War Criminals, Watch Out
The pace of proceedings is quickening at the International Criminal Court. On July 3, Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of Congo charged with war crimes, arrived in custody in The Hague. And today, July 14, the ICC prosecutor is expected to request new arrest warrants based on alleged crimes in Darfur against senior Sudanese officials, reportedly including the Sudanese president. Those are real accomplishments for a judicial institution whose underlying statute is now seeing only its 10th birthday.
July 14, 2008 Commentary
ICC: Good Progress Amid Missteps in First Five Years
Court Needs Continuing International Support for Challenges Ahead
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has made notable progress in bringing justice for the worst crimes despite mistakes in policy and practice, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today that assesses the court’s first five years. Human Rights Watch urged greater international support of the ICC to meet the political and financial challenges ahead.
July 11, 2008 Press Release
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UN: Council Should Help End Fresh Abuses by Uganda’s LRA
Boys, Girls Among Hundreds Abducted Across Three Countries
(New York, June 19, 2008) – The UN Security Council should adopt a resolution or presidential statement supporting efforts to rein in the capacity of the Lord’s Resistance Army to attack civilians and to ensure justice for the most serious crimes committed during the northern Uganda conflict, Human Rights Watch said in a letter released today to council members.
The Security Council will be briefed on June 20 by the former president of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, who is the UN secretary-general’s special envoy to areas affected by the insurgent Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
June 19, 2008 Press Release
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Letter to Security Council Members in Advance of the June 20 Briefing by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on the LRA-Affected Areas
We write in advance of the briefing to the Security Council on June 20 by the Secretary-General’s special envoy for the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)-affected areas, the former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano.
June 19, 2008 Letter
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ICC: Congo’s Former Vice-President Arrested
International Court Should Pursue Other Top Officials in the CAR and Congo
Following the arrest of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo on May 24, the International Criminal Court should pursue other top officials in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo for atrocities committed against civilians, Human Rights Watch said today.
May 30, 2008 Press Release
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Uganda: LRA Regional Atrocities Demand Action
International Response Needed to Stop New Abuses and Ensure Justice
International action is needed to end the Lord’s Resistance Army’s reported new spree of abductions and sexual violence and to help execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for the group’s leaders, Human Rights Watch said today.
May 19, 2008 Press Release
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Central African Republic: Chadian Army Attacks, Burns Border Villages
Civilians in Peril in Northwestern CAR
The Chadian army has launched numerous cross-border raids on villages in northwestern Central African Republic (CAR) in recent weeks, killing civilians, burning villages, and stealing cattle. Since January 2008, Human Rights Watch researchers documented at least five separate cross-border attacks on Central African border villages. Chadian army troops appear to be acting in support of CAR and Chadian cattle herders known as Peuhls, at odds with local CAR farmers trying to protect their crops. The worst violence occurred on February 29, in a rampage that destroyed six villages in the area of Maitoukoulou.
March 19, 2008 Press Release
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Statement by Richard Dicker to the Sixth Session of the Assembly of States Parties
The ICC has made important strides in the past year. It has issued arrest warrants for alleged perpetrators of grave crimes in three country situations. It has opened a fourth investigation in the Central African Republic and has started preparing for its first trial, which will begin in the spring of 2008. Through its field offices in four countries, there has been important progress in enhancing the court’s presence on the ground. We have also seen important developments in case law emanating from the pre-trial chambers.
December 7, 2007 Oral Statement
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UN: ICC Needs Backing to Bring Justice for War Crimes
Secretary-General to Address ICC Meeting at UN Headquarters
The United Nations secretariat and the 105 states that have joined the International Criminal Court should step up support for the court so that it can bring justice for war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today as the ICC opens its annual meeting in New York.
November 30, 2007 Press Release
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UN: Security Council’s Troop Plan in Chad/CAR Risks Failing Many
Forces Should Protect all Civilians in Danger
The international forces for Chad and the Central African Republic, authorized by the United Nations Security Council, should focus on protecting civilians affected by escalating violence in the region, Human Rights Watch said today. But it is crucial that the operation address the protection needs of those most affected by ongoing insecurity.
