NPWJ

Theatrical performance and conference highlighting the plight of Prisoners, Missing Persons, and Torture Victims in Syria
2024-06-25 17:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Rome) | 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.
– Formulaire d’inscription

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)

Tunisia: The Weaponisation of the Criminal Justice System in the Context of the Judicial Independence Crisis
2025-03-06 15:00 - 16:00 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: Room XXV Palais des Nations, Geneva
Date & Time: 6 March 2025, 15:00
Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF), World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), EuroMed Rights, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), and the Committee for the Respect of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia (CRLDHT) are organising a side event at the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council. This discussion will examine the erosion of judicial independence in Tunisia and the increasing use of the criminal justice system to suppress dissent.
Objective:
This event will provide a platform for legal experts, human rights defenders, and affected individuals to inform the international community and UN human rights mechanisms about the implications of the ongoing crackdown on judicial independence and fundamental freedoms in Tunisia. Discussions will focus on the broader regional and international impact of these developments, as well as potential avenues for engagement and reform.
Speakers Include:
Senior legal and human rights experts, representatives of civil society organizations, Individuals with direct experience of the crisis.

Shared Mistakes: Societies Address Mass Incarceration, the Death Penalty and Extrajudicial Killings
2025-03-11 16:30 - 17:00 | vienna, Austria
Side event at the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs
in-person: March 11, 4:30-5:00pm CET, Room M0E05, Vienna International Center
Zoom (with optional registration): https://bit.ly/sharedmistakes
Zoom (direct meeting access): https://bit.ly/sharedmistakes-noreg
Speakers:
Father Albert Alejo SJ, Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical Gregorian University
Kemba Smith-Pradia, Kemba Smith Foundation (see bio below)
Jiavern Tham, Project Officer, HAYAT
Reaction from:
Alison Smith, Legal Counsel and International Justice Director, No Peace Without Justice
Moderator:
David Borden, Executive Director, DRCNet Foundation AKA StoptheDrugWar.org
Across the world, many countries have imposed draconian legal sanctions, and sometimes illegal sanctions, in response to real or alleged drug law violations. “Shared Mistakes” will focus on the issues of mass incarceration, the death penalty, and extrajudicial killings, with speakers from Malaysia, the Philippines and United States discussing the policies and achieved or hoped-for reforms.
“Shared Mistakes” is organized by DRCNet Foundation AKA StoptheDrugWar.org, with Associazone Luca Coscioni, Drug Policy Alliance, European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies, Forum Droghe, HAYAT and No Peace Without Justice.

Flyer of the side event
Bio of Kemba Smith-Pradia

Please contact David Borden at +1 202-236-8620 or borden@drcnet.org for further information. Visit https://stopthedrugwar.org/ruleoflaw and https://stopthedrugwar.org/global to read about our international programs.

Accountability for Crimes Against Migrants. International Criminal Responsibility for Aiding and Abetting Crimes Against Humanity
2025-03-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
Side Event at the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Date & Time: Wednesday, 26 March 2025 | 15:00 – 16:00 CET
Venue: Conference Room XXV, Palais des Nations, United Nations, Geneva
Live streaming on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/81BR9CWft
Organisers: No Peace Without Justice, Refugees in Libya, front-LEX, Ligue Tunisienne pour la Défense des Droits de l’homme, EuroMed Rights, Comité pour le Respect des Libertés et des Droits de l’Homme en Tunisie, Avocats Sans Frontières, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l’Amitié entre les Peuples

This side event to the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council will examine the individual criminal liability under international law of European policymakers and high-level decision-makers for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity committed against migrants. It will explore the legal implications of providing systematic support, such as funding, naval assets, vehicles, equipment, supplies, and intelligence necessary to intercept and capture migrants, to militias or third-country authorities responsible for atrocities including illegal refoulement, arbitrary detention, rape and torture.
The event is held under the High Patronage of Mr Adama Dieng, AU Special Envoy on the Prevention of Genocide and Other Mass Atrocities, who will deliver the opening statement. The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Siobhán Mullally, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons. The panellists will provide direct factual testimonies evidencing the nexus between specific European decisions and practices and the crimes committed against migrants, and will discuss the legal basis for individual criminal liability under international law of those aiding and abetting atrocities.
By exposing these violations and their legal consequences, the event seeks to end impunity for atrocities committed against migrants, encourage a critical reassessment of European migration policies that fuel widespread human rights abuses, and provide a timely reminder that actions by individuals, irrespective of their official positions, carry legal consequences under international law.
Agenda
– Chair: Giovanni Fontana, Second Tree
– Introduction: Dr. Adama Dieng, AU Special Envoy on the prevention of Genocide and other Mass Atrocities
– Keynote Address: Prof. Siobhán Mullally, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children
– Panel Discussion:
David Yambio, Refugees in Libya
Dr. Omar Shatz, front-LEX
Dr. Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, No Peace Without Justice
– Testimonies: Fadhel Jemmali, son of detained human rights defender Mustapha Djemmali
– Q&A: Interventions from the floor

