Category Archives: Domestic Courts

Denmark: Court of Appeal: Danish Genocide Law Has No Extraterritorial Application

2011-10-24, Copenhagen, Denmark. The Eastern High Court of Appeal held that the Danish Act No. 132 of 29 of April 1955 Concerning the Punishment of Genocide cannot be used to prosecute Accused for acts of genocide committed outside Denmark. The Court stated that ”the wording of the law does not provide a basis to assume that the intention was [...]
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France: Paris Court Refuses Extradition of Ms. Habyarimana to Rwanda

2011-09-28, Paris, France. The Paris Appeals Court refused to extradite Agathe Habyarimana, widow of the former Rwandan president, to Rwanda to face genocide and crimes against humanity charges arising from the 1994 Rwandan genocide.  Rwandan government alleged that Ms. Habyarimana, 69, was a member of a group that planned the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Martin Ngoga, the Prosecutor General [...]
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United Kingdom: Parliament Amends ‘Universal Jurisdiction’ Law

2011-09-15, London, United Kingdom.  The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 that amended several acts including the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 received Royal Assent and became law. Under the amendment,  judges hearing criminal complaints filed by private parties can no longer issue warrants without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Previously, a magistrate court judge could issue a [...]
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Switzerland: Dias: Sri Lankan Major General Investigated for War Crimes

2011-09-22, Berne, Switzerland. The Swiss Federal Prosecutor initiated a criminal investigation against Jagath Dias, Major General and the commander of the 57th Division of the Sri Lankan Army during the May 2009 Operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The investigation has been initiated as a result of a criminal complaint filed with [...]
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Israel: Cvetkovic: District Court Allows Extradition to Face Genocide Charges

2011-08-01, Jerusalem, Israel. The District Court of Jerusalem authorized extradition of Aleksandar Cvetković to Bosnia and Herzegovina to face genocide charges. He now has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Israel. If extradited, he will be prosecuted before the War Crimes Section of the BiH Court in Sarajevo on charges arising [...]
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Argentina: 15 Former Officials Jailed for Human Rights Violations Committed during the Dirty War

2010-12-21, Buenos Aires & Mar del Plata, Argentina. Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata Courts sentenced to life in prison 15 military and police officers for crimes they committed during Videla’s military dictatorship (1976-1983).  The Mar del Plata Court convicted a former army officer and 2 ex-marines for kidnapping and torturing nine opposition members at a [...]
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Argentina: Jorge Rafael Videla, former head of state, Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

2010-12-22, Cordoba, Argentina. A Cordoba Court sentenced Jorge Rafael Videla, 85, former Argentine dictator, to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity committed during his 1976–1981 regime when over 10’000 people were disappeared and killed. Mr. Rafael Videla was sentenced in 1985 to life in prison, however, was pardoned five years later by former President Carlos [...]
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International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Entered into Force

The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance entered into forced after being ratified by 21 states: Albania, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, France, Germany, Honduras, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Senegal, Spain and Uruguay. Its implimentation will be monitored by the Committee on Enforced Disappearances. [...]
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France: Mbarushimana Charged with Crimes Against Humanity for Crimes Allegedly Committed During the 1994 Rwandan Genocide

2010-12-22, Paris, France. Examining magistrate Rene Cros charged Mr. Callixte Mbarushimana, an alleged executive secretary of the FDLR, a rebel group based in the Eastern DRC, with crimes against humanity. The charges follow a law suit filed by victims’ groups accusing Mr. Mbarushimana of directly participating in killings in Kiguli during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. [...]
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Estonia: Former Soviet Official Tried for Genocide

2010-11-03, Tartu, Estonia. The trial of Väino Pehk, 82, on charges of genocide started in Tartu County Court. Mr. Pehk is accused of assisting deportation of 61 Estonian families, and directly participating in deportation of 3 families from the Saadjärve municipality to Siberia in March 1949. Genocide carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. [...]
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