Benchmarks for Justice for Serious Crimes in Northern Uganda
Human Rights Watch Memoranda on Justice Standards and the Juba Peace Talks
This briefing paper includes four memoranda produced by Human Rights Watch on justice issues and the Juba peace talks between May 2007 and February 2008. These memoranda explain the importance of fair, credible prosecutions for serious crimes to both accountability and a durable peace for northern Uganda. They also detail requirements of the International Criminal Court's Rome Statute and of other international standards for any domestic trials of serious crimes in Uganda, which the parties in the peace negotiations agreed to pursue in lieu of ICC trials of Lord's Resistance Army leaders.
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September 2, 2008 Memorandum
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Uganda: Torture Threat for HIV/AIDS Activists
Abduction and Intimidation Accompany Unfair Trial
The abduction and torture of a Ugandan HIV/AIDS activist who faces trial for holding a peaceful protest reveals the danger to those who challenge the government’s policies, Human Rights Watch, and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders said today. The three human rights organizations (the Observatory is a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture and the International Federation of Human Rights), called on the Ugandan authorities to investigate the abduction and torture and sanction those responsible. They also urged that the charges against all three human rights defenders on trial for the protest be dropped
July 30, 2008 Press Release
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International Criminal Court’s Action Against al-Bashir
Question and Answer
On July 14, 2008, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested a warrant of arrest for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir on charges of ten counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The request for a warrant raises a number of questions, answers for some of which are below.
July 14, 2008 Questions and Answers
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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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When peace talks undermine justice
Published in International Herald Tribune
Diplomats, judges, lawyers, human rights activists and members of nongovernmental organizations are currently marking the 10th anniversary of the completion of the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. The court's creation was an extraordinary step in extending the reach of law to those responsible for the mass slaughter of civilians and the use of rape as a weapon of war.
July 4, 2008 Commentary
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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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Letter to the Ugandan Authorities Regarding Recent Arrest of LGBT Activists
On behalf of Human Rights Watch, I write to express our deep concern over the recent arrests and charges filed against Onziema Patience, Valentine Kalende, and Usaam Mukwaaya—three human rights activists—supporting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities in Uganda during a peaceful demonstration in Kampala. We urge you to ensure that the charges against are dropped. In addition, prohibiting such a demonstration and arresting its participants amounts to an unacceptable and discriminatory interference with the peaceful exercise of the freedoms of expression and assembly.
June 11, 2008 Letter
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Uganda: Drop Charges Against Sexual Rights Activists
Censorship, Silence Around HIV/AIDS Can Kill
The arrest of three sexual rights activists during a peaceful demonstration to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues shows the Ugandan government’s determination to enforce silence around sexuality and HIV/AIDS, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Minister of Justice and Attorney General Edward Kiddu Makubuya.
June 11, 2008 Press Release
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Letter to Congress regarding Bilateral Immunity Agreements
As Congress begins the FY09 appropriations process, we, the undersigned organizations, would like to bring to your attention an important policy matter tied to the State/Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Since the summer of 2002, the Bush administration has aggressively sought to conclude bilateral immunity agreements (BIAs) with almost all countries, including every country in the world that has ratified the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty. Many nations have refused to sign a BIA because they believe that doing so would breach their legal obligations under the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the Court. Countries, including those not party to the Court, have also refused in order to protect their sovereignty and out of respect for the ICC’s values and purposes.
May 30, 2008 Letter
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Letter to the UN Security Council in Advance of its June Mission to Africa
We write in advance of the Security Council’s mission to Africa on June 1-10, 2008, to urge you to use this opportunity to address pressing human rights issues in Sudan, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.
May 27, 2008 Letter
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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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DR Congo: Suspected War Criminal Wanted
International Court Unseals Arrest Warrant Against Bosco Ntaganda
Congolese officials and UN peacekeepers should take swift action to enforce the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against a rebel leader accused of forcibly conscripting child soldiers and of other abuses, Human Rights Watch said today.
April 29, 2008 Press Release
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Coercion and Intimidation of Child Soldiers to Participate in Violence
Child soldiers are often compelled by their commanders to engage in combat operations, participate in human rights abuses against civilians, and carry out punishments against fellow soldiers under threat of severe punishment or execution. In this backgrounder, Human Rights Watch describes methods of coercion and intimidation used against child soldiers serving in armed conflicts in Angola, Burma, Colombia, Liberia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
April 16, 2008 Background Briefing
Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference
Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism
Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications.
March 11, 2008 Letter
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Analysis of the Annex to the June 29 Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation
Human Rights Watch’s Fourth Memorandum on Justice Issues and the Juba Talks
As part of the peace talks on the conflict in northern Uganda, the government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) on February 19, 2008, signed an important annex to their June 29, 2007, agreement on principles for accountability and reconciliation. This memorandum provides an analysis of the annex, which contains measures to implement the June 29 agreement, which include trials for the most serious crimes and a truth commission, reparations, and traditional justice practices.
February 21, 2008 Memorandum
Uganda: New Accord Provides for War Crimes Trials
Prosecuting Rights Abusers Will Require Political Will, Legal Reforms
The agreement announced today between the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army is a major step, but provisions on war crimes trials must be effectively put into practice for sustainable peace and justice in northern Uganda, Human Rights Watch said today.
February 19, 2008 Press Release
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“No One Should Have to Live in Fear Simply because of Who They Are”
Letter from Religious Leaders to the Ugandan Government
As leaders of diverse religious communities, we call on you to stop the verbal assaults and legal attacks of your government on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT) people. All religious traditions demand that we care for the neighbor and the oppressed among us and that we uphold the dignity of every person. No one should have to live in fear simply because of who they are.
February 15, 2008 Letter
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Religious Leaders Call on Government of Uganda to Protect the Rights of Gays and Lesbians
A coalition of 120 religious leaders has called on the government of Uganda to protect the human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) citizens in the East African nation.
February 15, 2008 Press Release
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