Flyer of the side event
Background paper

For further information, please contact Raul Suarez (rsuarez@npwj.org) or Nicola Giovannini (ngiovannini@npwj.org)

NPWJ receives Jamaat-e-Islami leadership in Brussels
2025-04-08 15:30 - 17:00 | Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
On 8 April 2025, No Peace Without Justice was pleased to host the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, including its Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, alongside prominent members of Bangladeshi civil society.
The meeting provided an opportunity to engage in a meaningful exchange on the critical situation in Bangladesh and the urgent challenges of its ongoing political transition. The discussion underscored the importance of ensuring free and fair elections, and the need to initiate a victim-centered transitional justice process – one rooted in accountability, truth-seeking, and truth-telling as essential steps to move forward without the heavy burden of a long-standing culture of impunity.
NPWJ remains committed to support local activists and political leaders in Bangladesh advocating for democratic institutions grounded on the rule of law, respect of human rights and fair justice.
Background
The atrocities committed during the 1971 conflict still haunt Bangladesh and efforts to bring justice are essential for the country to moving forward without the heavy burden of impunity. The hundred of thousands of victims and survivors deserve that justice is done and seen to be done. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which began its work in March 2010, could have been an historic opportunity to provide proper acknowledgement and redress to countless victims and allow the country to move forward free from the heavy burden of a long-standing culture of impunity. However, the major flaws in its proceedings and repeated violations of due process and fair trial rights raised strong concerns of the international community. Furthermore, by focusing its investigations on the leadership of the then opposition political parties for their role during the conflict and by handing down the death penalty against several individuals on trial before it, the ICT has inevitably reinforced the claims of those who dismiss its proceedings as a clumsy attempt to carry out an unjust and politically motivated judicial exercise of vengeance under the guise of fighting impunity.

Briefing on the Human Rights situation in Bangladesh, European Parliament, Brussels, 6 December 2022
War crimes in Bangladesh: European Union should act decisively in impending miscarriage of justice, 12 November 2015
War crimes in Bangladesh: unfair trials and death penalty will not bring justice, 17 June 2015
We urge the government of Bangladesh to begin dialogue with opposition, Financial Times, Comments/Letters, 28 February 2015
Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: unfair trials and death penalty will not bring justice, 6 November 2014
Bangladesh: International Lawyers submit evidence to ICC Prosecutor over serious crimes allegedly committed by government forces, 4 February 2014
UPR/Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: NPWJ calls for removal of death penalty and strict application of due process guarantees, 19 September 2013
The Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal should be internationalised – for the sake of the nation’s future, 17 October 2013
11th ASP to the ICC: NPWJ convenes side event on “The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal”, The Hague, 21 November 2012
Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: Make Justice Count Through Fair Trials, Op-Ed By Niccolo ’Figa’ Talamanca and Nicola Giovannini, Eurasia Review, 8 November 2012
Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal: NPWJ calls for removal of death penalty and strict application of due process guarantees, 5 November 2012

For more information, please contact Nicola Giovannini, Press & Public Affairs Coordinator (ngiovannini@npwj.org) or Alison Smith, International Justice Director (asmith@npwj.org)

