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When Libyan Women Set the Tone

Human rights violations as well as any official response to them affect women’s lives in distinct, profound, and often unseen and unspoken ways. For a society grappling with mass atrocities, it is crucial to shed light on these diverse experiences, if they are ever to be acknowledged and repaired. Space must therefore be created for women victims to share their experiences. Libya is one such country. To help raise the voices of women victims and human rights defenders there, ICTJ has been collaborating with diverse women-led civil society organizations since 2019, bringing them together and helping them build their capacities.

05/17/24

In Focus

Victims in Palestine and Israel Can't Wait: Urgent Action Must Follow This Positive Step Toward Accountability

ICTJ acknowledges and welcomes the decisive action undertaken by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, requesting the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders – Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, and Ismail Haniyeh – for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

05/21/24

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan stares front and center at the camera, flanked by one official on each side.

Press Release

A Revitalized Peace Process in Yemen Must Include Victims

Yemen's nine-year conflict has devastated the country and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The regional upheaval stemming from the ongoing war on Gaza has created more obstacles on the country's already complex path toward peace and shifted attention away from the set of UN-brokered commitments agreed upon by the parties to the conflict in December 2023, which include a nationwide ceasefire. Amid these challenges, it is more imperative than ever to support civil society and victims and bring attention to victims’ grievances and needs.

06/04/24

A field monitor from Yemen's National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR) examines destruction caused by the war in the Salah District in Taiz Governorate in 2023. (Maher Al Absi/NCIAVHR)

Opinion

AU and EU Convene Experts to Consider the Transformative Impact of Transitional Justice in Africa and Europe

On June 5 and 6, 2024, the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) hosted the fourth edition of the AU-EU Experts’ Seminar on Transitional Justice in Brussels, Belgium. The consortium implementing the Initiative for Transitional Justice in Africa, led by ICTJ, helped organize the event. The seminar explored how transitional processes can transform individual lives, societal relations, and dysfunctional state institutions.

06/20/24

A group of people stand behind a long conference table and pose for a photo.

In Focus

Transitional Justice on the Korean Peninsula: An Interview with ICTJ’s Ruben Carranza

In February 2024, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights hosted an event in Seoul, South Korea, marking the 10th anniversary of the release of the report of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. ICTJ Senior Expert Ruben Carranza spoke at the event and discussed lessons learned involving nonjudicial forms of accountability. In this interview, he talks about why a broader approach to transitional justice is necessary and how transitional justice measures can help promote peace and possible reunification on the peninsula.

06/20/24

by Amaya Lilles

A group of comfort women rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul in August 2011 to demand justice from the Japanese government for the sexual slavery they experienced during World War II. (Claire Solery/Wikimedia)

In Focus

Head of ICTJ's Colombia Office, María Camila Moreno, Appointed Government Peace Negotiator

In 2022, the Total Peace law was passed in Colombia, through which the government seeks to negotiate and reach agreements with armed organizations that still exist in the country. On June 19, 2024, the current director of ICTJ Colombia, Maria Camila Moreno, was appointed to be a member of the negotiating team that will help develop the peace dialogue table with the armed group Segunda Marquetalia.

06/20/24

Press Release

For Juneteenth, Celebrating Wins in the United States

This past month, the United States officially observed Juneteenth for the fourth time since President Joe Biden declared it a federal holiday in 2021. Commemorations are a chance to acknowledge past milestones and reflect on their relevance to the present. In the spirit of Juneteenth, it is important to highlight and celebrate the wins and progress made toward fulfilling the promise of liberty for all.

07/01/24

Opal Lee is recognized as President Joe Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, delivers remarks at the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act Bill Signing on Thursday, June 17, 2021, in the East Room of the White House.

Opinion

Mainstreaming Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Transitional Justice: An Interview with ICTJ’s Virginie Ladisch

ICTJ advocates for the inclusion of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in all transitional justice initiatives and undertakes research on best practices for the field. Leading this work is ICTJ Senior Expert Virginie Ladisch. She is the lead author of the forthcoming report, ‘The Search for People’s Well-Being’: Mainstreaming a Psychosocial Approach to Transitional Justice. In this interview, Ladisch discusses the importance of MHPSS for transitional justice and her work on the topic.

