NPWJ

Side event on "Accountability for human rights violations against anti-slavery activists and human rights defenders"
2024-02-29 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Rome) | 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)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 “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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

HELP: towards a human-rights coordinated against terrorism
2022-06-22 08:00 - 2022-06-23 17:00
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)

Annual International Conference on “The Future of Human Rights"
2022-06-16 14:00 - 18:00 | Library Reading Room, Spinelli 5th floor D, Brussels, Belgium
European Parliament, Brussels, 16-17 June 2022
On 16-17 June 2022, the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) is holding a joint conference with Fight Impunity and No Peace without Justice, to shed light of abuses against human rights, to foster a better-informed public debate on the subject, and to help generate a stronger commitment to prioritise it with resources internationally.
The conference will bring together representatives from European Union and United Nations, international experts, academics, civil-society representatives, and actors engaged in the process of defending human rights and fighting against impunity worldwide. The protection of human rights and the fight against impunity are today, more than ever, a very major pressing global challenge and one that needs to be highlighted and addressed with urgency. In recent months, we have seen a very significant growth in grave human rights violations of various kinds, and the purpose of this conference will be to shed light on such abuse, to foster a better-informed public debate on this subject, and to help generate a greater commitment to prioritise it with appropriate resources internationally.
Please, register here to attend the conference (before June 11th at 6:00 pm): https://forms.gle/acNssrPFX2p8c1Py7
You can also attend this event online on Interactio, with no need for registration. Please click on the following link: https://broadcaster.interactio.eu/join/3m7x-bvl3-haig (only active on the days of the conference).

Program of the Conference
Date and time: 16 June, 14:00-18:00 / 17 June, 09:30-18:00
Venue: Library Reading Room, Spinelli 5th floor D, European Parliament, Brussels

Justice for Myanmar, at the ICJ and Beyond
2022-02-22 10:00 - 11:00
After over 60 years of serious human rights abuses and mass atrocities, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by Myanmar’s military, it is only recently that the international community has taken steps to hold the Tatmadaw to account. Impunity has emboldened the military and was an enabling factor for the military’s February 2021 coup.
While at present, international accountability efforts are focused on justice for the Rohingya, however, these cases importantly break the cycle of impunity and lay the groundwork for accountability for other communities in Myanmar, including crimes against other ethnic groups, as well as crimes committed in the context of the coup. This panel will explore how the ICJ proceedings complement other international accountability efforts, and discuss how they can inform future cases and investigations against the Myanmar military.

Register here https://t.co/fKlH6ZgxKe

Out of “The Bush School”. Acting against FGM in Liberia and beyond
2022-02-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Online event
On 8 February 2022, a virtual event will be hosted by No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and Zona. Starting with the projection of the documentary “The Bush School” (2020), by Italian journalist and filmmaker Emanuela Zuccalà, we will discuss the efficacy of existing legal instruments and policies against FGM and the avenues for their improvement. The presentation of the documentary will be the basis of a wider debate on contrast to FGM in Liberia as well as in Europe and the rest of the world.
The event will also feature the presentation of 28 Too Many’s recent report “The Law and FGM – Europe” (December 2021).
The event, moderated by Gianfranco dell’Alba (President, No Peace Without Justice), will include interventions by Giulia Schiavoni, Gender and Human Rights Program Adviser, No Peace Without Justice; Emanuela Zuccalà, author of “The Bush School”; Phyllis Nguma Kimba, Executive Director NATPAH/Liberia; Antric Jalloh, Liberian women and children’s rights advocate & SGBV survivor, GOESC; Rugiatu Neneh Turay, Sierra Leonean anti FGM campaigner and women leader activist; Laurent Delahousse, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Liberia; Dr Ann-Marie Wilson, Founder and Executive Director, 28 Too Many; Chiara Adamo, Human Rights, equality and democracy Head of Unit, European Commission; Khady Koita, President, La Palabre; Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, MEP (The Greens/EFA); Alessandra Moretti, MEP (S&D); Frances Fitzgerald, MEP (EPP).
Participation in the event is free, but registration on EventBrite is required in order to get the direct link to the conference.
The live stream of the event can be followed on our social media pages: Facebook and Youtube