Accountability for Wartime Environmental Crimes: Legal Pathways, Community Voices, and International Responsibility
2025-06-20 16:00 - 17:00 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
Date and time: 20 June 2025, 16:00 – 17:00 CET
Venue: United Nations Palais des Nations, Geneva, Conference Room XXV
Live streaming on Facebook; https://fb.me/e/3fv9ViuXV
Organisers: No Peace Without Justice, Truth Hounds, Prosecutor’s General Office of Ukraine, Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva
The side-event aims to raise visibility of Ukraine’s documentation and accountability efforts. Ukrainian civil society and authorities have begun systematically documenting environmental war crimes. Ukrainian NGOs, including Truth Hounds, have compiled over hundreds of cases of suspected environmental crimes. Yet, much of the harm is not yet systematically documented. This side event will spotlight those documentation efforts, share key findings to date, and underscore the need to complete documentation efforts at a standard that ensures high evidentiary value of the information collected.
The event also aims to advance legal and policy discussions on environmental crimes. The event will explore how existing law applies to such deliberate destruction. International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits methods of warfare “expected to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment”, and many Russian actions qualify as war crimes, helping explore legal avenues for accountability and redress.
By gathering Ukrainian and international stakeholders, the side event will also lay groundwork for joint advocacy and support. It will outline the needs for technical support and resources (e.g. for forensic analysis, monitoring and remediation) and strengthen cooperation among NGOs, governments, and multilateral institutions working on environment and accountability.
Program
– Opening: Amb. Yevhen Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine
– Keynote Speech: Viktoriia Litvinova, Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine
– Patterns of Environmental Destruction: Dmytro Koval, Truth Hounds
– Voices from the Ground: Regional administration representatives, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine
– Discussion & Reactions: Moderated Q&A
– Closing: Niccolò Figà Talamanca, Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice

Concept note and program

For more information, please contact Laura Zamperetti (lzamperetti@npwj.org) or Nicola Giovannini (ngiovannini@npwj.org)

Save the Date : NPWJ General Assembly on 28 June in Budapest
2025-06-28 09:00 - 13:00 | Budapest, Hungary
Mark your calendars (“save the date”) for the 2025 General Assembly of No Peace Without Justice ETS, which will be held in Budapest on 28 June.
The date and location were chosen by the Board of Directors after the Hungarian government introduced special regulations to ban the 30th Budapest Pride, prohibiting all demonstrations in support of sexual freedoms, and explicitly providing for the use of massive surveillance technologies, including artificial intelligence, to identify and monitor participants.
The organisers have confirmed that the 30th Budapest Pride “will take place as scheduled” on 28 June, with the explicit support of the Mayor of Budapest, opposition parties, and countless associations that have mobilised in defence of the civil rights of all Hungarians, not least the right to protest against the authoritarian policies of the Orban Government. Furthermore, there is expected to be broad participation from political leaders, activists, human rights defenders, parliamentarians, and ordinary citizens from throughout Europe and beyond.
We hope that as many of our members as possible can attend the NPWJ Assembly in Budapest in person, and then, those who wish, also take part in the Pride or many other initiatives planned for that historic day. For those who are unable to attend in person, it will also be possible to join via Zoom, with automatic translation (in the subtitles) for all interventions.
We plan to begin the Assembly (in second convocation) at 09h30, and to conclude the strictly assembly-related work by 10h30.
From 10h30 onwards, after the Assembly, we will hold a public forum organised in collaboration with EUmans, with Hungarian and European parliamentarians, jurists, and activists discussing the necessity and urgency for the Council to decide to activate Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union for Hungary in response to systematic violations of the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, and the core values of the European Union.
From 14h00 onwards, NPWJ Members who also intend to take part in the the 30th Budapest Pride will walk from the venue to the starting point of the march, which is expected to conclude around 20:00.
For those who have not yet renewed their membership fee for 2025 and those willing to become members, please do so (https://www.npwj.org/support-us/membership/) in the next few days, and no later than 30 days before the Assembly, i.e., by 28 May 2025.
The formal invitation from the President, the proposed Agenda, the 2024 financial statements, the 2025 budget proposal, the Annual Report, and all other assembly documents will be sent to NPWJ members once they are adopted at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
For more information, please contact Laura Zamperetti (at lzamperetti@npwj.org).

