During his visit to Geneva in early October, Civitas Maxima had the pleasure and honor of welcoming Juan Garcés, a Spanish lawyer and former advisor to President Salvador Allende.
Actions to halt the war, stop arms exports, and prosecute perpetrators of crimes: the tragic events that have unfolded since October 7, 2023, in Israel and Palestine have triggered a historically unprecedented wave of global judicial activity.
Anyone working to deliver justice for victims of international crimes knows that the judicial process can be hindered by political considerations at every stage. Recent news has once again reminded us of this harsh truth.
On 2 July, a Spanish businessman was arrested in Málaga for his alleged participation in the illegal trade of so-called blood diamonds and for his alleged complicity in crimes committed during the civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone.
In a court order issued on June 25, 2024, the Cour de Cassation, France’s highest judicial body, ruled that Kunti Kamara’s pourvoi en cassation had lapsed after failing to meet the legal deadline for submitting his legal argument memo.
My paternal grandfather, Genevan judge Henri Werner, always insisted on the imperative need for justice to deal, first and foremost, with local matters that concern it.
The International Criminal Court is unable to try high political figures, under arrest warrants, without their physical presence. This limits its action. Although, a recent development could help change the current system.
On Thursday, May 2, 2024, the President of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, signed Executive Order No. 131 establishing an Office with the specific mandate of setting up a Special War Crimes Court and a National Anti-Corruption Court.
International crimes have no statute of limitations, but what can be done when their perpetrators, sometimes tried decades after the fact, have become senile, mentally ill, and can no longer understand prosecution? asks Civitas Maxima’s lawyer Alain.
Today, the Paris “Cour d’assises” confirmed the 2022 guilty verdict and found Kunti Kamara, former Liberian ULIMO rebel commander, guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity, and commission of simple and aggravated acts of torture and barbarism.
There’s a lot going on this month in the field of international law, including Switzerland, with the referral to the FCC of the former Vice-President of Syria, Rifaat al-Assad, for trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“If you think that too many people are being killed, perhaps you should supply fewer weapons”, said the EU’s chief diplomat; Josep Borrell should also put his own house in order.
