After six weeks of hearings, the French Criminal Court convicted Pascal Simbikangwa of genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity for his actions during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Simbikangwa was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
FIDH and its member organisation, the French Ligue des droits de l’Homme LDH, civil parties in the case, fought tirelessly for this trial to be held and for France to uphold its legal obligations. At the end of the proceedings, which the civil parties actively contributed to, the Public Prosecutor requested that the charge against the accused be changed from ‘complicity in genocide’ to ‘genocide’.
This verdict showcases the crucial role that universal jurisdiction plays in bringing long awaited justice to scores of victims.
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Read FIDH and LDH press kit on this case (in French)