European Citizens’ Assembly on Hungary’s systemic violations of the rule of law — and the actions needed at EU level
2025-06-28 10:30 - 13:00
On 28 June 2025, Eumans in collaboration with No Peace Without Justice, Associazione Luca Coscioni and European Alternatives are proud to invite citizens, activists, policy-makers, and institutional actors to Budapest for a crucial day of democratic engagement.
This joint public forum, which will take place at Loffice, Paulay Ede u. 55, Budapest, at 10:30–13:00, aims at confronting the growing threats to the rule of law and civil liberties in Europe. The forum will serve as an open platform for inclusive dialogue, connecting grassroots activists with European and Hungarian decision-makers, legal experts, and civil society organisations.
This gathering is not only a response to the Hungarian government’s draconian restrictions on the 30th Budapest Pride including bans on demonstrations and the introduction of AI-driven surveillance but also a proactive effort to reaffirm the core values of the European Union: democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law.
At this occasion, Eumans will launch a campaign calling on the EU to take action against the serious and systematic violations of the Rule of Law in Hungary, and to recognize the legal existence of “European associations.” The introduction of “European associations” — entities recognized directly by the EU without requiring national approval — is essential to counter repressive laws such as the recent proposal by the Hungarian government aimed at eliminating the freedom of association for Hungarian NGOs.
During the assembly, the following discussants will interact with participants:
– Tamás Dombos – Project Coordinator, Háttér Society
– Marco Cappato – President, Eumans
– Ophelie Masson – Deputy director of European Alternatives
– Niccolò Milanese – Director of European Alternatives
– Per Clausen – Member of the European Parliament (MEP, The Left Group)
– Brando Benifei – Member of the European Parliament (MEP, S&D Group)
– Maria Walsh – Member of the European Parliament (MEP, EPP Group)
– Lena Schilling (MEP, Group of the Greens)
– Tara O’Grady– President, No Peace Without Justice
– Elena Buscemi – President, Milan City Council
– Peter Sárosi – Executive Director, Rights Reporter Foundation
– Francesca Romana D’autuono, Volt Co-President
– Zsuzsanna Szelényi, former member of Hungarian Parliament, CEU Democracy Institute’
The entire event will be hybrid, with remote participation available via Zoom and automatic translation to ensure accessibility for all.
From 14h00 onwards, participants who also intend to take part, alongside a broad coalition of human rights defenders and democratic allies, in the 30th Budapest Pride will walk from the venue to the starting point of the march.
As Hungary becomes a critical test case for European democratic resilience, this day in Budapest will be more than symbolic. It will be an opportunity for people across Europe to unite in dialogue, raise their voices, and take action.
For more information and registration to the public forum, check the following Eumans website link

Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression: Delivering Justice and Protecting Human Rights Rights in the Context of Russia’s War Against Ukraine
2025-07-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
Side Event at the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Date and time: 4 July 2025, 12:00–13:00 CET
Venue: In person at Room XXIV, Palais des Nations
Organisers: Permanent Missions of Ukraine, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, International Bar Association, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, No Peace Without Justice
Background information
The ongoing full-scale war of aggression launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in February 2022 has resulted in widespread and systematic violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Atrocities committed against civilians – including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and unlawful deportations, have emphasized the urgent need for justice and accountability. The crime of aggression, as the leadership crime and the source of other international crimes committed in this context, must not go unpunished.
Ukraine, together with an expanding coalition of states and international legal experts, has been actively advocating for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. On 25 June 2025, an important step was taken with the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of the Special Tribunal. This landmark development demonstrates significant momentum towards ensuring justice for the victims of Russia’s aggression and reinforcing the global framework for accountability.
The discussion will focus on how the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine can effectively deliver justice, secure accountability, and contribute to the protection of human rights in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Objectives of the Event
• Present recent developments regarding the creation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
• Highlight the link between the crime of aggression and widespread human rights violations, emphasizing the need for international legal mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.
• Provide a platform for legal experts, government representatives, and civil society to exchange views on how the Tribunal can effectively deliver justice and accountability.
• Mobilize further support from UN member states, international organizations, and human rights defenders for the Tribunal and its mission.
Agenda
Moderator: Mr. Niccolò Figà Talamanca, Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice
Opening remarks: H.E. Mr. Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva
Speakers:
• Dr. Mark Ellis, Executive Director, International Bar Association (online)
• Dr. Nataliia Hendel, Senior Researcher, Institute of Information, Security and Law of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine; expert, NGO Fundamental Research Support Fund
• Dr. Anton Korynevych, the Coordinator of the Core Group on the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, Director of the Department General for International Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (online)
• Dr. Dainius Žalimas, Member of the European Parliament, Professor of International and Constitutional Law at the Law Faculty of Vytautas Magnus University, Member of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (online or in person TBC)
Closing remarks: H.E. Mr. Paul Bekkers, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva
Q&A session

Video-recording of the side event
Concept note and agenda
Speakers bios
Flyer

Co-Sponsors:

Join us in Rome to celebrate International Justice Day and express our continued support to the ICC
2025-07-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Rome, Rome, Italy
No Peace Without Justice together with Eumans, Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), Alza Vita, Refugees in Libya and Associazione Cristiana degli Ucraini in Italia invite you to join them in celebrating International Justice Day on 17 July, from 19:00 to 21:00, in Piazzale Ugo La Malfa, Rome, near the historic birthplace of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Alongside victims groups, civil society organisations, activists, and concerned citizens, this joint celebration would be a meaningful expression of continued support for the ICC—at a time when its independence and authority are facing unprecedented challenges.
Civil society played a crucial role in the successful conclusion of the Diplomatic Conference on 17 July 1998 and the adoption of the Rome Statute, not only in shaping its content over five weeks of intense and often gruelling negotiations, but also in rallying governments in the final hours to bridge the last divides and bring the Court to life.
The result was a groundbreaking system of international justice, with the ICC at its core: a framework designed to confront impunity, secure redress for victims, and affirm that even the most powerful can be held to account under the law.
Twenty-seven years later, that promise remains unfinished. Turning it into a lasting reality requires action on multiple fronts: first by pressing national justice systems to fulfil their complementary obligations to investigate and prosecute Rome Statute Crimes and by ensuring that the ICC is equipped to act when they do not. But today the foundation must be protected: the Court’s ability to operate independently and impartially. Today, that very foundation is under sustained attack by those determined to discredit the idea that the law should stand above the power of the gun.
Join us in Rome so that together we can reaffirm the global commitment to justice, accountability, and the rights of victims.

Accountability for Human Rights Violations committed in the name of the "War on Drugs"
2025-09-30 16:00 - 17:00 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
A Side Event to the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Date & Time: Tuesday 30 September 2025 / 16:00 – 17:00 CET
Venue: Concordia I, Palais des Nations, United Nations, Geneva
Live streaming on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/5c2o9MRcl
Organised by: No Peace Without Justice

The global push to combat narcotics has become a pretext for systematic human rights violations and state violence, including extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detention, and crimes against humanity. This side event examines accountability mechanisms by linking the ongoing ICC prosecution of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with recent U.S. military strikes on ostensibly civilian vessels in the Caribbean, exploring how international law can protect both direct victims and populations “in whose name” such violence occurs.
The Philippines case provides critical precedent: Duterte’s anti-drugs campaign resulted in thousands of deaths, widespread intimidation, and deliberate erosion of democratic institutions. On 12 March 2025, Duterte was surrendered to the ICC by virtue of an ICC arrest warrant for the crime against humanity of murder under Article 7(1)(a) of the Rome Statute—marking historic progress toward accountability for state-sponsored extrajudicial killings. Victims continue to seek justice at the ICC, highlighting challenges and possibilities of victim-centered accountability.
Contemporary Caribbean developments demonstrate pattern evolution: U.S. military forces struck four ostensibly civilian vessels in international waters in September 2025, killing at least 19 individuals. Regional leaders’ endorsement—Trinidad and Tobago’s PM praising the strikes, Dominican Republic describing “first-of-its-kind joint operation against narco-terrorism”—reveals how anti-drug rhetoric facilitates regional complicity in unlawful state violence. UN Special Rapporteurs and human rights organizations condemned these as extrajudicial killings violating international law.
A proposed U.S. Authorization for Use of Military Force aimed at “narco-terrorists” could grant authority for counter-narcotics military operations across 60+ countries, systematizing cross-border interventions and creating templates for authoritarian consolidation. Such operations serve dual purposes: generating popular support while intimidating opponents and normalizing state violence. Populations “in whose name” violence occurs—including the American public—constitute critical victim groups, highlighting transnational implications requiring robust international accountability.
Core Objectives:
– Examine accountability processes for human rights violations committed in anti-drug contexts, including ICC confirmation under Article 61 and complementarity principles
– Analyze contemporary operations within proposed legislative expansions that could systematize such operations globally
Explore victim-centered approaches for both directly targeted populations and those indirectly affected “in whose name” violence is conducted
– Assess authoritarian consolidation patterns through anti-drug rhetoric and transnational “security cooperation”
– Identify concrete recommendations for States, international organizations, and civil society to strengthen accountability, prevent future violations, uphold rule of law
Concept note and program

Seizing Power: Occupation, Torture, and Nuclear Safety Breaches at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
2025-10-01 11:30 - 12:30 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
A Side Event to the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on Corporate Complicity, War Crimes, and Risks of Nuclear Catastrophe

Date & Time: Wednesday 1 October 11:30 – 12:30 CET
Venue: Conference Room V, Palais des Nations, United Nations, Geneva
Live streaming on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/3PezYb3Zi
Organized by: No Peace Without Justice, Truth Hounds
Co-sponsored by: Permanent Missions to the UN Geneva of Liechtenstein, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Slovenia

