Resource Library

ICTJ Launches Special Podcast Series on Complementarity

In an effort to advance dialogue on accountability for crimes against humanity and genocide, ICTJ has launched a special podcast series on complementarity, speaking with leading global voices in international and national justice, civil society, policy, and development. [Download](/sites/default/files/Greentree_Collage_ICTJ_Podcast_12142011.mp3) | Duration: 09:51mins | File size: 5.6KB

12/16/11

ICTJ Welcomes the Election of Fatou Bensouda as Prosecutor of the ICC

NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2011 —ICTJ welcomes the election of Fatou Bensouda of Gambia as the next prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ms. Bensouda was unanimously elected December 12 by the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) during its 10th session in New York City, and will be the court's second prosecutor, commencing in June 2012.

12/14/11

Indonesia: Provide Reparations to Victims of Gross Human Rights Violations, ICTJ Report

A report released today by ICTJ, together with the Indonesian Association for Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI) and the Coalition for Justice and Truth (KKPK), calls on the government to fulfill its obligations to provide reparations to thousands of victims of gross human rights violations.

12/12/11

Indonesia: Provide Reparations to Victims of Gross Human Rights Violations

JAKARTA, Dec. 12, 2011 —A report released today by the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), together with the Indonesian Association for Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI) and the Coalition for Justice and Truth (KKPK), calls on the government of Indonesia to fulfill its obligation to provide reparations to thousands of victims of gross violations of human rights.

12/12/11

UN Universal Periodic Review Submission

Indonesia's Obligations to Provide Reparations for Victims of Gross Human Rights Violations

Thirteen years after the fall of Soeharto, victims in Indonesia continue to suffer from the negative effects of gross human rights violations and from ongoing discrimination. Although efforts by the president and the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to create a reparation...

12/12/11

ICTJ, IKOHI, KKPK

Briefing Paper

Navigating Amnesty and Reconciliation in Nepal’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Bill

During peace negotiations, there is often a belief that providing amnesties for certain crimes will help promote national reconciliation. Nepal's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Bill currently contains provisions on both amnesty and reconciliation. However, the Bill itself i...

12/08/11

ICTJ

Briefing Paper

Indonesia: Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Indonesia has initiated transitional justice mechanisms to address human rights abuses that occurred during and after the New Order regime, but insufficient political will has rendered these efforts inadequate in achieving justice and reconciliation for victims.

11/21/11

ICTJ

Brazil Shatters Its Wall of Silence on the Past

Brazil’s recent decision to examine the abuses of the military dictatorship from several decades ago could change the face of democracy at home, making it more genuine and transparent. At the same time it could have a wider impact, allowing Brazil to take a decisive stand on human rights regionally and internationally.

12/06/11

Impunity Must be Fought at the National Level: Podcast with David Tolbert

If the international community is seriously committed to fighting impunity for mass atrocity, national courts in the countries where such crimes have been committed must be at the frontline. International development actors are crucial to making this possible. [Download](/sites/default/files/Tolbert_ICTJ_Podcast_11302011_2.mp3) | Duration: 12:33mins | File size: 7KB

12/05/11

Argentine ESMA Trials a New Phase for Democracy: Interview with Pablo Parenti

ICTJ spoke with Pablo Parenti about the trial that just concluded which investigated human rights violations and crimes against humanity that occurred at the Naval Mechanics School (ESMA), used as a detention and torture center during the Argentine dictatorship.

12/01/11

Interview with Pablo Parenti on the ESMA trials in Argentina

ICTJ interview with Pablo Parenti, of the Attorney General’s Unit for coordination and monitoring cases involving violations of human rights during the Argentine dictatorship.

12/01/11

Amicus Curiae: Case No. 09-160

Whether the government can lawfully rely on Exemption 7(F) of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(F), to withhold photographs depicting the abuse of prisoners held in U.S. custody without identifying with reasonable specificity any individuals who could reasonably be ...

11/01/08

ICTJ, HRW, Amnesty International

examples of Defence, Intelligence and Justice Investigative Reports into detention and interrogation practices

Research Brief: Selected examples of Defence, Intelligence and Justice Investigative Reports into detention and interrogation practices.

