| General Objective |
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| The Forum will be the occasion for debates, exchanges of experience and analyses on various themes related to the right to an effective remedy before an independent jurisdiction, at national level as well as accessing regional and international justice systems. A special focus will be given to the new challenges to build on FIDH and its member organisations’ expertise and impact on future strategies of action. |
| Specific Objectives |
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 To share experience and develop common strategies at national, regional and international level in order to contribute to the fight against impunity for serious human rights violations and for international crimes; To raise awareness among public opinion, stakeholders, and decision makers including: states and intergovernmental organisations on the crucial role of the effective remedy; To contribute to the knowledge and appropriation by the civil society and the political actors of key justice related issues in Armenia and in the region; To strengthen intra-regional and inter-regional ties among FIDH member and partner organisations and; To contribute to strengthening existing instruments, in particular the FIDH Legal Action Group (GAJ), and to the creation of alliances between the national, regional and trans-regional networks for supporting victims. |
Day 1: - OPENING - Tuesday, 6 April 2010 | 1:00 - 7:30 pm | Venue: Philharmonic Hall
1:00 - 1:30 pm Registration
2:00 – 3:30 pm Official Ceremony
Mr. Artak Kirakosyan, Chairman of the Board, CSI Ms. Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President Mr. Gagik Harutyunyan, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Stefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, European Commission Mr. Janez Lenarcic, Director, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mr. Abdou Diouf, General Secretary of La Francophonie
Musical interlude
3:30 – 4:00 pm Break
4:00 – 6:00 pm Opening of the Forum
Master of ceremonies: Ms. Soraya Gutierez Arguello, FIDH Vice-President, CCAJAR (Colombia) and Mr. Sidiki Kaba, FIDH Honorary President (Senegal)
Testimony: Ms. Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, HRC “Memorial”, “The Victims’ Search for Justice” Ms. Françoise Tulkens, Judge, European Court of Human Rights, “The Role of the Regional Protection Systems in the enforcement of National Justice Systems/ The role of the Universal Jurisdiction” Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC) “International and National Justice: The use of the ICC Complementarity Principle” Testimony: Ms. Shirin Ebadi, Human rights advocate and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, "Independence of justice and separation of powers" Mr. Gevorg Danielyan, Minister of Justice of Armenia, “Administration of Justice and the challenges of the National Reforms” Mr. Sergey Kapinos, Head of the Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Yerevan Mr. Patrick Baudouin, FIDH Honorary President (France), “Objectives and methodology of the Forum”
Day 2: Wednesday, 7 April 2010
8:30 Registration
PANEL I - International Justice: A tool for domination or for progress?
Day 2: Wednesday, 7 April 2010| 9:00 - 10:30 am | Venue: Erebuni Plaza Business Center - Erebuni Conference Room
This Panel will highlight the current debate around international justice. The claim of being used only in a selective way and not as a universal principle applicable to all will be addressed.
Claims on its partiality will be confronted with experiences where international justice has become the only option for victims to obtain justice. Moreover, its positive effect will be addressed including where international justice has fostered national processes of justice or contributed to crime deterrence. The need to set up new jurisdictions - international, hybrid or ad hoc courts - as a tailored response will be also discussed by the speakers, this in the light of the Review Conference of the ICC Statute to take place in May 2010 in Kampla, Uganda, and the stocktaking exercise envisaged to take place. The discussions and the recommendations in this Panel and the related Workshop will serve as an important input to this exercise.
Moderator: Mr. Francisco Soberon (APRODEH / Peru)
Debaters:
Mr. Sidiki Kaba (FIDH Honorary President / Senegal) Mr. Ucha Nanuashvili (HRIDC / Georgia) Mr. Hassan Jabareen (Adalah / Israel) Mr. Amady Ba (Office of the Prosecutor, ICC) Mr. Amin M. Medani (SHRM / Sudan)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
- The International Criminal Court (ICC): http://www.fidh.org/-International-...
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> Guide for Victims, their Legal Representatives and NGOs on Victims’ Rights before the International Criminal Court: http://www.fidh.org/Victims-Rights-...
> DRC / ICC: http://www.fidh.org/-DRC-ICC-
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> Uganda / ICC: http://www.fidh.org/-Uganda-ICC-
> Sudan-Darfur / ICC: http://www.fidh.org/-Sudan-Darfur-ICC-
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> CAR / ICC: http://www.fidh.org/-CAR-ICC-
> Kenya / ICC:
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> Colombia / ICC: http://www.fidh.org/-Colombia-CPI-
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- The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC): http://www.fidh.org/-ECCC-
- ICTY and ICTR
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- Universal jurisdiction: http://www.fidh.org/-Universal-Juri...