The event will feature a dynamic panel presentation, combining expert testimony from Truth Hounds investigators, legal analysis, and first-hand accounts from affected community representatives. The format is designed to facilitate a substantive and interactive discussion among
delegations, civil society, and the media, moving beyond a simple briefing to a collaborative strategy
session.
At this side event, Truth Hounds experts will present the findings of their comprehensive report, highlighting the interconnection of systematic human rights abuses and nuclear safety breaches, while addressing key pathways for achieving accountability and actively preventing these crimes from continuing and offering recommendations on how to address the situation.
Background
Russia’s military seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in March 2022 represents the first instance in history of an active nuclear facility under military occupation.
The situation raises four interrelated concerns:
1. Widespread and systematic arbitrary detention, torture, and persecution of civilians and ZNPP staff constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute.
2. Rosatom’s dual role, coupled with the Russian state’s control over it, underscores unmatched issues of corporate complicity and state responsibility for facilitating occupation policies that violate international law.
3. Coercion of nuclear personnel severed regulatory oversight, and militarization of the plant critically undermine operational safety, creating a transboundary nuclear risk.
4. Permitting the militarization of a nuclear facility sets a precedent for future conflicts, threatening the stability of international peace and security and the integrity of the global nuclear safety regime.
Urgent international action is required, including through independent monitoring, to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and a dangerous precedent that threatens the stability of international peace and security and the integrity of the global nuclear safety regime.
This multi-dimensional crisis demands coordinated diplomatic, legal, and operational responses to protect civilians, restore nuclear safety, and uphold international law.

Concept note and agenda

When accountability becomes a crime: protecting human rights defenders in the Age of Lawfare
2025-12-04 13:15 - 14:45 | The Hague, Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, The Hague, Netherlands
Side event to the 24th Assembly of State Parties of the ICC
Thursday, 4 December 2025 | 13:15 – 14:45 | Yangtze 2
Panellists:
– Shawan Jabarin, Director General of Al-Haq;
– Raji Sourani, Founder and Director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights;
– Issam Younis, Director General of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights;
– Antônia Pereira de Sousa, Senior Special Assistant to the Registrar of the ICC;
– Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, interim Convenor of the CICC.
Moderator: Rev. Father Albert C. Alejo S.J., Board Member, No Peace Without Justice
Co-sponsors: No Peace Without Justice; Al-Haq; Al Mezan Center for Human Rights; Palestinian Centre for Human Rights; Coalition for the International Criminal Court; Women’s Initiatives for
Gender Justice; FIDH; Amnesty International; EUmans, Holistic Empowerment for Development (H.E.D) on behalf of 5 Ethiopian CSOs – African Initiatives for a Democratic World Order
(AIDWO), Exodus Charity Organization (ECO), Vision Ethiopian Congress for Democracy (VECOD), Human Rights and Humanitarian Development Initiatives (HRHDI); Robert F. Kennedy
Human Rights; Union for Civil Liberty; Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada; Human Rights Now; Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society; Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group; International Centre for
Justice for Palestinians; World Without Genocide; Platform for Peace and Humanity; Centre Marocain pour la Loi et la Paix.
State co-sponsors: the State of Palestine.
Note: Interpretation will be available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.

Flyer of the side event

Murder on the Land and the Sea: Extrajudicial Drug War Killings in the 21st Century
2026-03-11 13:00 - 14:00 | vienna, Austria
Side event at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs
in-person: Wednesday 11 March, 1:00-2:00pm CET, Room M0E79, Vienna International Center

Zoom (with optional registration): https://bit.ly/murderonlandandsea
Zoom (direct meeting access): https://bit.ly/murderonlandandsea-noreg
https://stopthedrugwar.org/ruleoflaw

Drugs are an issue which – like migration, social liberalization and economic tensions – has the capacity to shatter democratic and human rights norms. Perhaps no other extreme found in drug policies today does so more than that of extrajudicial killings. “Murder on the Land and the Sea” will discuss identified episodes of drug war EJKs in the 21st century, their context and interrelationships, and their implications for the future of democracy and the rules-based order.

Speakers:

David Borden, Executive Director, StoptheDrugWar.org
Carlos Conde, Rights Report Philippines, former Human Rights Watch, NYT
Diego Garcia-Devis, Drug Policy Program Manager, Open Society Foundations
Annie Shiel, US Advocacy Director, Center for Civilians in Conflict

Moderator: Kat Murti, Executive Director, Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Organized by DRCNet Foundation AKA StoptheDrugWar.org, with cosponsors Associazone Luca Coscioni, Drug Policy Alliance, Forum Droghe, International Drug Law Advocacy & Resource Center, No Peace Without Justice, NoBox Transitions Philippines, Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Veterans Action Council, Washington Office on Latin America

Please contact David Borden at +1 202-236-8620 or borden@drcnet.org for further information. Visit https://stopthedrugwar.org/ruleoflaw and https://stopthedrugwar.org/global to read about our international programs.