Program of the event

For further information, contact Francesca Basso ( fbasso@npwj.org )

The Path Forward for the Rohingya Community
2022-02-01 08:00 - 17:00
The Rohingya community has long suffered under the Myanmar government’s decades-long policies of persecution against them, which were only exacerbated during and in the wake of the 2017 acts of genocide against them. Today, over a million Rohingya remain outside Myanmar, and an additional 600,000 in Rakhine continue to suffer. Following the February 2021 military coup, the prospect of Rohingyas’ safe return to Myanmar is even more precarious, as is the situation of those still in the country. This panel is an opportunity for international policymakers and advocates to hear directly from Rohingya leaders about challenges currently facing the community, and how the international community can best support the Rohingya people.

Register here https://t.co/0MdQ2U0t61

Side-event on “Ecocide: From Amazonia to Oceania to the Hague.
2021-12-16 08:00 - 17:00
20th ASP to the ICC, The Hague, 16 December 2021, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM CET
In the margins of the 20th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (ASP), No Peace Without Justice and Seja Legal Campaign are organising a conference on ecocide as part of its ongoing project “Amazonia Beyond the Crisis – Accountability for deforestation: preventing further violations against human rights and protecting against continuous environmental and economic destructions”.
This event aims to contribute to the ongoing discussions about ecocide and to build political will towards criminalising ecocide at the national and international levels. More importantly, it will invite global leaders who will have gathered on the occasion of the 20th session of the ASP in the Hague to commit and actively join this journey towards more stringent environmental protections through the lens of criminal justice. In this context, the event will also enrich the ongoing discussions by bringing direct perspectives, testimonies, and expertise of those who are most affected by environmental destruction into the debate. Finally, it is aimed at launching a deeper analysis that will tackle the intersectionality between criminalising ecocide and protecting human rights, including indigenous rights.
Speakers will include: Michelle Reyes Milk – No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ); Paulo Barreto, Senior researcher of Amazon Institute of Man and Environment (Imazon) & spokesperson of Be Legal with Amazon Campaign; Rev. James Bhagwan, Secretary-general of the Pacific Conference of Churches; Olympia Bekou, University of Nottingham; Marie Toussaint, MEP; Kattrin Jadin, Member of the Belgian Parliament.
Interpretation will be available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian.

Program and concept note (in pdf format)

Participation in the event is free, but registration is required in order to get the direct link to the conference:
https://tinyurl.com/2rcnj9vx
The live stream of the event can be followed on our social media pages:

Facebook
Twitter
Youtube

“Towards the Libyan Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture”
2021-12-13 08:00 - 2021-12-14 17:00
Tunisia, 13-14 December 2021
No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), in collaboration with the National Council for Public Freedoms and Human Rights-Libya, the Libyan Bar Association, DIGNITY, the National Mechanism on the prevention of Torture-Tunisia and the Human Rights, Rule of Law and Transitional Justice/UNSMIL, is organizing a workshop on « Towards the Libyan Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture » to be held in Tunis on 13-14 December 2021.
The aim of the Workshop is to identify key challenges and opportunities for ratification and implementation of the OPCAT in Libya, with a view to developing a road map and plan of action for such ratification and implementation.
Experiences of Tunisia, Palestine, Morocco, Denmark and France will be presented by representatives of their national prevention mechanisms. The event will be attended by high level representatives of concerned ministries and entities, including the High Judiciary Council and Parliament, with the CSOs participation.
The workshop is part of a comprehensive program implemented by NPWJ with the financial support of the European Union, aiming at strengthening the capacity of Libyan government institutions and civil society organizations to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms and use them to promote Human Rights in Libya.
The live stream of the event can be followed on our social media pages:

FB page of NPWJ/NPSG (English)
FB page of NPWJ’s Libya Team (Arabic)

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