11/01/08

ICTJ

Examples of United States Commissions of Inquiry

11/01/08

ICTJ

Pardons in international jurisprudence

Examples of pardons in international jurisprudence, including Inter-American Court and Commission, European Court of Human Rights, UN Treaty Bodies, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

11/01/08

ICTJ

Research Brief: Country case studies on the use of pardons

Case studies on the use of pardons in Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Peru, and South Africa.

11/01/08

ICTJ

Policy Brief: Pardons

Recent speculation indicates that U.S. President George W. Bush may grant pardons to administration officials and members of the military who might face prosecution for authorizing, ordering, endorsing, justifying or committing acts pursuant to the “war on terror.” While a pardon appl...

11/01/08

ICTJ; Carolyn Patty Blum

Briefing Paper

Impact of the Yugoslav and Rwanda Tribunals: Lessons for the International Criminal Court

View the live broadcast of tonight's panel discussion with Richard Goldstone, David Tolbert, Hassan Jallow and Diane Orentlicher from 6:30pm–8:30pm.

11/29/11

Memory: Public Policy for Transformation in Colombia

ICTJ and the Center for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation of Colombia are organizing an event on Memory: Public Policy for Transformation. Dialogue at the conference will serve as the basis for providing recommendations to the process of creating the Center for Historical Memory and designing public memory policy in the country.

11/23/11

Tina Rosenberg speaks of violence in Latin America, 20 years later

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of Children of Cain , the first book by writer and journalist Tina Rosenberg. ICTJ spoke with Rosenberg about how political violence has evolved in Latin America over the past 20 years, and the continuing need for accountability for past atrocities.

11/22/11

Transcript: Tina Rosenberg speaks on violence in Latin America

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of Children of Cain, the first book by writer and journalist Tina Rosenberg. ICTJ spoke with Rosenberg about how political violence has evolved in Latin America over the past 20 years, and the continuing need for accountability for past atrocities.

11/22/11

Perú: ¿Cuánto se ha reparado en nuestras comunidades?

This report is the fourth in a series monitoring the implementation of a collective reparations program in Peru since 2007, by ICTJ and the Association for Human Rights in Peru (APRODEH). The publication examines the effects of this reparations program through interviews with the bene...

10/19/11

ICTJ y APRODEH

Report

Youth Reporters Tell the Story of Residential Schools

As part of an ongoing partnership between ICTJ’s Children and Youth Program and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada, youth from throughout Canada attended the third national TRC hearings to document the work of the commission. This weekend they are attending a retreat to finalize their radio segments and short films to raise awareness about what they have learned.

11/18/11

Justice and Development: Nexus at the Heart of Arab Spring

This year’s Annual Emilio Mignone Lecture on Transitional Justice, coordinated by ICTJ and the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at the NYU School of Law, focused on the intersection between transitional justice and international development.

11/17/11

Asia: Experts Meet to Discuss Challenges and Opportunities for Prosecuting Serious Crimes

JAKARTA, Nov. 15, 2011 —Experts and stakeholders from Cambodia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Burma, Timor-Leste, Thailand, and Nepal, along with international experts are gathering in Jakarta’s Hotel Atlet from November 15–16 to discuss the need for progress on prosecuting serious crimes in Asia.

11/15/11

Justice and Development: Nexus at the Heart of Arab Spring

View the live broadcast of tonight's Annual Emilio Mignone Lecture on Transitional Justice, from 6:00pm–7:40pm. Try Ustream's free video streaming desktop app

11/14/11

Truth-seeking in the Western Balkans: Initiative for a Regional Truth Commission

Join ICTJ as we co-host a delegation of RECOM’s leaders at two events in New York on November 14 and 15. They will share their experience campaigning for truth in the Western Balkans, present the draft mandate submitted to the presidents of the region, and discuss a successful public campaign that has gathered over 500,000 signatures in support of the commission.