Side-Event HRC61: Safeguarding International Justice
2026-03-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
Defending the Defenders: Countering Sanctions and Coercive Measures against the International Criminal Court and those Supporting its Mandate

Date/Time: 23 March 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00
Location: Palais des Nations, Geneva (Room XII)
Live streaming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/VoOvRKCcu-4
Hosted by: Colombia, State of Palestine, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain;
Organizers: NPWJ, CICC, Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and PCHR

On the margins of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, this side event will examine the growing use of sanctions and coercive measures against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and those working to support international justice. Bringing together UN experts and human rights defenders, the discussion will explore the real-world impact of these measures on judges, civil society organisations and the documentation of international crimes, highlighting how the Court and its partners continue their work despite unprecedented pressure. The event will call for the urgent adoption of concrete countermeasures to safeguard the independence and functioning of the international justice system.

Programme:
12:00-12:05: Welcome & Political Framing
H.E. Mr. Gustavo Gallón, Permanent Representative of Colombia
12:05-12:13: The Expanded Net: Sanctions Overreach
Ms. Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the OPT
12:13-12:37: The Ground Reality: Impact on Human Rights Documentation
Al-Haq, Al Mezan, PCHR
12:37-12:45: The Extraterritorial Impact of Sanctions: Measures States Parties can take
Ms. Zoé Paris, CICC
12:45-12:50: Call to Action
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Khraishi, Permanent Observer Representative of the State of Palestine
12:50-13:00: Q&A
Mr. Niccolò Figà-Talamanca Secretary General, No Peace Without Justice

Flyer

Health Care in the Dark: The Human Cost of Russia's Attacks on Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure
2026-03-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland
Side Event on the margins of the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Conference Room Concordia I, Palais des Nations, Geneva
25 March 2026 │ 12:00 – 13:00 CET
– Live streaming on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/RNwO74JW8Z4
– Co-Sponsored by: Permanent Missions to the UN Geneva of Ukraine, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Moldova, Montenegro and Netherlands
– Organised by: No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and Truth Hounds, in cooperation with Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)
– Flyer
– Concept note
Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are not an incidental consequence of military operations. They are a deliberate policy directed at the conditions under which civilians live, access care, and sustain community life. The responsibility of the Russian Federation is a matter of international law — and the pattern of conduct raises serious questions under international criminal law, including as potential crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome ICC Statute.
The consequences are visible at both the institutional and individual level. Hospital directors and municipal authorities have restructured services, rationed backup power, and made triage decisions driven by electricity availability. The medical risks of these attacks were widely known and publicly documented as strikes continued — speaking directly to the foreseeability required under international criminal law. Older people, people with chronic illness, patients dependent on dialysis or respiratory support, children and persons with disabilities are identifiable individuals whose rights are being violated in documented, recurring ways, yet whose situation remains largely absent from the evidentiary record.
This side event draws on Truth Hounds’ and PHR’s research to show how attacks on civilian infrastructure translate into measurable health harm, falling disproportionately on those least able to bear it. A practitioner with direct experience of systematic power disruption will ground the discussion in operational reality, before turning to what the international community — including UN human rights mechanisms and the ICC — is required to do. Three interconnected concerns frame the discussion:
• The deliberate targeting of energy infrastructure serving civilian populations violates international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. These health consequences must be prosecuted accordingly — not absorbed into humanitarian frameworks that treat them as if they were unavoidable natural disasters.
• Sentinel populations — older people, people with disabilities, and patients dependent on electricity-reliant care — bear a disproportionate burden of harm that existing casualty methodologies fail to capture. Closing this evidentiary gap is a precondition for accountability.
• Urgent international action is required, through UN human rights mechanisms and the ICC, to ensure justice for survivors and prevent further impunity.
This crisis demands coordinated diplomatic, legal, and operational responses. Silence and inaction are not neutral: they entrench the impunity that makes these attacks possible.
Preliminary Draft Agenda
12:00 – 12:05 Opening Remarks
Roman Toder, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine
12:05 – 12:45 Panel Presentations
· Evan Harary, Truth Hounds
· Lesia Lysytsia, Okhmatdyt Hospital Kyiv
· Uliana Poltavets, Physicians for Human Rights
12:45 – 12:55 Interactive Dialogue & Q&A
Moderated by Niccolò Figà Talamanca, No Peace Without Justice
12:55 – 13:00 Conclusions

