NAP 1325
Guatemala, is a country living in post-conflict, is experiencing different forms of violence. The high rates of violence against women and sexual violence require urgent action. The United Nations Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security exhorts the States to take action through its four basic pillars: prevention, protection, participation, relief and recovery. In Guatemala, 16 years since the adoption of the Resolution, we say 1325 NOW #1325Guateya.
Redress for Kenyans after the ICC: Perspectives and possibilities - Side Event ASP
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Impunity Watch invites you to a panel discussion on redress for Kenyans after the ICC.
Future National Reparations Plan Guatemala at Risk
Impunity Watch Guatemala expresses its concern about the future of the National Reparations Program (PNR) since the 2016 draft budget allocates only 25 million quetzales.
Read full alert in Spanish
Contrasting Notions of History and Collective Memory in Tunisia
As part of its research efforts accompanying the process of transitional justice in Tunisia, the Transitional Justice Barometer Project, a partnership involving Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center, the Centre for Applied Human Rights at the the University of York and Impunity Watch, is publishing its third study entitled: Contrasting notions of history and collective memory in Tunisia. The teaching of recent history and the figure of Bourguiba today.
Impunity Watch supports the Clean Hands for Justice Campaign in Guatemala
On 12 October 2016 in Guatemala, the "Clean Hands" campaign (Manos Limpias) was relaunched to promote integrity and ethics within the judiciary. The campaign is driven by the association of judges of the Institute of the Judiciary since 2015, and now associations of university students and civil society organizations have joined, supported by Impunity Watch.
The Past Should not be Forgotten: Victims’ Participation in Honduran Truth Commissions
Impunity Watch is pleased to announce the publication of a new research report “The Past Should not be Forgotten: Victims’ Participation in Honduran Truth Commissions”. The report is available on our website both in English and Spanish. The study examines victims’ participation in the two truth commissions that were created in Honduras in 2010 to investigate the violent incidents surrounding the 2009 coup d'état.
In the Shadow of Politics: Victim Participation in the Kenyan ICC Cases - New IW Research Report
Impunity Watch is pleased to announce the publication of a new research report In the Shadow of Politics: Victim Participation in the Kenyan ICC Cases. The study critically examines victim participation in the Kenyan ICC Cases, exploring the assumed benefits and impact of participation, the challenges faced by victims seeking to participate, as well as the broader institutional challenges facing judges and lawyers as they attempted to operationalise a victim participation regime within international criminal proceedings.
Opening of the Trial of the CREOMPAZ Case
International organisations celebrate the opening of the trial of the case CREOMPAZ.
Read the press release of ASFC, CEJIL, DPLF, GHRC, International Platform Against Impunity, WOLA, and Impunity Watch.
Transitional Justice Barometer: Contrasting Notions of History and Collective Memory
As part of its research efforts accompanying the process of transitional justice in Tunisia, the Transitional Justice Barometer Project, a partnership involving Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center, the Centre for Applied Human Righst at the the University of York and Impunity Watch, is publishing its third study entitled: Contrasting notions of history and collective memory in Tunisia. The teaching of recent history and the figure of Bourguiba today.
Victim Participation in Guatemala: We Struggle with Dignity
Impunity Watch is pleased to announce the publication of a new research report “We Struggle With Dignity: Victims’ Participation in Transitional Justice in Guatemala.”
Scoping Study: Transitional Justice Practice: Looking Back, Moving Forward
Impunity Watch is pleased to announce the publication of a new research report entitled “Transitional Justice Practice: Looking Back, Moving Forward.” Authored by Vasuki Nesiah, and produced with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the scoping study offers a critical review of the historical development of transitional justice practice up until the present, in which it has increasingly come to suffer under what could be qualified as a crisis of legitimacy and effectiveness.
Transitional Justice Barometer: The Victim Zone and Collective Reparation in Tunisia
As part of its research efforts accompanying the process of transitional justice in Tunisia, the Transitional Justice Barometer Project, a partnership involving Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center, the Centre for Applied Human Rights at the University of York and Impunity Watch, is publishing its second study entitled: “The ‘Victim Zone’ and Collective Reparations - Ain Draham and Sidi Makhlouf : ‘So Rich and yet so Poor’.”
Victim Participation and Transitional Justice in Cambodia: the case of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)
Impunity Watch is pleased to announce the publication of a new research report, entitled “Victim Participation and Transitional Justice in Cambodia: the case of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)”, authored by Dr. Rudina Jasini. A version of this report in Khmer is also available. The research project was implemented as part of a broader Impunity Watch research programme on “Promoting Active Participation in Dealing with the Past and Transitional Justice.”