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- Relevant documents by partner organisations
A. Bernard, K. Bonneau, "Punir, dissuader, réparer - Quelle justice pénale internationale?", in Faire la paix: la part des institutions internationales, Dir. G. Devin, Les Presses Sciences Po, 2009
- International Criminal Court (ICC): http://www.icc-cpi.int
> The Three Year Plans & Strategies of the Registry in respect of complementarity for an effective Rome statute system of international criminal justice, Silvana Arbia, ICC Registrar, for the Consultative Conference on international criminal justice, September 2009: http://www.internationalcriminaljus...
> ICC Office of the Prosecutor Prosecutorial Strategy
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> ICC OTP weekly briefings
Redress, The Impact of the Rome Statute System on Victims and Affected Communities, Mars 2010, http://www.redress.org/reports.html
PANEL II - The challenges of national judicial systems: their willingness and capacity to investigate and prosecute
Day 2: Wednesday, 7 April 2010| 9:00 - 10:30 am | Venue: Hotel Marriott | Salon: Tigran The Great
Panel II will address the need to have access to an independent tribunal as a prerequisite to an effective remedy. The problem of justice being manipulated by state power or de facto powers will be discussed in order to measure the willingness of justice systems to fight impunity.
Participants will also address the possible misuse of justice systems as a tool to oppress human right defenders. Finally, the different possible reforms of the judicial system will be addressed to understand if they are effective means to increase the capacity of national justice systems to become an effective remedy for victims of grave human rights violations.
Moderator: Mr. Driss El Yazami (FIDH Secretary General / Morocco)
Debaters:
Mr. Arman Danielyan (CSI / Armenia) Ms. Shirin Ebadi (Human rights advocate and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate / Iran) Mr. Janez Lenarcic (ODIHR, OSCE) Mr. Eldar Zeynalov (HRC / Azerbaijan)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
- Relevant documents by partner organisations
European Court of Human Rights
> Note on case-law on the issue of exhaustion of domestic remedies:
[Fr]: http://www.echr.coe.int/NR/rdonlyre...
[En]: http://www.echr.coe.int/NR/rdonlyre...
> Final judgment in the case of Finucane v. the United Kingdom, October 2003, on the criteria of evaluation of effective investigation and prosecution:
[Fr]: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/v...
[En]: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/v...
Cecile Aptel, "Domestic Justice Systems and the Impact of the Rome Statute", Consultative Conference on international criminal justice, September 2009 [En]:http://www.internationalcriminaljus...
Acts of the Second Congress of the Association des Hautes Juridictions de Cassation des pays ayant en partage l’usage du Français (AHJUCAF) on "The independence of justice", Dakar (Senegal), November 2007 [Fr]: http://www.ahjucaf.org/spip.php?rub...
Redress, Memorandum on the compatibility of the practice of bringing fabricated charges, with international human rights standards, national jurisprudence and international standards on policing. Published as appendix to ’Asian Human Rights Commission - Recovering the authority of public institutions - A resource book on law and human rights in Sri Lanka’ February 2009, http://www.redress.org/reports.html
Workshop A - Triggering national justice
Day 2 : Wednesday, 7 April 2010 | 10:45 am - 12:30 pm | Venue: Erebuni Plaza Business Center - Suite 902
Case study: Cavallo (Mexico/Spain/Argentina) and Fujimori (Peru/Chile))
In both the Cavallo and Fujimori case, after a long process in which several FIDH member organizations of different countries were involved, tribunals of the State where the crimes were committed are finally judging Cavallo and Fujimori for the commission of gross human rights violations. Both cases illustrate the importance of coordinating efforts among NGOs and of states’ international obligations in these cases in order to finally organise the trials in the country where the violations/crimes were committed and strengthen capacities of national jurisdictions.
This Workshop will try to present the objectives of triggering national justice mechanisms, the obstacles and proposed solutions to overcome them.
Case study : Fujimori (Peru / Chile): Mr. Francisco Soberon (APRODEH / Peru); Cavallo (Mexico / Argentina / Spain): Ms. Paulina Vega (CMDPDH / Mexico) Facilitator: Mr. Ishai Menuchin (PCATI / Israel) Rapporteur: Ms. Kristiina Kouros (FLHR / Finland)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
Fujimori Case> Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos (APRODEH) / Pérou: http://www.juicioysancionafujimori....