PRESS CONFERENCE - From Words to Action: Shielding the ICC and Civil Society from US Sanctions
2026-04-14 16:30 - 18:00
Date: Tuesday, 14 April
Time: 16:30 – 18:00
Location: Brussels Press Club, Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels
Registration: Online at this link (free)
Co-sponsors: Al-Haq, Al Mezan, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Amnesty International, Avocats Sans Frontières, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), EUmans, EuroMed Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), No Peace Without Justice and 11:11:11.
About the press conference:
On 6 February 2025, less than a month after the beginning of his second term, the United States (US) President Donald Trump issued Executive Order (EO)14203 “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC)” and designated the ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan for his work on the investigations in the Palestine and Afghanistan situations. Since then, eight ICC judges and two deputy prosecutors, three Palestinian organisations and a United Nations Special Rapporteur were designated under the same EO.
By using sanctions against the entire international justice ecosystem, the US is targeting justice efforts for the world’s most serious crimes. Due to US dominance in global finance and IT services, these sanctions have a deep impact all around the world for those directly targeted, and ultimately for victims of international crimes, especially in Palestine and Afghanistan.
Over the past months, the Secretariat of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) drafted a report on the impact of US sanctions against the Court and those cooperating with it. To be centered around the voices of those affected, all individuals and organisations that were designated under EO 14203 were interviewed. In the week leading to the launch of the report, the directors of the three designated Palestinian organisations, Al Haq, PCHR and Al Mezan, will be present in Europe to call for concrete actions.
In the face of such unprecedented attacks, civil society organisations and grassroot movements around the world have mobilised and advocated against these measures and for the adoption of the EU blocking statute. A European-wide mobilisation and a Satyagraha (a citizen-led relay fasting) are underway and represent a grassroots push to prompt European institutions to take concrete action.
The EU must move beyond generic political statements of support and demand the activation of the EU Blocking Statute (Regulation 2271/96) to protect NGOs, the International Criminal Court and those working on justice and accountability from the extraterritorial effect of US unilateral sanctions.
The following organisations are participating in the press conference and calling for the EU Commission to adopt the EU blocking statute: Al-Haq, Al Mezan, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Amnesty International, Avocats Sans Frontières, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), EUmans, EuroMed Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), No Peace Without Justice and 11:11:11.

Press Conference Agenda

Murder on the Land and the Sea II: Accountability for Extrajudicial Drug War Killings Is Only a Matter of Time
2026-07-04 15:00 - 16:00 | vienna, Austria
Side event for the 35th session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
online-only, 4 June 2026, 9:00-10:00am ET / 3:00-4:00pm CET / 9:00-10:00pm PHT
Watch the video recording at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmWvtqICIV8
Drugs are an issue which – like migration, social liberalization and economic tensions – has the capacity to shatter democratic and human rights norms. Perhaps no other extreme drug policy today does so more than extrajudicial killings (EJKs). As the former president of the Philippines awaits trial later this year, the death toll from US strikes on alleged “drug boats” has raced past 200, making state violence and accountability for it pressing issues in drug policy today.
“Murder on the Land and the Sea II” discussed identified episodes of drug war EJKs in the 21st century, their context and interrelationships, and the international legal exposure officials may face – in some cases are already facing – in states that perpetrate EJKs or facilitate them through intelligence and law enforcement cooperation.
Speakers:
John Ramming Chappell, Advisory, US Advocacy, Center for Civilians in Conflict
Dino Singson de Leon, Trustee, Human Rights and People Empowerment Center
Sarah Harrison, Nonresident Fellow, Conventional Defense Program, Stimson Center
Intro and Moderation: David Borden, Executive Director, StoptheDrugWar.org
Organized by DRCNet Foundation AKA StoptheDrugWar.org, with cosponsors Associazone Luca Coscioni, Drug Policy Alliance, Eumans, Forum Droghe, International Drug Law Advocacy & Resource Center, No Peace Without Justice, NoBox Transitions Philippines, Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Veterans Action Council, Washington Office on Latin America
Please contact David Borden at +1 202-236-8620 or borden@drcnet.org for further information. Visit https://stopthedrugwar.org/ruleoflaw and https://stopthedrugwar.org/global to read about our international programs.
