence. The ICJ ordered provisional measures, including that Myanmar prevent and punish the commission of genocide and report to the ICJ periodically on measures to implement those provisional measures. Two weeks before the coup in early 2021, Myanmar lodged an objection to the case. With that pending, Myanmar’s Counter-Memorial is due in April 2023
Meanwhile, in Argentina, a universal jurisdiction Case was filed by Mr Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), alleging serious crimes including genocide against the Rohingya. On 26 November 2021, The Second Chamber of the Federal Criminal Court in Buenos Aires confirmed that it would launch a case against senior Myanmar officials, including General Min Aung Hlaing and much of the current junta’s senior leadership. Most recently, the Argentine Courts have sought relevant information from Meta in relation to material posted on Facebook that vilifies the Rohingya and spreads false information.
All the three Cases came together in a “perfect storm” in November 2019; despite their slow progression, the Cases continue to raise hopes that justice might eventually become a reality for the Rohingyas.
Three years on, this ASP side event aims to take stock of justice efforts for the Rohingyas, examining these efforts in the broader geopolitical context, including the influence of external circumstances, and in light of the expectations of Rohingya human rights activists and others. At the conclusion of the event, participants are expected to have a deeper understanding of the human rights situation for the Rohingyas, an appreciation of the wider geopolitical significance of the Cases and a greater commitment to the pursuit of justice in all appropriate fora.
Speakers at the side-event include:

Nazhat Shameem Khan, ICC Deputy Prosecutor in charge of the Myanmar/Bangladesh case
Mr. Hussein Thomasi , Solicitor General and Legal Secretary, Government of Gambia
Ambassador Laetitia Van Den Assum, former member of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State
Tun KHIN, President of Burma Rohingya Organisation UK
M Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands

Moderator: Representative from No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ)

Please register: hhttps://forms.gle/jPrmtWc7abtvCJVC8
RSVP: mission.hague@mofa.gov.bd
Concept note and program

Workshop on “International Charter-based human rights mechanisms”
2023-02-21 - 2023-02-23 | Djerba, Djerba, Tunisia
Djerba (Tunisia), 21-23 February 2023
In the framework of EU-funded ADALIT-Libya project, from 21 to 23 February, in Djerba (Tunisia), No Peace Without Justice is organising a training workshop on “International Charter-based human rights mechanisms”, which aims to gather a group of 25 to 30 representatives of Libyan CSOs selected by their involvement in the defence and protection of human rights in the country. The workshop is part of a large program being implemented by NPWJ and financially supported by the EU Delegation in Libya.
The main purpose of this workshop consists in the improvement of the knowledge of the UN Charted-based mechanisms (mandates, functions, etc.) among Libyan CSO’s members and HR defenders and the improvement of their capacities and skills in order to interact and collaborate with those mechanisms, for a wider effectiveness in protecting and promoting human rights in Libya.
Throughout the working sessions, the participants will achieve a deeper understanding of international HR mechanisms and of the main HR special procedures in the international field, while also learning to collaborate with HRC mechanisms with more efficiency.
During this workshop topics related to the context of HR international mechanisms will be examined, as well as the Charter-based mechanisms for the protection of human rights and the complaint procedures, several methods and main areas of collaboration between the Libyan CSOs and the mandate-holders (national and regional consultations, country visits, individual complaints and communications, etc.).
For further information, please contact: Frej Fenniche: ffenniche@npwj.org (English, French, العربية)

Workshop on “The Role of Libyan CSOs in Following up on the Implementation of the UPR Recommendations”
2023-03-11 - 2023-03-13 | Djerba, Djerba, Tunisia
In the framework of EU-funded ADALIT-Libya project, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) organisied a workshop on “The role of civil society organisations in the follow-up of the implementation by Libya of the UPR recommendations” in Djerba (Tunisia), from 11 to 13 March 2023.
This three-day workshop was led by a group of NPWJ experts and the 30 civil society organisations’ (CSO) members and human rights defenders (HRD) that will participate will be selected among those most involved in their organisation’s activities, concerned with monitoring, fact-finding and reporting on human rights violations.
The objectives of the workshop were three: first, to prepare a working plan for CSOs to clarify their role in the follow-up of the UPR recommendations’ implementation; second, to provide guidance and support to CSOs in drafting the shadow reports to submit for the mid-term review in 2023 and 2025; third, to start a dialogue on the human rights situation in Libya and the strategies CSOs and HRDs can adopt to protect and promote human rights.
The working sessions covered several topics related to the UPR recommendations and will also include debates and daily evaluations. In particular, the workshop focused on the review, discussion and classification of the recommendations approved by Libya and the identification of the parties responsible for their implementation. Moreover, the role of CSOs in following up and monitoring the implementation of recommendations was discussed and clarified, in order to facilitate the development of a national monitoring mechanism. Finally, the workshop discussed the establishment of a working group to prepare the UPR shadow reports.
For further information, please contact: Frej Fenniche: ffenniche@npwj.org (English, French, العربية)

Consultative meeting with the Attorney General of the Benghazi branch on the identification of training needs and design of training programs
2023-03-14 - 2023-03-15 | Djerba, Djerba, Tunisia
Djerba (Tunisia), 14-15 March 2023
In the framework of EU-funded ADALIT-Libya project, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) organized held on 14 and 15 March 2023 a consultative meeting with the Attorney general of the Benghazi branch on the identification of training needs and design of training programs. The meeting took place in Djerba, Tunisia and was anticipated by a preparatory informal meeting held in January in Benghazi with the President of the Benghazi Branch of the Public Advocates and 5 members of the Training Committee of this branch. Here, the gaps in knowledge and needs for training were identified and agreed upon.
This consultative meeting represented the first phase of an action plan aimed to develop and strengthen the skills of lawyers affiliated with the Department of Peoples’ Legal Defense in the field of legal assistance to Libyan citizens and foreigners residing in Libya in relation to the rule of law and human rights, especially in the case of groups most in need of legal aid and vulnerable to abuses.
Over the two days, we provided various concepts and explanations on the training system processes, with particular attention on methodology, objectives, training design, implementation, assessment and evaluation. In addition, participants learnt the importance of and necessity to apply guiding principles to trainings in the field of human rights, such as the respect for dignity and promotion of independence, equality and non-discrimination, participation and equal opportunities, accessibility and inclusivity, freedom of opinion and expression, and protection of personal data.
At the end of the meeting, participants agreed to approve the final version of the training needs identification questionnaire for the Benghazi Branch of Public Advocacy. This questionnaire was prepared during the meeting and participants agreed on distributing it to the members of the aforementioned, analysing its results and preparing an outline of the training plan accordingly.
Six lawyers from the DPLD branch in Benghazi participated to the consultative meeting (5 women and one man).