> Argentinian Cases
> Weblogs of the Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) on the cases of the Argentinian dictatorship: http://www.cels.org.ar/wpblogs/
> Document of the Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Espana (APDHE) on the cases of the Argentinian dictatorship
Morocco and the reform of the judiciary
![FIDH-ICJ-Euromed: Déclaration à l’issue du Séminaire sur la réforme du pouvoir judicaire au Maroc - janvier 2010 [Fr] - FIDH - Worldwide Human Rights Movement](local/cache-vignettes/L52xH52/pdf-eb697.png)
FIDH-ICJ-Euromed: Déclaration à l’issue du Séminaire sur la réforme du pouvoir judicaire au Maroc - janvier 2010 [Fr]
PDF – 262.4 kb
- Relevant documents by partner organisations
Cavallo Case: http://www.cavalloentrerejas.com/
Workshop B - Measuring the capacity and the willingness of national justice systems
Day 2 : Wednesday, 7 April 2010 | 10:45 am - 12:30 pm | Venue: Erebuni Plaza Business Center - Erebuni Conference Room
Criteria used by the European system of human rights protection and the criteria used by the ICC
Two of the main obstacles that victims face in the fight against impunity are the lack of capacity or the unwillingness of national justice systems to bring those responsible of human rights violations accountable. Therefore victims have been forced to search justice before international judicial bodies. However, due to the complementarity or subsidiary nature of these mechanisms, one of the first analysis victims and human rights NGOs have to do is to assess their national judicial system using internationally or regionally recognised criteria or standards.
The European Court of Human Rights and the ICC are two examples of institutions that have to make an assessment of the capacity and willingness of national justice systems in order to decide whether they can act or not. Understanding the list of criteria used by both institutions and the way they conduct their analysis, will allow participants to better apply these criteria in their assessment of the capacity and willingness of their national justice system.
List of criteria by the ECHR: Ms. Françoise Tulkens (Judge, ECHR) List of criteria by the ICC: Mr. Amady Ba (Office of the Prosecutor, ICC) Facilitator: Mr. Anton Giulio Lana (UFTDU / Italy) Rapporteur: Ms. Florence Bellivier (FIDH Secretary General / France)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
Colombia: http://www.fidh.org/-Colombia-
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Israel / OPT: http://www.fidh.org/-Israel-Occupie...
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Russia
Central African Republic (CAR): http://www.fidh.org/-CAR-ICC-
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- Relevant documents by partner organisations
A. Bernard, K. Bonneau, "Punir, dissuader, réparer - Quelle justice pénale internationale?", in Faire la paix: la part des institutions internationales, Dir. G. Devin, Les Presses Sciences Po, 2009
> Note on case-law on the issue of exhaustion of domestic remedies:
[Fr]: http://www.echr.coe.int/NR/rdonlyre...
[En]: http://www.echr.coe.int/NR/rdonlyre...
> Final judgment in the case of Finucane v. the United Kingdom, October 2003, on the criteria of evaluation of effective investigation and prosecution:
[Fr]: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/v...
[En]: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/v...
ICC Office of the Prosecutor Prosecutorial Strategy
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Workshop C - The needed involvement of victims: between participation and other ways for victims to contribute to justice
Day 2 : Wednesday, 7 April 2010 | 10:45 am - 12:30 pm | Venue: Hotel Marriott - Salon: Queen Erato
Case study: The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the experience of Colombia
With the development of international criminal justice and the establishment of new international and hybrid criminal tribunals, like the International Criminal Court and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), the need for a bigger involvement of victims in these proceedings, above their traditional and limited role as witnesses, has been recognised and incorporated in the statutes of these tribunals. Victims can contribute to proceedings before these jurisdictions providing the Prosecutor with information on crimes and alleged perpetrators, feeding his analysis and investigation and influencing his prosecutorial strategy. Victims can also share their views and concerns before the judges. Participants before the ICC and civil parties before the ECCC, victims have the right to be represented by lawyers, including during trial proceedings, where their interest, as well as their views and concerns are presented, and victims can request reparations. However, these recognised rights come with challenges that these newly established tribunals have troubles to meet. The experience of Colombia on the involvement of victims in national criminal proceedings, and the concrete application of the Justice and Peace Act, will also help participants to understand how the participation of victims can be envisaged in national cases, taking into account the contribution of Colombian victims to the analysis of the ICC Prosecutor of the Colombian situation.
This workshop is about sharing experience and propose concrete strategies to render the involvement of victims in international and internationalised criminal proceedings effective.
