Justice Policy

The US Senate Again Grapples with the CIA Torture Program During Haspel Confirmation Hearing

Protesters at Gina Haspel’s confirmation hearing. Source: SJAC The rendition, detention and interrogation (RDI) program is again making headlines in the United States with the nomination of Gina Haspel

Thirty Years Later: How the Legacy of Halabja has Failed to Protect Syria

Thirty Years Later: How the Legacy of Halabja has Failed to Protect Syria

Thirty years ago this week, Saddam Hussein’s forces attacked the Kurdish town of Halabja in Northeastern Iraq. Iraqi forces first launched a conventional attack, forcing civilians into confined basements

Syria and the Collapse of the International System

Vladimir Putin, Hassan Rouhani, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Russia, 2017. The three guarantors of the “de-escalation zones” in Syria. Photo from Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_involvement_in_the_

Universal Children’s Day: Syrian Children Need More Attention, Support from International Community

Syrian refugee children attend a lesson in a UNICEF temporary classroom in northern Lebanon, July 2014- Photo Credit DFID – UK Department for International Development [https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfid/

At the UN, governments and civil society meet to build a foundation for justice in Syria

IIIM Head Catherine Marchi-Uhel speaks to attendees at a UN panel to discuss support for the Mechanism | Photo from UN Web TV [http://webtv.un.org/search/panel-discussion-on-building-the-foundation-for-justice-in-syria/5583170043001/?term=

International Sanctions Are Not a Substitute for Accountability in Syria

The Panama Papers showed blacklisted companies and individuals, including Bashar al-Assad’s cousin Rami Makhlouf, bypassing sanctions through dealings with the law firm Mossack Franseca. | Source: Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/

Responding to Misconceptions Regarding the IIIM

The following article was written through the cooperation of three non-governmental organizations: Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, Syrians for Truth and Justice, and the Violations Documentation Center in Syria. Its

Middle East Eye - The Syrian war crime suspects who could be brought to justice

James Reinl writes about the importance of the new International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to collect and preserve evidence of atrocities in Syria to broadening criminal accountability options with

The Significance of Apologies and Truth-Telling in the Syrian Conflict

Mustafa Tlass (left), photo from Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Tlass] and Jihad Makdissi, photo from UN Geneva [https://www.flickr.com/photos/unisgeneva/32973644562/in/photolist-S9oK83-So7bTG-S9oK3d-Rek224-ShdAkp-RewWsk-StpU5i-SeLwYj-Shpfkn-SeLxjj-SeLwL5-SeLxK9-cDBQ3A-RewYtV-Rm2wiK-Rm2wte-SqC4kx-SeLxAm-RXvMf9-RewZaz-RXvMnU-RewY84-RewZAe-RewZqp-GgBHPy-GgBHBu-GgBHEf-t6Fa55-sRppUo-R8jdQ3-SdPAjX] On

ECtHR as an Avenue for Accountability: Possibilities and Constraints

ECtHR as an Avenue for Accountability: Possibilities and Constraints

As Russia has, for the time being, closed the door on all available means for international accountability against the Assad government’s atrocities in Syria, human rights groups and lawyers