Workshop on improving the NCCLHR capacities and efficiency in protecting human rights in Libya
2023-03-20 - 2023-03-22 | Djerba, Djerba, Tunisia
Djerba (Tunisia), 20-22 March 2023
In the framework of EU-funded ADALIT-Libya project, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) organised
a training workshop on improving the National Council for Civil Liberties and Human Rights (NCCLHR) capacities and efficiency in protecting human rights in Libya and contributing to the follow-up of implementation by the Libyan government of the recommendations made by the UN human rights mechanisms. The workshop was held in Djerba (Tunisia) from 20 to 22 March 2023.
The workshop was also held in accordance with the third item of the cooperation agreement concluded on 21st November 2021, between the NCCLHR and NPWJ, which stipulated the development of a strategic plan for the NCCLHR aimed at supporting efforts aimed at promoting and consolidating the system of human rights and public liberties.
Twenty-nine staff members and members of the board of trustees of the NCCLHR attended the workshop. The training focused on the following main topics: Presentation of the UN human rights system and UN human rights mechanisms; presentation and discussion of the recommendations made on the Libya report to the UPR in 2020; open debate on the evaluation of the NCCLHR capacities; the main axes of a draft strategic plan to improve the NCCLHR capacities and performance. Practical sessions focused on reporting to UN human rights charter-based mechanisms, methods and possibilities of cooperating and interacting with UNHRC special procedures.

Validation workshop on study assessing “Guarantees of the right to a fair trial and mechanisms of access to justice in the Libyan legal system”
2023-05-27 | Tripoli, Libya
Tripoli, Libya, 27 May 2023
In the framework of EU-funded ADALIT-Libya project, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) elaborated a study on the “Guarantees of the right to a fair trial and mechanisms of access to justice in the Libyan legal system”.
The first part of the study focuses on the presentation of guarantees available to the accused and the victims, as well as judicial guarantees related to the proper administration of justice, by examining guarantees related to several relevant rights, such as the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time and before an independent and impartial court, the right to legal counsel, the right to remain silent, the right to the presumption of innocence, the right to be informed of the charges against the accused, the right to appeal, and the right to procedural balance between the public prosecution and the right to a trial based on the principle of confrontation between the parties in criminal proceedings (the adversarial principle or adversarial system). These two guarantees are conditions set by the European Court for the availability of the right to a fair trial. The second part focuses on the legal opportunities and real challenges in relation to a fair trial and access to justice.
A validation workshop on this assessment study was held on 27 May 2023 in Tripoli. It was organised in partnership with the International Humanitarian Law Centre (IHLC). During the workshop, the content and recommendations of the study where discussed. With this activity, we aimed at increasing and sharing knowledge of the guarantees stipulated in the international conventions to which Libya is a party and to explore whether such agreements are applicable on a national scale with regard to guaranteeing the fundamentals of a fair trial. The workshop also was a ground for discussing access to justice and the right to legal representation, especially for the most vulnerable groups, such as women, children, people with disabilities, and migrants.
In line with the structure and aims of the study, the discussion focused on two main pillars: a) the procedural safeguards to protect the right to a fair trial in criminal proceedings and b) mechanism for access to justice and public lawyer’s role as a legal aid system pillar. A space for public debate was given in both sections to facilitate exchanges and questions among participants.
27 experts, officials and professionals in the field of justice participated. More precisely, among them were the former Minister of Justice in the Government of National Accord, the former Military Prosecutor General, members of judicial bodies – including advisors, judges, court presidents, and prosecutors – deans of law faculties and teachers at Libyan universities, members of public and private legal practice, along with representatives from the media, the expert team responsible for the study. Members of the International Humanitarian Law Centre also participated.
The experts who drafted the assessment study gathered feedback from the workshop and incorporated it into the final version of the paper. The workshop also served as a preparatory exercise to the national consultation on the right to a fair trial and access to justice, held in Tripoli in July 2023, where the final version of the research paper was presented and adopted.

Training workshops on HR basics for NCCLHR staff in Libya
2023-07-16 - 2023-07-18 | Benghazi
Tripoli_Benghazi, Libya, 16-20 July 2023
In the framework of EU-funded ADALIT-Libya project, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) organised two training workshops on Human Rights basics for the National Council for Civil Liberties and Human Rights (NCCLHR) staff in Libya.
The first workshop was held in collaboration with EU Mousanada project, in Tripoli from 16 to 18 July 2023. Twenty-five staff members attended the workshops. The workshop agenda focused on the following issues: international HR instruments and mechanisms; international humanitarian law; the role of NHRIs in protecting and promoting human rights.
The second workshop was held in collaboration with EU Mousanada project, in Benghazi from 19 to 21 July 2023. Thirty-five staff members from the NCCLHR regional offices in the west, attended the workshop. The workshop agenda focused on the following issues: international HR instruments and mechanisms; international humanitarian law; the role of NHRIs in protecting and promoting human rights.