Case study: Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), Mr. Thun Saray (ADHOC / Cambodia), the International Criminal Court (ICC),
Ms. Mariana Pena (FIDH / Argentina), and the Colombian experience, Ms. Soraya Gutierez Arguello (CCAJAR / Colombia)
Facilitator: Mr. Patrick Baudouin (FIDH Honorary President / France) Rapporteur: Mr. Roger Bouka (OCDH / Republic of Congo)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
- The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC): http://www.fidh.org/-ECCC-
- The International Criminal Court (ICC): http://www.fidh.org/-International-...
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> Guide for Victims, their Legal Representatives and NGOs on Victims’ Rights before the International Criminal Court: http://www.fidh.org/Victims-Rights-...
> The situation of the Democratic Republic of Congo before the ICC
> The situation of the Central African Republic before the ICC: the Bemba case
- Relevant documents by partner organisations
ICC Strategy in relation to victims [En]: http://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/asp_...
Stratégie de la Cour concernant les victimes [Fr]: http://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/asp_...
Estrategia de la CPI en relación con víctimas [Esp]: http://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/asp_...
Workshop D - Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
Day 2 : Wednesday, 7 April 2010 | 10:45 am - 12:30 pm |Venue: Hotel Marriott - Salon: Tigran the Great
Case study: Gaza (Spain, United Kingdom) and Rwanda (European Union)
When victims of international crimes are unable to find a response to their need for justice in their own country and when international criminal tribunals do not have jurisdiction over the crimes committed, the use of the principle of extraterritorial jurisdiction is an option that victims have explored over the last decade. Extraterritorial or universal jurisdiction allows the courts of any country anywhere in the world to try perpetrators of serious international crimes regardless of the location of the crimes and irrespective of the nationality of the perpetrator or the victim. It is based on the recognition that certain crimes are so horrific that they affect the international community as a whole. However, even if this principle is being more and more used, it meets some obstacles, often of political nature, that undermine its effect.
The Al-Daraj bombing in Gaza in July 2002 is an important example for different reasons. The NGO supporting victims of this bombing decided to look for other avenues to obtain justice by filing of a complaint before Spanish courts. In January 2009 a criminal investigation was open against seven Israeli political and military officials for allegedly committing a war crime – and possibly a crime against humanity – in that operation. The opening of this investigation was followed by diplomatic pressures exercised by Israeli authorities on Spain to prevent this case to continue. As a result Congress approved modifications to the legislation limiting the scope of universal jurisdiction in Spain.
The case of Rwanda will also give an example of how victims have succeed in the opening of investigations, and even prosecutions, to cover the impunity gap left by the UN backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
Finally, the study of the general status of the universal jurisdiction in European Union states will also show the negative effects that political pressure has have in the restriction of the use of this legislation by national courts or even in the modification of legislation which explain in part current debates on universal jurisdiction before the African Union and the UN General Assembly, aiming at strategizing on how to overcome these current obstacles.
Case study: Gaza (Spain / United Kingdom): Mr. Raji Sourani (FIDH Vice-President, PCHR/Palestine) and Rwanda/European Union: Ms. Carla Ferstman (REDRESS, United Kingdom) Facilitator: Mr. Arnold Tsunga (FIDH Vice-President, HRA / Zimbabwe) Rapporteur: Ms. Katie Gallagher (CCR / USA)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
Israel / OPT: > FIDH documents: http://www.fidh.org/-Israel-Occupie...
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> PCHR documents: http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/i...
Rwanda: http://www.fidh.org/-The-Rwandan-Cases-
Main universal jurisdiction cases: http://www.fidh.org/-Universal-Juri...
> Ben Saïd Case (Tunisia/France): http://www.fidh.org/-Ben-Said-Case-
> The disappeared of the Beach of Brazzaville case (Congo/France): http://www.fidh.org/-The-Disappeare...
> Ely Ould Dah case (Mauritania/France): http://www.fidh.org/-Ely-Ould-Dah-Case-
> Hissène Habré case (Chad/Senegal): http://www.fidh.org/-Hissene-Habre-Case-
> Pinochet and others (Chile/France): http://www.fidh.org/-Pinochet-and-o...
> Probo Koala case (Côte d’Ivoire/France-Netherlands-UK): http://www.fidh.org/-Affaire-Cote-d...
> Rumsfeld Case (USA/France-Allemagne):
FIDH: http://www.fidh.org/-USA-Guantanamo...
Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) / USA: http://ccrjustice.org/case-against-...