Caso Molina Theissen: Oportunidad Historica Para encontrar Justicia 35 Anos Despues
Ciudad de Guatemala, Washington, D.C. y San José, 18 de abril de 2016.- Mañana tendrá lugar una nueva audiencia en el proceso judicial sobre la desaparición forzada de Marco Antonio Molina Theissen, y la detención ilegal y actos de tortura en contra de Emma Molina Theissen a manos del Ejército de Guatemala. En esta oportunidad, el Ministerio Público presentará la acusación y la jueza Judith Secaida, determinará si existen elementos suficientes para iniciar un juicio oral y público. Si el proceso avanza, se abriría una oportunidad histórica para alcanzar justicia, 35 años después de ocurridos los hechos.
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Burundi's TRC Officially Launched: But Will Victims Participate?
On 4 March 2016, in Kayanza in the country’s north, Burundi’s President officially launched the operational phase of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and its popular awareness-raising campaign. Before a packed conference hall composed of the highest levels of government, senior party officials, ambassadors, and other invitees, the President – addressing his compatriots predominantly in his native Kirundi – invited all Burundians to participate in the process, orating the adage, there is no future without forgiveness.
International NGO Coalition Urges President Morales to Act Transparently
As a coalition of international human rights groups, we have followed with great interest the selection process for the Guatemalan Constitutional Court (Corte de Constitucionalidad de Guatemala), an autonomous tribunal of last instance with a crucial role in the country’s legal system. Electoral authorities have a unique opportunity and duty to ensure that the Guatemalan people will be served by honorable, extremely capable, impartial, and independent justices. We join the calls from Guatemala and around the world urging for the formation of a Constitutional Court that will strengthen and contribute to a society with justice for all.
Brave Women Break the Silence and Impunity in Guatemala
For the first time, a Guatemalan court has recognized sexual slavery as a crime against humanity and a weapon of war, applying international human rights standards. The sentence orders reparations measures to honor the women through health and housing programs, as well as measures to educate the next generations and the military about the severity of violence against women and respect for human rights. Impunity Watch together with other international organisations congratulates the Guatemalan justice sector for this great step forward for female victims of sexual violence.
The “Barundikazi” – Burundian Women’s Quest for a Voice in the Peace Process
The “Barundikazi” – the women and girls of Burundi – have been at the center of the current political and security crisis, as victims, activists and peacebuilders. The visit on 25-26 February by the African Union High-Level delegation (consisting of the heads of state of South Africa, Senegal, Gabon, Ethiopia and Mauritania) may present one of the last remaining opportunities to quell the escalating violence, which has been triggered by President Nkurunziza’s contested third term, unparalleled since Burundi’s decade-long civil war.
National Day of Dignity of Victims
Impunity Watch expresses its solidarity with the victims and survivors of the internal armed conflict, and reaffirms its commitment to Guatemalan society to continue to support their efforts to build a genuine democratic rule of law. We urge the international community to continue to ensure respect for human rights and compliance with international standards of transitional justice in Guatemala, so that the past will not happen again.
First trial for sexual slavery and violence during the armed conflict in Guatemala started: the Sepur Zarco Case
International organizations applaud the initiation of the first trial for sexual slavery and violence during the armed conflict in Guatemala: the Sepur Zarco Case. The Sepur Zarco case trial where acts of sexual violence and domestic and sexual slavery committed from 1982 to 1986 by members of the Guatemalan army against Maya Q’eqchi’ women and the forced disappearance of several men will be dealt with started 1 February 2016. The accused in the case are former soldier Esteelmer Francisco Reyes Girón and former military commissioner Heriberto Valdez Asig.
Read more | Read the full press statement in English or Spanish
International Organisations support the effort of the Public Ministry of Guatemala in cases of Transitional Justice
CEJIL, DPLF, GHRC, IW, International Platform Against Impunity and WOLA raise their voices jointly to demain justice for all serious violation of human rights which go still unpunished to date. We are confident that progress will be made towards reconciliation and peace, without compromising the obligations towards victims.
Guatemala Sepur Zarco Trial Updates
According to Impunity Watch’s work to promote accountability for past atrocities in countries emerging from a violent past, we have followed closely the development of the Sepur Zarco Case of acts of sexual violence and domestic and sexual slavery committed from 1982 to 1986 by members of the Guatemalan army against Maya Q’eqchi’women and the forced disappearance of several men. We have kept a close cooperation with the Breaking the Silence and Impunity Alliance, promoters of the case.
Brave and Through Action by Guatemala's Public Prosecutor's Office and Justice System
Impunity Watch congratulates the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Guatemalan justice system for bravely and consistently combating impunity for crimes of the past and present. In recent years, the Public Prosecutor's Office has displayed considerable independence, capacity, and courage in investigating and prosecuting severe human rights violations committed against the civilian population during the internal armed conflict, and in applying national and international standards that penalize internationally significant crimes such as torture, forced disappearance, and genocide.