Workshop on “the guarantees of fair trial and mechanisms for access to justice for the most vulnerable groups in the Libyan legal system”
2023-07-22 - 2023-07-23 | Tripoli, Libya
Tripoli, Libya, 22-23 July 2023
In the framework of EU-funded ADALIT-Libya project, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ)
a workshop on “the guarantees of fair trial and mechanisms for access to justice for the most vulnerable groups in the Libyan legal system” was organised. It was held in Tripoli (Libya) on 22-23 July 2023. Each day was divided into three sessions, composed of presentations and interactive discussions among the participants.
Overall, the workshop highlighted the importance of Law No. 4 of 1984, which pertains to the establishment of the Public Lawyers Department and, specifically, one of its key principles ensured: namely the provision of free legal counsel and the accessibility of legal services to citizens, ensuring their access to justice and fair trials.
On the first day, special focus was given to presenting the assessment study on the justice system and fair trial justice for vulnerable groups within the Libyan legal system. This paper was presented by the two expert authors and then officially adopted. On the second day, space was also dedicated to highlight the specific mechanisms of international humanitarian law, particularly in relation to the armed conflicts that Libya has experienced, as well as on enforced disappearance and the concept of missing individuals in Libya. Participants also addressed and discussed the risks of trying civilians in military courts, for it is contradiction with human rights principles whereby civilians shall be tried in civilian courts.
Some key recommendations shared among participants included the necessity to align national legislation with international treaties ratified by the Libyan state, the need to activate the role of the National Human Rights Commission and redefining its scope of authority, as well as the necessity to establish specialised departments concerning human rights violations. Participants also addressed and acknowledged the challenges facing public prosecution, primarily centred around the insufficient legal training concerning criminal investigations in cases related to human rights violations.
Thirty-nine participants attended the workshop (legal experts and various civil and state actors in the field of human rights, judges, lawyers, etc). All attendees participated actively in the discussions, and all expressed unanimous consensus on the necessity to support the rule of law and establish the independence of the judiciary while respecting the commitments of the Libyan state concerning the right to litigation, fair trial conditions, and the available guarantees for judicial authority members in terms of accountability, evaluation, and judicial oversight to ensure greater effectiveness.

Support to the efforts of Libya to fulfill its HR reporting obligations
2023-09-16 - 2023-09-18 | Tunis, Tunis
16-18 September 2023, Tunis (Tunisia)
On the request by the MoJ, a workshop hosted by UNDP was organised in coordination with No Peace Without Justice and UNSMIL HRS/OHCHR and supported by the Italian government.
Background
In 2020, the Libyan Ministry of Justice (MoJ) established drafting committees to abide by the reporting requirements of the following international human rights mechanisms:

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ICRPD)

In addition, a fifth drafting committee was established to finalise the Core Common Document of Libya, which gives an overview on the national reporting mechanisms in support of the signed international treaties.
External national and international experts have been involved in providing support to each committee since then. No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and UNSMIL HRS/OHCHR have been supporting the drafting committees in the past three years, in line with the OHCHR resolution 42/30 on “promoting international cooperation to support national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up”. It should be mentioned that this workshop is part of the EC funded project implemented by NPWJ in cooperation with the MoJ since 2020.
Objectives, results and participants
The main objective of the workshop was to provide additional support to the drafting committees, through a refresher on the international reporting mechanisms for human rights and exchanges on updates and plans on the drafting process of the reports. On the last day, a concrete action plan for the finalisation, validation and submission of reports to their respective reporting mechanisms was developed.
Participants included members of the Libyan Ministry of Justice, members of the five drafting committees, international experts, representatives of UNDP, UNSMIL HRS/OHCHR, and NPWJ, UN and donor partners.
Following this refresher workshop, a validation workshop is foreseen for the end of the year to finalise the drafting process of these reports.
For further information, please contact Frej Fenniche (MENA Regional representative) on ffenniche@npwj.org or Nicola Giovannini (Press & Public Affairs Coordinator) on ngiovannini@npwj.org.

Luci oltre le sbarre. Carceri tra Italia e Libano
2023-09-28 | Rome, Rome, Italy
Casa Internazionale delle Done, Roma, 28 settembre 2023
Incontro e inaugurazione mostra
“Cibo insufficiente e di scarsa qualità, mancanza di medicinali, sovraffollamento. In Libano la popolazione carceraria conta piú di 8.000 detenuti, di cui quasi l’80% in attesa di giudizio. Nella sola prigione di Roumieh, la più grande del Paese, il numero di detenuti supera di tre volte la capacità prevista.
In questo contesto, la società civile è spesso chiamata a fornire risposte e servizi che dovrebbero essere garantiti dallo Stato: assistenza legale, formazione del personale, supporto psicologico o medico. All’interno del progetto promosso da ARCS, è stato possibile riunire istituzioni e attori della societá civile libanese insieme alla controparte italiana, in un’ottica di collaborazione e scambio di pratiche ed esperienze volte a far emergere le sfide poste dalle attuali difficoltà del sistema penitenziario e delle condizioni di vita dei detenuti e dei gruppi piú vulnerabili, e a cogliere l’opportunitá di questo confronto per proporre interventi di modifica e riforma dello stesso sistema, mettendo sul tavolo anche le difficoltá e le sfide comuni affrontate, a partire dalla questione del sovraffollamento.
Un’importante occasione – con ospiti italiani e libanesi – per raccontare il lavoro che da anni viene portato avanti da anni per promuovere il dibattito e la presa di coscienza sulle condizioni di detenzione in Libano, ridurre la separazione tra ciò che avviene dentro e fuori le carceri, riportare alla luce la funzione rieducativa della detenzione e innescare processi virtuosi di collaborazione tra istituzioni e società civile.
Oltre al dibattito, anche l’inaugurazione della mostra del fotografo libanese Haitham Moussawi, con foto inedite scattate all’interno del carcere di maschile di Beirut, simbolo delle condizioni in cui versano le carceri libanesi.

Per maggiori informazioni, cliccare qui

INPT International Colloquium: “Monitoring of detention conditions of people in vulnerable situation”
2023-11-23 - 2023-11-24 | Tunis, Tunis
On 23-24 November 2023, the Tunisian National Authority for the Prevention of Torture (INPT) is convening its eigth annual international colloquium in Tunis focusing on “Monitoring of detention conditions of people in vulnerable situation”.