Universal or extra-territorial jurisdiction> FIDH documents
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> FIDH-REDRESS documents
> Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) / USA: http://ccrjustice.org/learn-more/fa...
- Relevant documents by partner organisations
Redress, Reintegration and Reparation for Victims of Rendition and Unlawful Detention in the ’War on Terror’ A European Perspective, Mars 2009http://www.redress.org/reports.html
Redress, Extraditing Genocide Suspects from Europe to Rwanda - Issues and Challenges September 2008 http://www.redress.org/reports.html
PANEL III - Obtaining truth, justice and reparation: complementary systems to criminal justice
Day 2: Wednesday, 7 April 2010| 2:00 - 3:30 pm | Venue: Erebuni Plaza Business Center - Erebuni Conference Room
In order to obtain truth, justice and reparation, victims have approached different venues besides the one of criminal justice. The regional human rights protection systems are the clearest example of complementary justice systems.
These systems allow victims to have a determination of the violations suffered and a declaration on the responsibility of the State involved in these violations. Moreover, the decisions of regional human rights protection bodies allow victims and NGOs to go back to their national justice system and demand the implementation of these decisions, that can encompass the obligation for national judicial systems to bring those who bear the responsibility for gross human rights violations to justice. However, these systems are not available in all regions of the world.
Other means of redress have been sought such as the setting up of Truth Commissions and other means of transitional justice. Another tool to foster accountability for those who committed international crimes and obtain justice can be found in the setting up of international missions of inquiry. These missions allow the establishment of facts and responsibilities and are an essential mean to hold perpetrators accountable.
Moderator : Mr. Diego Morales (CELS / Argentina)
Debaters:
Ms. Nassera Dutour (CFDA / Algeria) Ms. Elsie Monge (President of the Truth Commission in Ecuador, CEDHU / Ecuador) Mr. Mabassa Fall (FIDH Representative to the African Union / Senegal) Ms. Jacqueline Moudeïna (ATPDH / Chad) Mr. David Avetisyan (Judge, Chairman of the Chamber on Criminal Cases of the Court of Cassation, Armenia) Mr. Artak Zejnalyan , Representative of the political prisoners and assignees of the victims of March 1, 2008
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
Algeria
Morocco
China
- Relevant documents by partner organisations
Juan Mendès, "Background Paper for Panel on Regional Organs of Protection", Consultative Conference on international criminal justice, September 2009 [En]:http://www.internationalcriminaljus...
Cecile Aptel, "Domestic Justice Systems and the Impact of the Rome Statute", Consultative Conference on international criminal justice, September 2009 [En]:http://www.internationalcriminaljus...
The reform of the European Court of Human Rights and the conference of Interlaken, February 2010: > http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Hea...
> http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research...
Redress, Rehabilitation As A Form of Reparation Under International Law, December 2009, (English, Espanol, Français, Arabic)http://www.redress.org/reports.html Redress, Ending Threats and Reprisals Against Victims of Torture and Related International Crimes- A Call to Action(English, Espanol, Français, Arabic) December 2009, http://www.redress.org/reports.html
PANEL IV - Justice and the responsibility of non-state actors
Day 2: Wednesday, 7 April 2010| 2:00 - 3:30 pm | Venue:Hotel Marriott - Salon: Tigran The Great
One of the important challenges in seeking justice for gross human rights violations is to hold non-state actors accountable. Non-state actors involved in human rights violations include companies and multinationals.
While NGOs’ search for justice for crimes involving companies has mainly been focusing on their civil responsibility, some attempts to expand it to criminal accountability have already taken place. In this regard the scope and applicability of Article 25 of the ICC Statute can be interesting, showing how instrumental such contemporary criminal law can be.
At the same time, the fight of governments against crimes allegedly committed by non-state actors has increasingly become an issue of attention, especially in the framework of governments’ fight against terrorism. The need to fight the abuse of the legal framework and practice of these policies and make them respect international standards for human rights protection is still a current issue in different regions.
Moderator: Ms. Alice Mogwe (DITSHWANELO / Botswana)
Debaters:
Ms. Katie Gallagher (CCR / USA) Ms. Maria Natividad Hernandez (PAHRA / Philippines) Ms. Asma Jahangir (HRCP / Pakistan) Mr. Alirio Uribe (CCAJAR / Colombia)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
> Fight against terrorism: http://www.fidh.org/-Terrorism-
> Corporate accountability: http://www.fidh.org/-Globalization-...
Final declaration of the Nairobi seminar, November 2008: http://www.fidh.org/Corporate-accou...