11/08/11

UN Secretary General: Transitional Justice Key to UN's Work on Rule of Law

The newly released United Nations report on strengthening the rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict settings outlines progress made since issuing the landmark 2004 report and reaffirms transitional justice as a crucial component of the UN’s broader work on the rule of law.

11/07/11

“Transforming Tears to Energy” Theater and Transitional Justice in Afghanistan: Podcast with Hadi Marifat

In this podcast, ICTJ speaks with Hadi Marifat, founder of the Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization (AHRDO). ICTJ, AHRDO and local Afghan organizations are working together on an innovative arts-based approach to discussing Afghanistan’s conflict and transitional justice issues at the grassroots level. Community theater provides a space for victims of war to connect with one another and share their experiences. [Download](/sites/default/files/Marifat_ICTJ_Podcast_11022011.mp3) | Duration: 7:58mins | File size: 4 KB

11/03/11

Solomon Islands: Women to Present Submission to Truth and Reconciliation Commission

HONIARA, Oct. 30, 2011—Today women from Solomon Islands will come together to present their submission to the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). More than 60 women from different regions of the country have collaborated in recording their experiences and sharing their vision for the future in this document.

10/30/11

Reaction to the death of Judge Antonio Cassese from the legal community

David Tolbert, President of International Center of Transitional Justice: "I join many others in giving a final salute to Nino Cassese. He was man of extraordinary energy, singular determination and extraordinary intellectual talents but at the same time was an unassuming man, with a ready smile, an engaging anecdote and plenty of self-deprecation. Nino was a driving force behind the field of international criminal justice, not only through his leadership of both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) but through his unstinting writing and advocating on this most crucial of subjects."

10/29/11

Brazil: Truth Commission Bill Important Step against Impunity

NEW YORK/BRASÍLIA, Oct. 27, 2011—The Brazilian Senate’s passage of the National Truth Commission bill yesterday represents an important step for the struggle against impunity. The Government of Brazil now has the opportunity to acknowledge a painful past and to implement an effective tool to establish the facts about past abuse, to help victims heal and to allow Brazilian society to understand a painful period of their history, therefore preventing recurrent violations.

10/27/11

A Special Rapporteur on Transitional Justice: Podcast with Caitlin Reiger

The United Nations Human Rights Council recently established a mandate for a Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. In this podcast Caitlin Reiger, director of international policy relations at ICTJ, discusses the objectives, qualities, and implications of this mandate on the field of transitional justice. [Download](/sites/default/files/Reiger_ICTJ_Podcast_10192011.mp3) | Duration: 7:34mins | File size: 4.33MB

10/20/11

Morocco: Gender and the Transitional Justice Process

Morocco’s “Years of Lead” period was marked by policies of state violence against political dissidents including torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances. “ Morocco: Gender and the Transitional Justice Process ” analyzes whether the various transitional justice processes undertaken by the IER sufficiently fulfill the gender-specific focus of its mandate.

10/13/11

ICTJ Presents: PBS Series “Women, War & Peace” – War Redefined

On October 11, PBS will launch the five-part series "Women, War & Peace," focusing the dialogue about conflict and security on the roles women play both as targets of violence and key partners in the peace process. ICTJ sat down with two of the three producers, Pamela Hogan and Gini Reticker, to discuss insights from the upcoming series. [Download](/sites/default/files/Hogan_and_Reticker_ICTJ_Podcast_10052011.mp3) | Duration: 14:38mins | File size: 8.75MB

10/06/11

Truth-Seeking and the Challenge of Sustainable Peace

ICTJ hosted its third Intensive Course, Truth-seeking and the Challenge of Sustainable Peace, on September 26–30. Based on concrete field experience, the participants explored the relationship between truth-seeking and peace in societies that have experienced or are still experiencing armed conflict.

10/05/11

Transitional Justice Handbook for Latin America

Since the beginning of the 1980s, Latin American countries have undergone various processes of political transformation. In general terms, this change has consisted of a transition from authoritarian to democratic regimes. In some specific cases, such as Guatemala and El Salvador, the...