Participants include high-level representatives of UN bodies and agencies and the African Union, members of civil society organisations and international experts, including Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, Secretary-General of No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), and Frej Fenniche, MENA régional Representative of NPWJ. The purpose of the two-day colloquium is to discuss the various strategies and mechanisms aimed at the prevention of torture and the protection of human rights of detainees in situation of vulnerability, the causes and the factors of vulnerability, as well as to exchange know-how and good practices in the monitoring of the conditions of detention and the treatment of vulnerable persons.
The event is co-organised by UNDP-Tunisia, in cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), OMCT – Réseau SOS Torture, No Peace Without Justice, Al-Kawakibi Democracy Transition Centre, Danish Institute for Human Rights, EuroMed Rights, Dignity (Danish Institute against Torture), Trust (Transition Redevable pour la Société Tunisienne) and DCAF-Geneva.
For further information, please contact Frej Fenniche (MENA Regional representative) on ffenniche@npwj.org or Nicola Giovannini (Press & Public Affairs Coordinator) on ngiovannini@npwj.org.

Side event on "Accountability for human rights violations against anti-slavery activists and human rights defenders"
2024-02-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, UN Human Rights Council, 55th Session, Palais des Nations, 29 February 2024
On the occasion of the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, No Peace Without Justice convened a side event on “Accountability for human rights violations against anti-slavery activists and human rights defenders”, which was held on Thursday 29 February 2024 (from 14:00 to 15:00, Room XXV, Palais des Nations, United Nations Office in Geneva).
Panelists of the meeting, which was chaired by Tara O’Grady, President, No Peace Without Justice, included Jeddou Abdel Wahab, anti-slavery activist; Vincent Diko Hanoune, anti-slavery activist; Hamadi Diarra, anti-slavery activist. Closing remarks were made by Marco Perduca, Board member, No Peace Without Justice.
This side event was intented as an opportunity for prominent representatives of the Mauritanian anti-slavery movement to brief United Nations Member States, relevant UN Bodies and Special Procedures, NGOs and other interested parties and provide an in-person update on the situation on the ground which continue to represent a blatant violation of Human Rights which need to be addressed by the international community to find justice and redress for victims and accountability for perpetrators.

Watch the video of the event on our YouTube Channel
Program and concept note
Flyer
Intervention by Vincent Diko Hanoune

For further information, please contact Gianluca Eramo (geramo@npwj.org) or Giacomo Canossa (gcanossa@npwj.org)

"After a Drug War: Ending Extrajudicial Drug War Killings and Extending Transitional Justice for Victims"
2024-03-21 14:00 - 15:00 | vienna, Austria
Side event, 67th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Vienna, 21 March 2024
Zoom (with optional registration): https://bit.ly/afteradrugwar
Zoom (direct meeting access): https://bit.ly/afteradrugwar-noreg
https://stopthedrugwar.org/ruleoflaw
Keynote Speaker: Leila de Lima
Senator, Republic of the Philippines from 2016-2022
(via Zoom)
Panel:
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General, Amnesty International (via Zoom)
Zaved Mahmood, Human Rights and Drug Policy Advisor, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Socorro Reyes, Human Rights Defender and Former University Professor of Leila de Lima
Intro by David Borden, Executive Director, DRCNet Foundation AKA StoptheDrugWar.org.
Panel and speaker-audience discussion moderated by Father Albert Alejo, Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical Gregorian University
and member of Board of Directors of No Peace Without Justice.
Drug wars sometimes lead to serious human rights abuses, of which the worst may be extrajudicial killings or real or supposed drug suspects. These can serve as an authoritarian populist tool by unprincipled leaders, both politically and as a weapon against political opposition and media. “After a Drug War” will discuss the experiences of countries that have suffered from this problem, and of leaders who have paid a price for standing up to it.
“After a Drug War” is organized by DRCNet Foundation AKA StoptheDrugWar.org, with cosponsors Human Rights and People Empowerment Center, NoBox Philippines, US Filipinos for Good Governance, Forum Droghe Associazione Movimento per il Contenimento dei Danni , No Peace Without Justice, and Alza Vita di Roma.
Please contact David Borden at +1 202-236-8620 or borden@drcnet.org for further information.
Visit https://stopthedrugwar.org/ruleoflaw for more about our work in this area, and visit https://stopthedrugwar.org/global for more about our work in the international system.

Human Rights in the Philippines: Accountability for continuing and past extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and abductions
2024-03-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
Side event, UN Human Rights Council, 55th Session, 27 March 2024, Room XXV, 12:00-13:00, Hybrid

Watch live on Youtube

Speakers
Leila de Lima – Former Secretary of Justice, former Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and former Senator of the Philippines
Alison Smith – Legal Counsel and International Justice Director, No Peace Without Justice
Socorro Reyes – Regional Governance Advisor, Centre for Legislative Development, Senior Research Fellow, La Salle Institute of Governance, Manila, Philippines
Samantha David – Project Development Officer, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
Moderator
Albert Alejo – Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy.
Organised by Franciscans International • Amnesty International • Alza Vita • CIVICUS • Dominicans for Justice and Peace • Fastenaktion • Forum-Asia • Human Rights Watch • iDefend • International Service for Human Rights • No Peace Without Justice • PAHRA • StoptheDrugWar.org • Task Force Detainees of the Philippines • World Council of Churches • World Organisation Against Torture
Background
The “war on drugs” was started by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. It continues under the current President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who was elected in June 2022. Monitoring by the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center shows that drug-related extrajudicial killings were higher in the first year of the Marcos administration than in the final year of the Duterte administration. According to official statistics, between 1 July 2016 and 31 May 2022, 6,252 people were killed by state agents. According to human rights groups, the figure rises to 30,000 when taking into account killings by unidentified gunmen.
The UN Human Rights Council adopted two resolutions in 2019 and 2020 in response to the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines. HRC 45/33 in 2020 on technical cooperation and capacity-building for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines and HRC 51/58 acknowledge the UN Joint Program for Human Rights (UNJP), aimed at pursuing a human rights-based approach to drug control and strengthening accountability mechanisms. The UNJP is ending in 2024. The program has shown disappointing results, with only three perpetrators in extrajudicial killings cases having been convicted as of November 2023. Despite this, the UNJP remains an important platform for civil society engagement with the Government. The Government, however, has not shown any interest in continuing the program as it stands and is pursuing a dilution of the program that would see civil society engagement considerably weakened.
The Government has also consistently refused to cooperate with the investigation being conducted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into possible crimes against humanity committed across the Philippines during the administration of Duterte. The Government has argued that the court no longer has jurisdiction over the Philippines after withdrawing from the ICC in March 2019.
In addition to continued impunity with regard to human rights violations committed during the “drug war”, the Philippines has been seeing rising extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, abductions, arbitrary arrests, attacks, harassment, threats and intimidation against human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organisations as part of “red-tagging” practices by the Government aimed at muzzling civic space and shutting down democratic dissent.
Within the framework of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, it is important to provide updates on the latest developments with regard to the human rights situation in the Philippines and to share the views of civil society in the Philippines and of UN Human Rights Experts.
Our Side Event seeks to provide this opportunity, in particular with the presence of former Senator Ms. Leila de Lima. Leila de Lima has been a staunch critic of Duterte’s anti-human rights policies. As a consequence of her persistent activism and her pursuit of accountability, she spent almost seven years behind bars on fabricated drug trafficking charges with manufactured testimonies being presented against her. In November 2023, Senator de Lima was granted bail on the final charge against her by Marcos’ administration. Senator de Lima will address the gathering, accompanied by the team that has been fighting for her freedom and pushing for justice for crimes committed in the Philippines during the “drug war”.
Objectives

