UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), a UN agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, released a report Friday on International Women’s Day alleging that more than 230 million girls and women worldwide have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM), an increase of 30 million or 15 percent compared with [...]
Search Results for: Sierra Leone
UN Security Council sanctions six individuals involved in DRC conflict
The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on six individuals affiliated with various armed factions in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday. Sanctioned individuals were allegedly involved in obstructing disarmament and repatriation efforts, committing human rights violations such as murder and sexual violence, recruiting child soldiers, orchestrating or carrying [...]
Under international law, forced marriage has emerged as its own form of gendered violence, distinct from sex-related crimes — a phenomenon explored in depth in a report released last month by the Global Accountability Network (GAN), a collective of international criminal prosecutors and practitioners who supervise and work with law students on specific atrocity projects. [...]
Israel's Pursuit of 'Total Victory' in Gaza Unacceptably Relies on the Erosion of International Law
As the Gaza conflict stumbles forward, out of control, bloody, deadly, and seemingly endless, the Israeli Prime Minister vows “total victory” against Hamas as he steps over the bodies of thousands of Palestinians caught up in the violence. Total victory is an impossibility in this conflict. The days of total victory, of unconditional surrender, are [...]
Sierra Leone charges ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma with treason following coup attempt
Sierra Leone prosecutors charged former President Ernest Bai Koroma with treason and other crimes on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in a failed military coup that took place on November 26, 2023. The announcement of the charges against Koroma comes a day after 12 other individuals, including Koroma’s former bodyguard, were charged with similar offenses. [...]
Sierra Leone charged 12 individuals in connection with a failed coup attempt, according to a Wednesday statement from Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah. Among the accused is Amadu Koita, a former soldier and bodyguard to ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma. The charges encompass a range of offenses, including treason, misprision of treason, harbouring [...]
Time is of the essence when it comes to creating a court or tribunal dedicated to adjudicating Russian aggression against Ukraine. And while much consideration has already been given to the creation of a UN General Assembly-backed tribunal, the preferred option in my opinion, I would suggest the time has come to expand our consideration [...]
Stephen Rapp, an American lawyer and diplomat, has been a leading figure in international criminal law and human rights. He was appointed as the US Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues in 2009, overseeing investigations and prosecutions of war criminals worldwide. Rapp’s commitment to justice and ending impunity was evident during his tenure, supporting [...]
Sierra Leone declares nationwide curfew after attack on military barracks in Freetown
Sierra Leonean president Julius Maada Bio declared a nationwide curfew with immediate effect on Sunday, a few hours after several unidentified gunmen attacked the Military Barracks at Wilberforce in the capital Freetown in the morning. According to a statement released by Sierra Leonean Minister of Information and Civic Education Mustapha Jambai Massaquoi, the attackers were [...]
The Beast that is Iran—Condemn, Isolate, Confront Using International Norms
Indeed, the geopolitical landscape is complex, especially when discussing Iran’s involvement in various global issues. Central to these concerns are allegations of Iran’s support for Russian aggression against Ukraine, its perceived stance on Israel, and its role as a destabilizing force in the Middle East. Firstly, Iran’s relationship with Russia has raised apprehensions, particularly regarding [...]