Post summer update

The Folkrättscentrum is back after the summer vacation! This is our first post after the break, which coincides with the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Whilst we've been away, here's a few things that happened that might be of interest:

• The Security Council passed a resolution establishing for one year a Joint Investigative Mechanism of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which would identify “to the greatest extent feasible” individuals, entities, groups or Governments perpetrating, organizing, sponsoring or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as weapons in Syria.
• In related news, UNESCO’sDirector-General Irina Bokova condemned the destruction of the temple of Palmyra is a war crime. The Security Council was also briefed on the use of sexual violence in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria (background to which can be found here).
• The Swedish government have published a new strategy on terrorism. 
• A peace accord has been signed in South Sudan. There have been reports that violence continues after the ceasefire, however.
• The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report on impunity and accountability in Darfur for 2014 based on information received from the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur 
• Controversies and fresh allegations continue regarding accusations of sexual abuse by members of the UN peace mission in the Central African Republic. The Security Council had earlier in the month released a press statement on the sexual exploitation and abuse in CAR.
• Serbia and Kosovo signed agreements furthering the normalisation of relations on energy, telecoms,establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities and the Freedom of Movement/Mitrovica Bridge. 

/ Sally

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The twentieth anniversary of Srebrenica

Saturday 10 July marks the twentieth anniversary of Srebrenica genocide. Memorial events will take place in remembrance of the victims, including a service to bury 136 newly-identified victims.

This week the UN Security Council considered a resolution marking the anniversary and honouring the victims. This resolution was vetoed by the Russian Federation, a permanent member of the Security Council.

Jan Eliasson. UN  File Photo/Kim Haughton

Jan Eliasson addressed the Council during its deliberations, summarising developments since the genocide in addressing international crimes and difficulties still faced by the UN today. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, also briefed the Council via video teleconference from Geneva. A press release can be found here.

In 2007 the International Court of Justice handed down judgement in a case brought by Bosnia & Herzegovina against Serbia and Montenegro concerning alleged violations of the Genocide Convention 1948. The ICJ held that acts of killing and causing serious bodily harm or mental harm to the group of the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina constituted acts of genocide. There have been numerous cases before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia determining criminal responsibility for individuals involved in the events also, as well as proceedings before domestic courts in the Netherlands relating to the actions of Dutch peacekeepers. Background on the events and many of the international cases can be found here. An update on the most recent ruling by the Dutch courts can be found here.

The International Law Centre will be on a break for summer now, but will be back in August with more updates.

/ Sally

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