07/22/24

by Emma Abdallah

Two women (back facing the viewer) in foreground look onto a meeting of people seated around a large table.

In Focus

The Steadfast Bilateralism of Colombia’s Peace Agreement

In July, Colombian President Gustavo Petro traveled to New York to address the UN Security Council on the status of the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. During his visit, Petro also inaugurated a monument commemorating the country's enduring pursuit of peace.

08/01/24

by Veronika Hoelker and Danna Ramírez

Opinion

A Cross-Country Caravan Inspires Gambian Youth to Take a Lead on the Path to Justice and Reconciliation

Almost eight years since The Gambia's former President Yahya Jammeh left power, the country is still seeking justice for the human rights abuses committed during his 22-year dictatorship. In May 2023, the Ministry of Justice released a plan to implement the recommendations of the country's Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission. While the plan promises to deliver justice and repair harms, for it to have its intended impact, it requires broad public participation in the process, especially that of young people. With that in mind, ICTJ has partnered with the UN Peacebuilding Fund on a project to encourage Gambian youth to take a leading role in this process and the country's future.

08/20/24

by Patience Mama Loum

Seven young Gambian women smile for a photo

In Focus

Uganda’s Long Road to Accountability: The Kwoyelo Verdict and Lessons for Future International Crimes Prosecutions

On August 13, 2024, the International Crimes Division of the High Court of Uganda delivered its long-awaited verdict in the case of Uganda versus Thomas Kwoyelo, a former commander and colonel in the rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army. Mr. Kwoyelo was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other serious crimes committed during the decades-long armed conflict in Northern Uganda between the LRA and the Ugandan government. This judgment represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice and accountability and a crucial step toward acknowledging the suffering of the victims of these horrific mass atrocities.

08/21/24

A man sits at a witness stand in a court room

In Focus

When Windows of Opportunity for Peace and Justice Close

In the wake of the recent contentious presidential elections, Venezuelans from all walks of life took to the streets to express their collective distrust of the official results, outrage over their country's dire economic and political crisis, and demand for transformative change. For a brief moment, their sheer numbers and the of unity of their voices gave hope that a window of opportunity had opened for real change. In countries grappling with massive human rights violations, from time to time, a window of opportunity does in fact open for society to come together and a forge path toward peace and justice. Unfortunately, such windows do not remain open indefinitely.

09/05/24

Fernando Travesí-Sanz

Two women and a man stand in a crowd of people at a protest.

Opinion

A New ICTJ Study Offers Practitioners Guidance on Psychosocial Support

The field of transitional justice increasingly recognizes the relevance of mental health and psychosocial support in contexts of massive human rights violations. Despite growing advocacy and awareness at the global policy level, however, the field lacks a systematic approach to the issue. Now, a new ICTJ report contributes to such an approach.

09/19/24

an image of colorful painting featuring a young girl

Press Release

‘The Search for People’s Well-Being’: Mainstreaming a Psychosocial Approach to Transitional Justice

The field of transitional justice is increasingly recognizing the relevance of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in contexts of massive human rights violations. Despite growing advocacy and awareness at the global policy level, however, the field lacks a systematic approa...

09/19/24

Virginie Ladisch and Shayna Lewis

Report

A New Digital Approach to Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy in Libya and Yemen

In this era of technological transformation, it is critically important to develop digital strategies for documenting human rights violations, analyzing data for accountability or reparations purposes, and safely advocating for human rights online. This is particularly true in contexts where victims, human rights actors, and members of the media live in fear. To this end, ICTJ has recently led trainings for human rights activists in conflict-affected countries on open-source investigation tools to help them do their work more effectively.

09/27/24

A standing woman holds a certificate flanked by several others. All smile facing the camera.

In Focus

International Criminal Justice for Ukraine Must Be Accessible to Victims

Two and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, victims continue to demand justice for the massive violations they have suffered, which have left many of them gravely harmed. The International Criminal Court opened an investigation into alleged crimes in March 2022. It now faces a critical challenge: how to ensure that Ukrainian victims can meaningfully participate in all stages of its procedures, despite the court’s location far from the conflict.