FIDH position paper on the frame proposed by John Ruggie, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Business and Human Rights, October 2009:
- Relevant documents by partner organisations
> John Ruggie reports, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Business and Human Rights
2009 Report to the Human Rights Council:
Business and human rights: Towards operationalizing the “protect, respect and remedy” framework" [En], April 2009: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodie...
Les entreprises et les droits de l’homme: Vers une traduction opérationnelle du cadre «Protéger, respecter et réparer» [Fr]: http://www.reports-and-materials.or...
La empresa y los derechos humanos: La puesta en práctica del marco "proteger, respetar y remediar" [Esp]: http://www.reports-and-materials.or...
2008 Report to the Human Rights Council:
"Protect, Respect and Remedy: a Framework for Business and Human Rights" [En]: http://www.reports-and-materials.or...
"Protéger, respecter et réparer: un cadre pour les entreprises et les droits de l’homme" [Fr]: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UN...
"Proteger, respetar y remediar: un marco para las actividades empresariales y los derechos humanos" [Esp]: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UN...
> Oxford Report, "Obstacles to justice and redress for victims of corporate human rights abuse", November 2008 [En]: http://www2.law.ox.ac.uk/opbp/Oxfor...
> Guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises [En]: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/56/36/...
Principes Directeurs de l’OCDE à l’intention des entreprises multinationales [Fr]: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/56/39/...
LÍNEAS DIRECTRICES DE LA OCDE PARA EMPRESAS MULTINACIONALES [Esp]: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/21/20/...
> Tripartite Declaration of the International Labor Office (ILO)
Déclaration de principes tripartite sur les entreprises multinationales et la politique sociale (Fr]: http://www.ilo.org/public/french/em...
Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning multinational enterprises and social policy [En]: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/e...
Declaracion tripartita de principios sobre las empresas multinationales y la politica social [Esp]: http://www.ilo.org/public/libdoc/il...
Workshop E - The role of regional human rights protection systems in the reinforcement of national justice
Day 2: Wednesday, 7 April 2010 | 3:45 - 5:45 pm |Venue : Erebuni Plaza Business Center - Erebuni Conference Room
Case study: Chechnya (European Court of Human Rights - ECHR) and Peru (Inter-American Court of Human Rights - IACtHR)
The case law and jurisprudence of the regional human rights protection systems is very rich, in particular explaining the content of the rights to an effective remedy. Moreover, these decisions have had a good impact in improving the functioning of national justice systems through their recommendations, leading for example to the reform of national justice institutions, laws and practices.
Recently, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued numerous important and progressive decisions on the situation in Chechnya. Russian NGOs referred the situation in Chechnya to the ECHR after trying, without success, to trigger domestic courts. Although they are facing difficulties in the implementation of these decisions, participants will use them to discuss the strategies for the implementation of decisions and the impact that these decisions can have in improving the access of victims to justice.
The case of Peru will serve as an example to show how the Inter-American System of Human Rights Protection has examined the issue of an effective remedy. It will highlight in particular the positive effect that it has had over the years in Latin-America to foster national proceedings after periods of military dictatorships and to overcome legal obstacles such as the adoption of amnesty laws for international crimes in transition periods.
Case Study: Chechnya (ECHR): Ms. Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya (HRC “Memorial” / Russia) and Mr. Kirill Koroteev (FIDH Mission delegate / Russia) ; and Peru (ICtHR): Ms. Gloria Cano (APRODEH / Peru) Facilitator: Mr. Juan-Carlos Capurro (FIDH Vice-President / Argentina) Rapporteur: Ms. Anne Le Huérou (FIDH Mission delegate / France)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
Chechnya / Russia
- Relevant documents by partner organisations
Chechnya / Russia before the European Court of Human Rights [En]: > Enforcement of Chechen judgments: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research...
> Enforcement of other ECHR judgments: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research...
Juan Mendès, "Background Paper for Panel on Regional Organs of Protection", Consultative Conference on international criminal justice, September 2009 [En]:http://www.internationalcriminaljus...
Workshop F – The establishment of the truth: a strategic issue
Day 2 : Wednesday, 7 April 2010 | 3:45 - 5:45 pm | Venue: Erebuni Plaza Business Center - Suite 902
Case study: Burma and Kenya
The need to establish the truth is a key element in the search for justice and therefore implies big challenges, including the establishment of the facts (eg. Algeria, Sri Lanka, Burma). Different countries have experienced the setting up of truth commissions as a way to establish the facts after a period of armed conflict or in a transition to democracy. Other means of establishing the truth were the setting up of international missions of inquiry (eg. Sudan, Kenya, Chad, Gaza and others) with the participation of international experts. A common element of these commissions is that they have recommended the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for human rights violations. The establishment of the truth also plays a key role for certain human rights violations and international crimes and in particular enforced disappearances. In this context, the recent adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the need to have it enforced will be addressed.
