Mombasa Forum on Accountability and Justice
25 November 2014. Following the announcement by the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya of his intention to establish an International and Organised Crimes Division of the Kenyan High Court, there has been varied discussion as to what form this division will take, and questions have arisen as to its jurisdiction, independence and nature. The Wayamo Foundation organised a forum with community leaders from Mombasa to discuss the IOCD and how to improve access to justice in the community. Master of Ceremonies: Joseph Roberts-Mensah, Africa Director, Wayamo Foundation Speakers: Dr. Sarah M. Kinyanjui, Coordinator, University of Nairobi, School of Law, Mombasa Campus Jared Magolo, Criminal Lawyer, J.O Magolo & Co. Advocates Bobby Mkangi, Independent Legal Consultant Alexander M. Muteti, Principal State Counsel, Directorate of Public Prosecutions All photos by Mark Kersten, Wayamo.
Nairobi Workshop on Crimes Against Humanity
On 20-22 November, the Wayamo Foundation hosted an interagency training workshop for Kenya’s Criminal Investigations Division and the office of the Department of Public Prosecutions. The workshop, which featured a representative of the Nigerian Attorney General‘s Chambers in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and a former International Criminal Court investigator, focused on investigating and building complex cases, working up the chain of command, chain of custody and collaboration with neighbouring countries. Topics covered at the workshop included: An Introduction to Crimes against Humanity An In-depth Look at the Elements of Crimes against Humanity Phases in the Investigation of Crimes against Humanity When Does a Crime Become a Crime against Humanity? Modes of Liability under the International Crimes Act The Role of Prosecution in the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity Planning an Investigation in a Joint Team Linking High-Level Suspects to Crimes against Humanity Basic Evidential Issues at Trial The Statement-Taking Process Click here for photos (by Kris Kotarski, Wayamo)
Nairobi Public Debate on International and Organised Crimes Divisions in Africa and the Balkans
On 24 November 2014, the Wayamo Foundation hosted a panel discussion on the struggle for justice and security in Kenya at Strathmore University in Nairobi. The debate, moderated by Dr. Mark Kersten from the London School of Economics and Political Science featured both Kenyan and international panellists including: • David Re, Trial Chamber President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and former international judge of the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo • Kirsten Ainley, Assistant Professor of International Relations and Director of the Centre for International Studies, London School of Economics • Christopher Gitari, International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), Nairobi • Eric Kibet, Lecturer, Riara Law School, Nairobi The panel discussion was open to the general public and moderator Mark Kersten invited the audience to ask questions and make comments throughout the debate. BACKGROUND A Complementarity Turn? There is little debate about the fact that justice is best served locally. This is where the evidence has to be gathered, where witnesses must be contacted and, most importantly, where the affected communities live. Yet there is also a widespread recognition that not all crimes and violations of human rights can be prosecuted domestically. This is particularly so
Nuremberg Conference and Journalism Workshop on Preventing Genocide and Other Atrocity Crimes
International prosecutors, war crimes and crimes against humanity investigators, academics, journalists, and representatives of civil society discuss mass violence and genocide 3-6 December 2014, Courtroom 600, Nuremberg, Germany
Myanmar Training on Professionalising Police and Media Relations
Following a request by the Myanmar Government, President Thein Sein, which was supported by the chair of the rule of law committee of the Parliament, Aung San Suu Kyi, the European Union decided to support the reform of the Myanmar Police Force (MPF) in the areas of crowd management and community policing. The EU trained 4,000 police officers in crowd management and about two hundred people in community policing in an effort to promote a new image of the police: police should be understood as a “police service” rather than a “police force.” The project also sought to establish professional liaison mechanisms between the police, media and civil society, including training police in press work. This included training on how to hold regular press conferences, how to nominate spokespersons and how to write press releases. As part of the overall EU funded project: Support to Reform of the Myanmar Police Force in the Areas of Community Policing and Crowd Management – Component 3b (to improve the Myanmar Police Force´s accountability to and its liaison with civil society and the media), Wayamo Foundation Director Bettina Ambach and International Media Trainer Mechthild Henneke counducted a joint training session with journalists and
Pretoria Colloquium on International and Transnational Crimes
On 8-10 October 2014, the Wayamo Foundation hosted a meeting of international and national experts on International and Transnational Crimes at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, South Africa. See WORKSHOP REPORT and WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS. For pictures, click here. The workshop included sessions on: Challenges of International Criminal Law in Africa and the Uneasy Triangular Relationship between the AU, the ICC and the UN Security Council Transnational Criminal Law Should Domestic Courts Address International and Transnational Crimes and if So, Why and How? How “Domestic” is the Future of International Criminal Law? Experiences of domestic courts with jurisdiction over international and transnational crimes International Core Crimes and Modes of Liability: Challenges of proving international core crimes and their overlap with transnational crimes Investigating in Hostile Environments: The multi-disciplinary investigation team Complex Investigations: Moving from national to international investigations and the importance of international police cooperation What do investigations and prosecutions of international and transnational crimes have in common? Challenges in Formulating National and International Investigation and Prosecution Strategies: Collaboration and coordination of justice sector agencies Witness Protection: Overview of challenges and international best practice Lessons Learned from Uganda’s International Crimes Division Key Challenges from Investigations and Prosecutions at the