To reflect on the way forward with regard to civic space in the Philippines in the face of continued and mounting assaults on freedom of opinion, expression, association and assembly.
To discuss the role that misogyny and gender-based discrimination have played in the vilification and harassment of women HRDs in the Philippines, through the prism of the very public case of Senator de Lima.
To share efforts of human rights organizations to support EJK widows and orphans of the horrific “Drug War” policy in the Philippines in rebuilding their lives.
To reflect on the failures and achievements of the UN Joint Program in light of regressive Government proposals for the next iteration and to reiterate calls for an evaluation of the program by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

– For further information, please contact Nicola Giovannini at ngiovanninni@npwj.org

NPWJ will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary with an International Conference in Rome
2024-05-18 | Campidoglio, Rome, Italy
On Saturday 18 May 2024, Non c’è Pace Senza Giustizia / No Peace Without Justice will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary with an International Conference at the Campidoglio, in Rome.
Over these thirty years, NPSG has waged countless battles for justice and accountability, giving voice to the victims of atrocities and fighting against impunity for violations and crimes of international law. We have done so through international advocacy campaigns; on-the-ground documentation of crimes; legal and technical support for negotiations; contributions to the jurisprudence, and doctrine, as well as our role in the establishment and functioning of international justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court.
The common thread that ties these initiatives together is the belief that freedom for each of us is only a Right if it is protected by law; human rights must not just be aspirations, but must be backed and guaranteed by effective institutional and legal mechanisms that ensure compliance. Throughout our work, we have observed and directly experienced how impunity and the denial of justice create power dynamics based on the denial of freedom and violence: “dove c’è strage di diritto, c’è strage di popoli.”
The scale and brutality of atrocities committed before the eyes of the world to this day, and especially the impunity with which they are now openly flaunted, seem to deny the very existence of law and the legitimacy of the accountability mechanisms that we have helped set up over the past thirty years. But the conclusion we firmly reject is that international law is therefore irrelevant or useless.
On the contrary, increasing impunity is what makes it all the more necessary for us to reaffirm that universal rules and principles of law do exist and must be applied. We therefore turn these rules and principles into action, through our commitment to support indigenous communities in the Amazon fighting for the simple right to exist, or in Libya alongside human rights defenders opposing oppression and violence, as well as our colleagues in Ukraine as much as in the Philippines, in Myanmar as much as in Palestine, in Sudan as much as in Afghanistan.
For this reason, the purpose of the Conference, to which will participate political leaders, human rights defenders and civil society activists from various parts of the world, is not only to celebrate with us the milestone of thirty years of political initiatives, but above all to help us imagine the next thirty years, and how to turn the challenges we face today into sustained new actions in favour of freedom, law, peace and, therefore, justice.
Participation in the event is free, but registration on Eventbrite is required: https://bit.ly/NPWJat30
Live Streaming:
https://tinyurl.com/Youtube-NPWJ30Y-EN (English)
https://tinyurl.com/Youtube-NPWJ30Y-IT (Italian)
For more information, please contact info@npwj.org
Preliminary Program
(Click here to download the pdf version)
08:30 – 09:00 Arrival of Participants: Coffee and Registration
09:10 Participants Seated
09:15 Welcome Greetings
Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome (TBC)
Mattia Peradotto, National Office Against Racial Discrimination, Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Rosario Aitala, First Vice-President, International Criminal Court
09:30 Opening: Tara O’Grady, President of NPWJ
Keynote: Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, former ICC and ICC-ASP President
09:45 Call to Action: Chief Raoni, Indigenous Leader
10:00 Accountability in Action
Moderator: Niccolò Figà Talamanca, NPWJ Secretary General
Nazhat Khan, Deputy Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
Alpha Sesay, Deputy Minister of Justice, Republic of Sierra Leone
Isatou Touré, former Vice-President of Gambia
Almir Narayamogs Suruí, Indigenous Paiter Suruí Leader, Rondônia, Brazil
Nader Nadery, Afghan Human Rights Activist, Senior Fellow at the Wilson Centre
Emma Bonino, founder of No Peace Without Justice
11:15 Keynote: Hatice Cengiz, Scholar and Human Rights Activist
11:30 Coffee Break on the Terrazza della Protomoteca (meeting with the press in “Sala Laudato Si”)
12:00 International Advocacy
Moderator: Fabio Maria Galiani, International Criminal Lawyer
Interventions:
Maurício Ye’kwana, Yanomami and Ye’kwana leader, Roraima State, Brazil
Barbara Ibrahim, Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, American Univ Cairo
Khady Koita, Human Rights Activist and President of La Palabre, Thiès, Senegal
Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Afghanistan
Giovanni Fontana, Human Rights Activist, Co-Founder of Second Tree
Ahmed Abofoul, Int’l Lawyer and a Human Rights Advocate, Al-Haq, Palestine
Marcos Orellana, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Toxics
13:15 Colazione on the Terrazza of the Protomoteca
14:30 The International Legal Environment and the Problem of Compliance
Moderator: Marco Perduca, NPWJ Board Members
Interventions:
Mauro Politi, former ICC Judge, Professor at the University of Trento
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Palestine
Nasser Algheitta, Professor of International law and Human Rights, Libya
Victor Ochen, Human Rights Activist, Executive Director of AYINET Uganda
Salvatore Zappalà, Professor of International Law, Univesity of Catania
Rodney Dixon KC, South African International Human Rights Lawyer, London
David Donat-Cattin, Professor of International Law and Climate Change, Center for Global Affairs, NYU
16:00 Closing Session
Moderator: Albert Alejo, Human Rights and Peoples Empowerment Centre, Philippines
Interventions:
Leila De Lima, former Senator, Philippines (v)
Sayed Yousif Almuhafdha, Bahraini Human Rights Activist and Researcher
Flavia Lattanzi, Professor emeritus Int’l Law, Un. Roma Tre, ad litem Judge ICTY/ICTR
Hussein Sabbagh, Syrian Human Rights Activist, Euro Syrian Democratic Forum
Barbaros Sansal, Turkish Human Rights Activist
Niccolò Figà Talamanca, NPWJ Secretary General
17:15 Vote of Thanks
Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, former ICC and former ICC-ASP President
Tara O’Grady, NPWJ President
17:30 Aperitivo on the Terrazza of the Protomoteca
18:00 Assemblea dei Soci di Non c’è Pace Senza Giustizia ETS (No Peace Without Justice ETS AGM)
20:00 Tour of the Musei Capitolini : “La Notte dei Musei”