An international mission of inquiry in Kenya led to the establishment of truth and facts and recommendations on best ways to effectively investigate and prosecute alleged perpetrators of the crimes committed. FIDH has been campaigning for the establishment of an international and independent mission of inquiry in Burma, which would pave the way for future criminal investigations and prosecutions of alleged perpetrators of crimes committed.
Case study: Burma: Ms. Debbie Stothard (Altsean-Burma/Burma) and Kenya: Ms. L. Muthoni Wanyeki (KHRC / Kenya) Facilitator: Mr. Zoran Pusic (CCHR / Croatia) Rapporteur: Ms. Khadija Cherif (ATFD / Tunisia)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
Burma: http://www.fidh.org/-Burma-?id_mot=26
Kenya: http://www.fidh.org/-Kenya,260-?id_...
Algeria
Morocco
Guinea: http://www.fidh.org/Crise-en-Guinee
Israel / OPT and Gaza
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- Relevant documents by partner organisations
Israel / OPT and GazaUnited Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, headed by Richard Goldstone: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodie...
GuineaReport of the international commission of inquiry: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/...
Workshop G - Respect of Human Rights in the fight against terrorism
Day 2 : Wednesday, 7 April 2010 | 3:45 - 5:45 pm | Venue: Hotel Marriott - Salon: Tigran The Great
Case study: The human rights challenges in the cases of Yemen, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and China
While respect for human rights in the framework of the fight against terrorism remains a major challenge for FIDH and its member organisations, the current context illustrates that there are other obstacles that have to be addressed and integrated into future strategies. After the clear disrespect of human rights and international law by the Bush Administration, the inauguration of Obama to the US presidency represents a fresh opportunity to change the approach and practices in the fight against terrorism. However, Obama has decided to send new troops to Afghanistan.
The case of Abu Ghraib and its proxy centres in Afghanistan will show the challenges in addressing the fight against terrorism, and will help to enrich the discussion on new elements that must be envisaged in future strategies. The case of Pakistan will also serve as an example of the current challenges in the fight against terrorism. First, which type of accountability do we want to reach. And secondly, how to reinforce our work to reach a more effective respect of human rights, including alliances with groups other than human rights. While the respect of human rights will be the main focus of the workshop, the need to address the accountability of actors who commit acts of terrorism will be also addressed.
The case of Uzbekistan is of particular concern due to the high level of repression and violence, but at the same time, is representative of the current situation in the region where the fight against terrorism is more and more often used as an excused for harsh political repression. In Uzbekistan where the majority of population is Muslim, believers are accused of extremism and hundreds of people are persecuted every year and their basic human rights violated.
The case of China is relevant as in the framework of the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremis, China among the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, is engaged in conducting multilateral cooperation on these issues. China´s invocation of a “war on terror” and separatist, extremist, or terrorist labels raise serious concerns regarding protections for ensuring an appropriate balance between national security and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms under international norms and standards.
Case study: Human rights challenges from the situation in Yemen, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and China: Ms Amal Basha (SAF/ Yemen), representative of FIDH member organisation in Uzbekistan and Ms Sharon Hom (HRIC/China) Facilitator: Mr. Luis Guillermo Perez (FIDH Secretary General / Colombia) Rapporteur: Mr. Dan Van Raemdonck (FIDH Vice-President / Belgium)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
Fight against terrorism: http://www.fidh.org/-Terrorism-
Yemen
Russia
Egypt
Pakistan
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Philippines
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- Relevant documents by partner organisations
Workshop H – Accountability of multinationals: the need for common strategies
Day 2: Wednesday, 7 April 2010 | 3:45 - 5:45 pm | Venue: Hotel Marriott - Salon: Queen Erato
FIDH and its member organisations have explored venues and shared lessons learned to increase multinationals’ accountability. Two seminars have been held, one in Nairobi, Kenya in 2008, and other in Bogota, Colombia in 2009.