10/01/11

Book

ICTJ Welcomes Establishment of UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence

ICTJ enthusiastically welcomes today’s decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish a mandate for a special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence of serious crimes and gross violations of human rights.

09/29/11

Ten Years On, ICTJ Continues to Develop the Field of Transitional Justice

As ICTJ celebrates ten years of existence and contribution to the development of the field of transitional justice, we are poised for a future of continued engagement with partners and communities seeking to overcome legacies of mass violence and repression. Ten years on, we now work in a world increasingly aware of the of the costs of failing to systematically transition from conflict and human rights abuse to the rule of law and equal rights for all citizens, and on the other hand, of the increasing complexity of doing so.

09/27/11

Brazil: Six Critical Steps for Truth Commission Success

ICTJ applauds Brazil’s momentous step toward the creation of a truth commission and notes opportunities to ensure its success. Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies approved on Wednesday a bill creating the National Truth Commission to establish the facts and responsibilities about crimes committed under the country’s military regime.

09/23/11

ICTJ Presents "Taking a Stand: The Evolution of Human Rights"

Taking a Stand: the Evolution of Human Rights , a book by former ICTJ president Juan E. Méndez, provides an eye-opening firsthand account of the fight against violations of human rights and impunity. Taking a Stand offers tangible policy recommendations to be undertaken by the international community to uncover the atrocities of the past and prevent further abuse.

09/19/11

Impunity Has No Place in Peace and Justice Debate

In their debate hosted by the Economist , Richard Dicker and Jack Snyder have touched on critical issues that frame the peace and justice debate. In my view, however, the peace and justice debate should focus more concretely on the central issues that will affect the lives of victims and affected societies, rather than solely seeking to resolve geopolitical or national power dynamics.

09/15/11

Kenya Transitional Justice Brief, Vol. 1, No. 2

The Kenya Transitional Justice Brief, a quarterly bulletin by ICTJ highlighting current developments in the field of transitional justice in Kenya. This brief focuses on the process of implementing the 2010 constitution and the political context in which this takes place, providing a ...

09/08/11

ICTJ

The Disappeared: The Right to Justice and the Right to Truth

In a conversation dedicated to the International Day of the Disappeared, Eduardo Gonzalez, director of ICTJ’s Truth and Memory Program talks to Jose Pablo Baraybar, director of the Peruvian Forensic Anthropology Team . Gonzalez and Baraybar explore why it is crucial for societies in transition to address the issue of the disappeared, the tension between demands of conventional justice and the right to truth, and the need for a strategy in searching for the disappeared.

09/02/11

Through a New Lens: A Child Sensitive Approach to Transitional Justice

As of 2010, over 1 billion children worldwide were living in territories affected by armed conflict, over one-quarter of them under the age of five. This means the “average” civilian victim—a person killed, injured, or forced to flee his or her home—is likely to be a child or youth. ICTJ’s pioneering report “ Through a New Lens: A Child-Sensitive Approach to Transitional Justice ” analyzes experiences of four countries—Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Colombia and Nepal—and identifies some key lessons on children’s participation in transitional justice measures. [Download](/sites/default/files/Ladisch_ICTJ_Podcast_31092011.mp3) | Duration: 7mins | File size: 4.2MB

09/01/11

Through a New Lens: A Child-Sensitive Approach to Transitional Justice

“Through a New Lens: A Child-Sensitive Approach to Transitional Justice” analyzes experiences of four countries—Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Colombia and Nepal—and identifies some key lessons on children’s participation in transitional justice measures. Authored by Céc...

09/01/11

ICTJ; Cécile Aptel; Virginie Ladisch

Report

Make Justice a Foundation of the New Libya

As gunfire dies down over Tripoli, the new Libyan authorities will be coming to terms with enormous dilemmas about the hierarchy of priorities in building a new society. Their offices will see long processions of emissaries from near and far in the coming days and weeks. Some will be sternly pressing for issues of security to be immediately addressed and others will demand that business and development concerns precede all else, while there are also bound to be those advocating for justice to be done first and quickly.

08/25/11