Con il Patrocinio del Comune di Roma

NPWJ Press Conference: MBS evades arrest by foregoing G7 Summit
2024-06-14 14:00 - 15:00 | Bari, Italy
“Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman evades a request for arrest for the torture and murder of Jamal Khashoggi, by pulling out of the G7 Summit.”
On Friday 14 June 2024, at 14h00 at the Hotel B21, in Via Giuseppe Verdi, 58, 70132 Bari (at 500 metres from the G7 Media Centre of the Fiera del Levante) No Peace Without Justice, with the participation of President Tara O’Grady and Secretary General Niccolò Figà Talamanca, as well as Avv. Fabio Maria Galiani, held a Press Conference on the request for the arrest of Saudi Prince Mohamed Bin Salman for the torture and murder of Jamal Khashoggi and his pulling-out from attending the G7 Summit.
Watch the video recording of the Press Conference:
– on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/nhUrODlvUc0
– on Radio Radicale
Media coverage:

Bin Salman diserta il G7, ‘temeva l’arresto per Khashoggi’
Denuncia di No Peace Without Justice contro il principe saudita
ANSA, 14 giugno 2024
https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/speciali/g7-italia/2024/06/14/bin-salman-diserta-il-g7-temeva-larresto-per-khashoggi_999aea0f-f18b-450e-92a1-6f36d98fba4a.html
https://x.com/Agenzia_Ansa/status/1801653933498130768
Perché Mohammed bin Salman non era al G7?
di Marco Perduca, Huffington Post, 14 Giugno 2024
https://www.huffingtonpost.it/blog/2024/06/14/news/perche_mohammed_bin_salman_non_era_al_g7-16186702/
La denuncia della Ong: «Se fosse venuto il principe saudita rischiava l’arresto»
Retroscena del summit. Bin Salman assente dal vertice, la denuncia di No peace without justice per l’omicidio del giornalista saudita Jamal Khashoggi.
Giovanna Branca, inviata a Bari, Il Manifesto, 14 giugno 2024
https://ilmanifesto.it/la-denuncia-della-ong-se-fosse-venuto-il-principe-saudita-rischiava-larresto
Mandato di cattura per la morte di Khashoggi. Salman assente per evitare l’arresto
Il Messaggero, 14 giugno 2024 (download pdf)

Theatrical performance and conference highlighting the plight of Prisoners, Missing Persons, and Torture Victims in Syria
2024-06-25 17:00 - 20:00 | De Zeyp, Brussels, Belgio
On 25 June 2024, No Peace Without Justice, together with a number of Syrian human rights organisations, are organising an event in Brussels at De Zeyp (Rue Zeyp 47, 1083 Ganshoren) with the aim to highlight the plight of Prisoners, Missing Persons, and Torture Victims in Syria.
The main highlight of the event is a theatrical performance titled “Galati” by Nawar Bulbul, telling the story of French journalist Michel Seurat. The performance of “Galati” serves not only as a powerful reminder of the suffering endured but also as a call to action for the global community to end these human rights violations.
In addition to the play, there will be speeches from representatives of human rights organizations and testimonies from survivors, emphasizing the conference’s goals:
– Demanding the release of all prisoners in Syrian prisons, regardless of nationality, with a focus on Syrians, Lebanese, and Palestinians.
– Calling on Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the Syrian Democratic Forces, and armed factions to unconditionally release all political prisoners.

The inhumane conditions in Assad’s prison dungeons violate all human rights laws, and the international community’s failure to stop this brutality normalises violence and brutality. It has now been thirteen years, and the fate of most activists imprisoned in Assad’s jails remains unknown. The Syrian regime has not distinguished between Syrians and others. The Caesar photos proved that both Syrians and non-Syrians, including Lebanese, Palestinians, Jordanians, and Iraqis, died under torture. Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. State Department announced the death of Syrian-American doctor Majd Kamalmaz under torture in Syrian regime prisons.
This event is part of a series taking place from 20 to 30 June 2024, in various cities across Syria, Turkey and Europe. These dates were chosen to coincide with the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June, reinforcing our commitment to raising awareness about these atrocities and advocating for justice.