10/01/24

Alec Knight

A woman stands near a house whose roof and wall have been severely damaged.

Opinion

New Report Offers Guidance to Truth-Seeking Bodies on Producing Transformative Final Reports

In societies grappling with the legacies of mass atrocities, truth-seeking bodies and the reports they produce can be instrumental in exposing culpability, revealing root causes, and preventing a recurrence of violence or repression. A new ICTJ research report serves as a practical guide for those working in truth commissions and fact-finding bodies on how to convert large amounts of data and information into credible reports.

10/02/24

A man takes in his arms a large stack of reports from a woman.

Press Release

Reports That Transform: Reporting Truth and Making Impact

This report serves as practical guide for those working in truth commissions and fact-finding bodies to convert large amounts of data and information into a final report. The manual draws on real life experiences from multiple truth commissions and includes extracts and examples from ...

10/02/24

Report

From Gaza to Lebanon: The Conflict's Heavy Toll on a Fragile Country

The ongoing war in the Middle East is not an isolated event; it represents a 75-year cycle of violence marked by historical grievances, geopolitical struggles, and humanitarian crises. In the latest episode of this tragic story, Lebanon has become the newest battlefield. So far, the conflict has caused widespread destruction, killed or injured thousands, and displaced over a million in Lebanon. The country now faces many daunting questions about reconstruction, reparations for victims, and the type of society that will emerge in the war’s aftermath.

11/04/24

by Fernando Travesí and Nour El Bejjani

Opinion

ICTJ Releases New Report on Customary Justice in South Sudan

In countries where state institutions have limited reach, customary and informal justice is often the most common way in which people resolve disputes and seek justice. Given its prominence, it is considered to be an important element of a people-centered approach to building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. An understanding of the relationship between customary justice and transitional justice, however, remains underdeveloped. A new ICTJ report provides valuable empirical, qualitative research on the topic, in the context of South Sudan.

11/12/24

A man stands facing a table around which several men are seated.

Press Release

'Some Level of Peace': Addressing Intercommunal Violence Through Customary Justice in South Sudan

Customary justice is the primary way in which most communities in South Sudan resolve disputes. Its ability, however, to deal with massive human rights violations is limited due to the complexity of intercommunal violence and a lack of clarity on its proper role. This report contends ...

11/12/24

Agatha Ndonga

Report

Amplifying Redress: The Ongwen Reparations Order and Justice for Victims of International Crimes in Uganda

In February 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered its long-awaited reparations order in the case of The Prosecutor vs. Dominic Ongwen. Nearly two decades after the ICC intervened in Northern Uganda, this milestone decision both acknowledges the suffering of survivors and underscores the complexities and limitations of international justice. For victims who have waited for justice for over two decades, the order has been bittersweet.

12/03/24

Opinion

ICTJ Accompanies Sudanese Victims to ICC War Crimes Trial

ICTJ accompanied more than 10 Sudanese victim stakeholders to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to attend the closing statements in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman ("Ali Kushayb"). The statements took place on December 11 to 13. ICTJ supported the ICC in the selection of the stakeholders, who were chosen for their strong ties with affected communities.

12/11/24

A man wearing black plastic-framed glasses and a suit sits in a chair turning his slightly looking directly into the camera.

Press Release

The Accelerating Tragedy of Syria’s Displaced: Failed Commitments, Forced Returns, and the Normalization of International Crimes

Drawing from data and testimonies of Syrians both inside the country and in the diaspora collected by civil society organizations, this report looks at the justice needs of Syrian victims of human rights violations in the context of ongoing debates on refugee returns. It critically ex...

12/17/24

Bridges of Truth

Illustration depicting an elderly woman carrying an armchair on her back

Report

ICTJ Statement: A Historic Moment for Syria and the Path Ahead

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime after 53 years of authoritarian rule marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice, peace, and human rights. While this transition opens the door to new possibilities, it also underscores the immense obstacles and responsibilities that lie ahead.

12/17/24

A large crowd of people in the street, many waving the Syrian flag

Opinion

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