No Peace Without Justice monthly e-Newsletter – March issue

Brussels-Rome- New York, 23 March 2012

In the March issue of the NPWJ e-newsletter, the main highlights are dedicated to the Ban FGM Campaign and, in particular, to the results of the 56th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which concluded on 15 March 2012. Further to the historic African Head of States’ Decision adopted in July 2011 at the African Union Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the CSW’s Decision, recommending that the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) be taken up for consideration by the United Nations General Assembly at its forthcoming 67th Session, signals another major step in the international campaign to foster global leadership in the fight against female genital mutilation as a wide-scale and blatant violation of the fundamental human rights of women and girls. No Peace Without Justice, together with the other members of the BanFGM Coalition, look forward the United Nations General Assembly to adopt by the end of this year, at its 67th Session, a Resolution to ban female genital mutilation worldwide, which would demonstrate the strong commitment of the international community to human rights and particularly the rights of women and girls.

The March issue also focuses on the first ICC judgment issued on 14 March 2012, in the case against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, who was found guilty of having committed the war crimes of enlisting and conscripting of children under the age of 15 years into the FPLC (the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo) and using them to participate actively in hostilities for the period from September 2002 to August 2003. This first ICC judgment, which represents a milestone in its young history as well as a landmark decision for the recognition of children’s human rights, sends a deterrent and unequivocal message to all those who still conscript, recruit or use children in armed conflict, or who are thinking of doing so.

Special attention is also dedicated to the recent initiatives, organized by Al-Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center (KADEM) in partnership with No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), to foster the establishment of transitional justice processes in Tunisia. The trainings held under the framework of the Transitional Justice Academy, on 6 and 12-13 March, targeted the main stakeholders, including members of the Constituent Assembly and the Ministry of Human Rights and Transitional Justice (HRTJ Ministry),  involved in the ongoing efforts to address violations under the former authoritarian regime and contribute to building a future based on accountability.

For more information, contact Nicola Giovannini, Public Affairs Coordinator on ngiovannini@npwj.org, phone: +32 2 548 39 15.