Each of these seminars addressed the main challenges faced by victims, lawyers and NGOs. Both recalled the importance of adopting a victim oriented approach in the conduct of activities, reaffirmed the need for enhanced coordination at the national and international levels and the need to hold multinationals accountable (ie. by using Article 25 of the ICC Statute, the extra-territorial obligations of judges from countries of multinationals’ headquarters, by updating the OECD guidelines to the attention of multinationals, or addressing the project of an economical and environmental international court). The conclusions of these seminars can serve as a basis to guide the discussions of this workshop with the idea to share experiences and lessons learned in leading advocacy activities with states and multinationals and in bringing cases in order to draw common legal and political strategies.
Presentation of the discussions and conclusions of the Nairobi and Bogota seminars: Mr. Alirio Uribe (CCAJAR / Colombia) Facilitator: Ms. Katie Gallagher (CCR / USA) Rapporteur: Ms. Kek Galabru (LICADHO / Cambodia)
- Relevant documents by FIDH and member organisations
Final declaration of the Nairobi seminar, November 2008: http://www.fidh.org/Corporate-accou...
Seminar in Bogota, November 2009, "Transnational corporations and human rights: litigation from a victims perspective" [Esp]: http://www.business-humanrights.org...
FIDH position paper on the frame proposed by John Ruggie, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Business and Human Rights, October 2009:
TOTAL in Burma: http://www.fidh.org/-TOTAL-in-Burma-
- Relevant documents by partner organisations
> John Ruggie reports, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Business and Human Rights
2009 Report to the Human Rights Council:
Business and human rights: Towards operationalizing the “protect, respect and remedy” framework" [En], April 2009: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodie...
Les entreprises et les droits de l’homme: Vers une traduction opérationnelle du cadre «Protéger, respecter et réparer» [Fr]: http://www.reports-and-materials.or...
La empresa y los derechos humanos: La puesta en práctica del marco "proteger, respetar y remediar" [Esp]: http://www.reports-and-materials.or...
2008 Report to the Human Rights Council:
"Protect, Respect and Remedy: a Framework for Business and Human Rights" [En]: http://www.reports-and-materials.or...
"Protéger, respecter et réparer: un cadre pour les entreprises et les droits de l’homme" [Fr]: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UN...
"Proteger, respetar y remediar: un marco para las actividades empresariales y los derechos humanos" [Esp]: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UN...
> Oxford Report, "Obstacles to justice and redress for victims of corporate human rights abuse", November 2008 [En]: http://www2.law.ox.ac.uk/opbp/Oxfor...
> Guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises [En]: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/56/36/...
Principes Directeurs de l’OCDE à l’intention des entreprises multinationales [Fr]: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/56/39/...
LÍNEAS DIRECTRICES DE LA OCDE PARA EMPRESAS MULTINACIONALES [Esp]: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/21/20/...
> Tripartite Declaration of the International Labor Office (ILO)
Déclaration de principes tripartite sur les entreprises multinationales et la politique sociale (Fr]: http://www.ilo.org/public/french/em...
Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning multinational enterprises and social policy [En]: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/e...
Declaracion tripartita de principios sobre las empresas multinationales y la politica social [Esp]: http://www.ilo.org/public/libdoc/il...
Day 3: Thursday, 8 April 2010 - PLENARY
Day 3: Thursday, 8 April 2010 | 9:00 am - 12:30 pm | Venue : Hotel Marriott - Hall: Tigran The Great
8:30 am Registration
9:00 – 10:15 am Plenary session: reports from the workshops
Moderator : Mr. Karim Lahidji (FIDH Vice-President / Iran)
A) Triggering national justice
B) Measuring the capacity and the willingness of national justice systems
C) The needed involvement of victims: between participation and other ways for victims to contribute to justice
D) Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
10:15 - 10:40 am Testimonies: filling the protection gap for human rights defenders fighting impunity - Mr. Amir Suleiman (ACJPS / Sudan) et Ms. Vilma Nuñez (FIDH Vice-President, CENIDH / Nicaragua)
Annual Report of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders 2009: http://www.fidh.org/Steadfast-in-pr...
Annual Report of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders 2007: http://www.fidh.org/Steadfast-in-protest
Paper of the Victims Rights Working Group before the ICC on intermediaries
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10:40 – 11:00 am Break
11:00 am - 12:15 pm Plenary session: reports from the workshops
Moderator : Ms. Fatimata Mbaye (FIDH Vice-President, AMDH / Mauritania)
E) The role of regional human rights protection systems in the reinforcement of national justice
F) The establishment of the truth: a strategic issue
G) Respect of Human Rights in the fight against terrorism
H) Accountability of multinationals: the need for common strategies
12:15 – 12:30 pm Conclusion
Mr. Ales Bialiatski (FIDH Vice-President, HRC “Viasna” / Belarus)