Side Event “Philippine Cooperation and ASP Support: Their Implications for Asia and the ICC System”
2024-12-03 | The Hague, Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, The Hague, Netherlands
23rd ASP to the ICC, The Hague, 3 December 2024, 13.15 -14.45 (Antartica, World Forum)
Co-hosted by Center Law, Justice and Peace Netherlands, Network against Killings in the Philippines (NAKPhil), No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court (PCICC) and StoptheDrugWar.org

Side-event “Getting the ICC to a Meaningful Legacy: Challenges and Opportunities in Situation “Completions”
2024-12-03 | The Hague, Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, The Hague, Netherlands
23rd ASP to the ICC, The Hague, 3 December 2024, 8.30-9.45 (Europe 1 & 2)
Co-hosted by Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Human Rights Watch, (HRW), Lawyers For Justice in Libya (LFJL), No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ)

The ICC as a permanent institution does not face the same pressures experienced at ad hoc tribunals to complete or wind down their work. At the same time, however, robust situation-specific strategies regarding how the court will assess that its work is complete in a given situation will enable the court to (a) define and better support the execution of its mandate to provide meaningful justice in each of its situation countries; (b) consolidate its legacy in those countries; and (c) communicate clearly with its stakeholders to inform expectations, minimize disappointment and disillusionment, and maximize cooperation and support. The 2020 Independent Expert Review also recommended the development of such strategies from the outset of an investigation.
Elements of “completion” are already underway at the court. In 2021, the Office of the Prosecutor issued its Policy on Situation Completion, and has since announced the completion of the investigation phase—the first of two parts of the completion process under the policy–in Georgia, Central African Republic, Kenya, and Uganda. The prosecutor has also announced that his office plans to complete investigations in Libya by the end of 2025. Libya is the first situation in which the Office of the Prosecutor has provided advance notice of its intention to complete the investigation phase in a country situation. This provides an opportunity to reflect on the Office’s approach to completion, distill lessons learned from its practice to date in situations where investigations have been completed as well as from other tribunals, and make forward-looking recommendations to the Office of the Prosecutor, and the court more broadly.
Please join us for a panel discussion exploring these issues in the margins of the 23rd Assembly session with:

Alison Smith, No Peace Without Justice
Sarah Kasande, International Center for Transitional Justice
Representative of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor
Serena Zanirato, Lawyers for Justice in Libya representative

The discussion will be moderated by Maria Elena Vignoli, Human Rights Watch. H.E. Corinne Cicéron Bühler, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Netherlands, will deliver opening remarks.
– Download the flyer of the event
– Check also NPWJ and HRW joint submission on the ICC Office of the Prosecutor draft Policy on Situation Completion

Quelle Europe pour les femmes de la diversité ?
2024-12-10 16:00 - 18:30 | European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
Parlement européen (Bruxelles), bâtiment Paul-Henri Spaak 4B1, 10 décembre 2024 de 16h à 18h15
Animé par des figures engagées, ce débat abordera les questions d’inclusion, d’égalité et de lutte contre les violences, les discriminations et le racisme. Par cette rencontre, nous souhaitons mettre en valeur des parcours de femmes migrantes, pour leur permettre de partager leurs expériences de terrain et les défis qu’elles rencontrent en matière de participation citoyenne.
Ces échanges serviront à la rédaction d’un Manifeste de propositions pour une Europe universaliste, solidaire et ouverte à la diversité. Ce manifeste visera à renforcer l’intégration et l’action des femmes migrantes pour soutenir nos plaidoyers à la veille du bilan de Pékin +30.
Orateurs :

Djemila Benhabib, politologue et écrivaine, présidente du Collectif Laïcité Yallah
Elenie Bernard, animatrice en éducation permanente du Collectif des femmes
Niccolo’ Figà-Talamanca, No Peace Without Justice
Kady Koita, présidente de La Palabre Asbl (Sénégal-Belgique) et experte internationale des violences sexuelles faites aux femmes et aux filles.
Adèle Mukadi Masengo, Maison de l’Initiative Citoyenne
Lailuma Sadid, journaliste afghane en exil.

Rencontre organisée avec le soutien d’Estelle Ceulemans, Députée – Groupe de l’Alliance Progressiste des Socialistes et Démocrates au Parlement européen.
Cette rencontre s’inscrit dans le cadre du 3ème festival des droits humains au féminin se tenant à Bruxelles du 7 au 10 décembre 2024.
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From Resolutions to Reality: Reigniting the Global Movement to End FGM
2025-02-04 13:00 - 14:30
Webinar
Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1:00-2:30PM EST / 10:00-11:30AM PST / 11:00AM-12:30PM MST / 6:00-7:30PM GMT / 7:00-8:30PM CET / 8:00-9:30PM IST / 9:00-10:30PM AST
For decades, women’s rights activists, parliamentarians, grassroots organisations and government representatives worldwide have united to combat female genital mutilation (FGM) and other forms of violence against women that are perpetrated in the name of preserving cultural practices, but constitute grave violations of the human rights of women. In the lead-up to the globally observed International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February, and more than 12 years after the adoption of the landmark UN General Assembly Resolution 67/146 banning FGM worldwide, this International Center for MultiGenerational Legacies of Trauma in collaboration with No Peace Without Justice webinar, convenes a distinguished panel of experts and activists. Together, they will examine the ongoing challenges faced by the anti-FGM movement and explore strategies to reinvigorate efforts for meaningful change for current and future generations.
Speakers:
Alimatu Dimonekene, MBE
A passionate human rights advocate, public speaker, and champion of survivor-led advocacy and community engagement, Alimatu is originally from Sierra Leone and now based in the UK. She focuses on youth empowerment and encouraging girls as agents of change. As founder and director of A Girl At A Time (SL), a social impact organisation, she designed impactful programs with culturally-adaptive strategies in combatting harmful traditional practices such as FGM.
Comfort Momoh, MBE
A renowned midwife, author, and activist dedicated to combating female genital mutilation (FGM), originally from Nigeria, Comfort has been based in the UK since 1985. She established the African Well Women’s Clinic in London in 1997 providing specialized care to women affected by FGM, including reparative surgery. A leading voice in raising awareness and supporting survivors, Comfort has made significant contributions to the global fight against FGM.
Rugiatu Neneh Turay
A leading advocate against FGM and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone. As the founder of the Amazonian Initiative Movement, she leads courageous grassroots efforts to empower women and combat child marriage and violence against women. Rugiatu previously served as Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, using her position to push for stronger policies to protect women and children.
Khady Kolta
A Senegalese activist, author, and influential advocate in the global fight against FGM and forced marriage. A survivor herself, her experiences have fueled her advocacy, making her one of the most recognized voices on these issues in Europe and Africa. She is the author of Mutilée and the founder and president of La Palabre, a women’s rights organisation that established a shelter for vulnerable women in Senegal.
Giulia Schiavoni
A human rights and gender activist and Program Adviser for the Gender & Human Rights Program at No Peace Without Justice, Jiulia has worked on initiatives addressing systemic gender inequality, including co-authoring a study on child marriage in Italy. Her work focuses on practical strategies to tackle pressing human rights challenges, particularly those impacting gender equity and vulnerable groups.
Moderator:
Yael Danieli
A Clinical psychologist, traumatologist, victimologist and psychohistorian, Dr. Danieli is Founder, Executive Director and Senior Representative to the United Nations of the International Center for MultiGenerational Legacies of Trauma (ICMGLT); Director, Group Project for Holocaust Survivors and their Children and Past-President, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
REGISTER FOR WEBINAR HERE
DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION

Workshop on Enhancing Civil Society Contributions to Libya’s Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Cycle
2025-02-24 - 2025-02-26 | Tunis, Tunis
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Libya, the Rule of Law & Human Rights Section of UNSMIL/OHCHR (UNSMIL HRS), UN Women, and No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), with the generous support of the European Union and the Italian Government, are organizing a workshop on Enhancing Civil Society Contributions to Libya’s Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Cycle (Nov. 2025). The workshop will take place from 24 to 26 February 2025 in Tunis, Tunisia.

The workshop is building on previous efforts and in response to requests from CSAs, aiming at strengthening their capacity to engage with the UPR and other international human rights mechanisms, ensuring that UPR reports are aligned with international guidance, gender mainstreamed, and submitted on time, fostering network and coalition-building among Libyan CSAs. They further will develop a concrete action plan to prepare four thematic parallel reports with one on migrants and asylum seekers, one on freedom of assembly and expression, one on arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, and one on women’s rights. The workshop will also support advocacy efforts, including a briefing by workshop participants to the international community.

As part of this initiative, a dedicated session is organized on 26 February for the International Community and Member States to explore ways to support the Libyan UPR 2025 process. This session aims at facilitating an exchange between national civil society actors (CSAs) and embassies in Libya by creating sustainable links between national CSAs and Member States, prior to the review in Geneva in November 2025. The meeting will provide evidence of implementation, especially on the recommendations made by Member States during the last UPR in 2020.

Concept noted agenda of the workshop

For further information, please contact Frej Fenniche, MENA Regional Representative (ffenniche@npwj.org)

"Beyond Rhetoric: The EU's Role in Upholding International Justice"
2025-03-06 11:30 - 12:30 | European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
On 6 March 2025, the European Parliament hosted a crucial discussion as part of the Third EUmans Congress. Co-organised by EUmans, No Peace Without Justice and Parliamentarians for Global Action, this session entitled “Beyond Rhetoric: The EU’s Role in Upholding International Justice” focused on the rising threats to international justice, with a particular emphasis on the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC is facing significant challenges from multiple fronts. These include sanctions and targeted hybrid campaigns from States who are not parties to the Rome Statute, as well as troubling actions by ICC States Parties, ranging from selective cooperation to outright violations of the duty to cooperate, including recently a State Party facilitating the escape of an ICC fugitive. These attacks are seriously undermining the Court’s effectiveness and the EU and its Member States have failed to take concrete action in support of the Court or even to uphold their legal obligations.
During the event, Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler, ICC Registrar, briefed Members of Parliament about the impact on the Court of the multiple attacks against its operations and independence. Members of the European Parliament from diverse political groups and representatives from civil society discussed how the EU and its Member States can effectively address these challenges and reaffirm and comply with their legal obligations to defend and support international justice.
The session was intended to explore the EU’s critical role in safeguarding the ICC, ensuring compliance with its rulings, and reinforcing the international rule of law. Among the key discussion points, panelists addressed:
● The growing array of threats to the ICC, including sanctions, selective support for investigations, and non-compliance with the Court’s rulings.
● The EU’s legal responsibility to ensure Member States uphold ICC decisions, including a discussion of the potential legal consequences for non-compliance.
● The role of the EU’s Blocking Statute, a critical tool designed to counter non-EU sanctions.
The session also called for a unified EU approach to defending the ICC and the Rome Statute, ensuring that political compromises, selective enforcement, and non-compliance do not undermine the EU’s commitment to international justice.Aligned with EUmans’ principles, the event also encouraged public engagement and advocacy, urging EU citizens to hold the EU and its Member States accountable for upholding foundational values and legal responsibilities in defending global justice.
EUmans is a pan-European movement focusing on promoting fundamental rights, sustainability, and democratic innovation through civic participation and transnational initiatives. Their Third Congress represented a crucial moment to collectively decide on future challenges and invest in the expansion of European democracy, driven by a citizen-led movement
Agenda of the session
11:40 – 12:30 “Beyond Rhetoric: The EU’s Role in Upholding International Justice”
– Chair: Niccolò FIGÀ-TALAMANCA – Secretary General, No Peace Without Justice
– Keynote speaker: Osvaldo ZAVALA GILER – Registrar of the International Criminal Court
– Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR – MEP, S&D
– Hanna GEDIN – MEP, The Left
– Alice AUTIN – Communications and International Justice Officer at Human Rights Watch
– Frederika SCHWEIGHOFEROVA – Director of International Law and Human Rights Program at Parliamentarians for Global Action

Video recording of the session
See specific report of the session on PGA website
Program and concept note of the session

For further information or media enquiries, please contact: Nicola Giovannini (ngiovannini@npwj.org) – Lorenzo Mineo (lorenzo.mineo@eumans.org)