September 27, 2007 Press Release
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UN: Summit on Africa Should Not Overlook Justice
United Nations Security Council leaders meeting today to discuss peace and security in Africa should not leave justice off the agenda, Human Rights Watch said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is chairing the meeting this afternoon in New York.
September 25, 2007 Press Release
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Germany: Continue to Take Lead in Struggle for Justice
Conference in Berlin to Discuss War Crimes Court
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has made important progress since its creation five years ago, but the court continues to face major challenges, said Amnesty International, the German Red Cross, the United Nation Association of Germany and Human Rights Watch in a joint statement today. This message will be the theme of a two-day conference that the organizations are convening in Berlin on September 21-22, to galvanize public support in Germany for the International Criminal Court.
September 21, 2007 Press Release
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Central African Republic: Government Forces Kill Hundreds
Troops, Presidential Guard also Burn Thousands of Civilian Homes
Government troops, notably the elite Presidential Guard, have carried out hundreds of unlawful killings and burned thousands of civilian homes since mid-2005 in their counterinsurgency campaign in northern Central African Republic (CAR), a new report by Human Rights Watch charged.
September 14, 2007 Press Release
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State of Anarchy
Rebellion and Abuses against Civilians
 | This 108-page report is based on three weeks of on-the-ground research. It documents the human rights abuses and breaches of the laws of war committed in northern CAR by both rebel groups and the government forces, and also documents attacks by banditry groups in the northwest known as zaraguinas, who often kidnap children for ransom. |
HRW Index No.: A1914
September 14, 2007 Report
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Central African Republic: Forced to Flee
 | Villagers, forced to flee their homes because of fighting between government forces and rebel groups, live in desperate conditions in the bush without access to clean water or humanitarian assistance.
© 2006 Frédéric Sautereau / Oeil Public |
September 14, 2007 Graphic
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Central African Republic: State of Anarchy
 | A group of APRD rebels near Ouandago pose with their homemade weapons. © 2007 Olivier Bercault/Human Rights Watch |
September 14, 2007 Graphic
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Central African Republic: ICC Opens Investigation
Court Examines Crimes in Forgotten Conflict
The decision to open an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into crimes committed in the Central African Republic will help to end decades of impunity, Human Rights Watch said today.
May 22, 2007 Press Release
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UN: Chad Needs Strong Protection Force
Security Council Should Act Now as Attacks Continue
With attacks continuing against civilians in eastern Chad, the UN Security Council should approve the deployment of an international protection mission as soon as possible, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Next week the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is expected to brief the Security Council on options for a UN mission in Chad, after which the council will consider the proposed deployment.
February 21, 2007 Press Release
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Letter to Secretary Paulson on Oil Payments to the Sudanese Government
Human Rights Watch welcomes the Treasury Department’s proposed use of its regulatory authority to block dollar transfers by US commercial banks of oil payments to the Government of Sudan and urges Secretary Paulson to exercise his regulatory authority without delay to make clear to the Sudanese government that its continuing human rights violations in Darfur and its massive failure to protect Sudanese civilians will no longer be tolerated, and that it must immediately accept the international force, fully cooperate with all efforts to improve civilian protection in Darfur and end the violations.
February 8, 2007 Letter
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Central African Republic: Child Soldier Global Report 2001
From the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
In 1996 and 1997 the Central African Republic experienced three successive mutinies by the Armed Forces. Mediation by the
OAU led to the Bangui Agreements of January 1997 and brought the Inter-African Mission to monitor their implementation. The
Inter-African Mission was replaced in April 1998 by the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA),
which remained in operation until February 2000. In November 1999 legislation was passed to restructure and reduce the size of
the Presidential Security Unit, a force parallel to the military which was known for human rights violations. These plans have been
delayed by lack of funds for severance pay and pensions for armed forces members. The loyalty of the military to the civilian
government continues to remain doubtful.
June 12, 2001 Multi Country Report
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