The European Union should maintain its travel restrictions and asset freezes on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle until Zimbabwe carries out concrete human rights and institutional reforms, ahead of this year’s national elections. The EU is conducting its annual review of its sanctions policy toward Zimbabwe and is scheduled to announce a decision on February 17, 2012. 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has set arguments to begin on March 12, 2012, in a case between Belgium and Senegal over the fate of the former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré. The case could result in a binding legal order compelling Senegal to extradite Habré to Belgium if it does not prosecute him.

Yemeni President Ali Abudllah Saleh’s arrival in the United States for medical treatment highlights the need for international action to serve justice for serious crimes in Yemen.

Over 30 civil society organizations from close to 20 African countries wrote today to African member countries of the International Criminal Court (ICC) urging their renewed support for the court’s efforts to combat grave international crimes. The letter was sent on prior to the 18^th summit of the African Union (AU), which will take place on January 29 and 30 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

 

The decision on January 23, 2012 of an International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial chamber to send cases to trial against four Kenyans opens the door to justice for victims of Kenya’s 2007-2008 election violence. Kenya’s authorities should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the decision does not lead to violence, and to stop violence if it does break out, given that people thought to have been cooperating with the ICC investigations have been threatened.

A new law granting amnesty to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his aides violates Yemen’s international legal obligations, Human Rights Watch said today. The sweeping law provides domestic immunity from criminal prosecution for serious international crimes such as the deadly attacks on peaceful demonstrators in 2011.

Legal and organizational issues that have emerged during Uganda’s first war crimes prosecution pose challenges for Uganda in seeking to ensure justice for victims of the most serious crimes. Uganda’s early experience may provide relevant information to other countries seeking to hold domestic trials for serious crimes committed in violation of international law – genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

 

The Arab League should urgently condemn the Syrian security forces for shooting peaceful protesters who were attempting to reach its observers in the northern city of Jisr al-Shughur, Human Rights Watch said today. In light of these and other blatant violations of the agreement it brokered with the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, the Arab League should report publicly on its findings and assess whether its mission should continue. 

La déclaration du président sénégalais Abdoulaye Wade que « très probablement Hissène Habré va être renvoyé en Belgique » pour répondre aux accusations de crimes contre l’humanité, crimes de guerre, et torture suscite l’espoir des victimes. La déclaration, retransmise aujourd’hui, a été faite lors d’une interviewavec Radio France internationale et France 24 le 4 janvier 2012 au Palais présidentiel de Dakar.

The Syrian government should comply with all the terms of its agreement with the Arab League, Human Rights Watch said today ahead of a January 8, 2012 meeting of the Arab League to discuss its monitoring mission in Syria.

Libya’s transitional government should urgently enact desperately needed reform to promote human rights and the rule of law after 42 years of dictatorship and eight months of war.

Libyan authorities appear to be holding Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in good physical conditions but should allow him immediate access to a lawyer.

Former Syrian soldiers identified by name 74 commanders and officials from the Syrian military and intelligence agencies who allegedly ordered, authorized, or condoned widespread killings, torture, and unlawful arrests during the 2011 anti-government protests. The Security Council should refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and impose sanctions against the officials implicated in abuses.

Member countries of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should provide the court with the support necessary to deliver justice for the world’s worst crimes. The ICC faces a higher demand than ever following the addition of investigations in Libya and Côte d’Ivoire to the court’s workload in 2011.

The request by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor for an arrest warrant for Sudan’s defense minister is an important step toward justice for serious crimes committed in Darfur.