Impunity Watch: Special Features

Karadžić Charges Outlined

From SKY NEWS
The former Bosnian Serb leader, who faces charges of genocide for his actions in the 1992-95 Bosnia war, is due in court tomorrow afternoon, where he will appear before judge Alphons Orie.

Usually the indictment is read at a suspect's initial court appearance, but Karadžić can ask that only the charges, effectively a shorter summary of the indictment, are read, or that the indictment is not read at all.

He will be asked to enter a plea. If he refuses, proceedings will be adjourned and he will have 30 days to consider before he is again asked to enter a plea.

If he still refuses, a plea of "not guilty" will be entered for him.

Chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said the arrest of Karadžić was a "major achievement".

Conclusion of 2008 International Humanitarian Dialogs

Prosecutors from international law tribunals met at the Chautauqua Institute from August 25-26.  The second annual dialogs are intended to draw the world's attention on the need for vigilance in the face of war crimes and violations of human rights.

Second Chautauqua Declaration

The Second Chautauqua Declaration is available in PDF format here.  The 2nd Annual International Humanitarian Law Dialogues were held at the Chautauqua Institution on August 25th-26th, 2008.  The Declaration is signed by the international criminal prosecutors present at the conference.

The Importance of Human Rights

By:  Adriana Alcivar

The author, Adriana Alcivar from Silver Creek High School, was one of thirty high school students to win a trip to the Summer Institute for Human Rights and Genocide Studies near Buffalo.  The Institute is sponsored by the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo, the Jamestown Teaching American History Grant, the Robert H. Jackson Center, the Southtown Teachers' Center, and the International Institute of Buffalo.  The winning essay can be found here.

Negotiating with Killers Script Released

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience, in their continued effort to call the international community into action against genocide and crimes against humanity has joined with the Academy for Genocide Prevention, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. National Intelligence Council and convened a two day seminar entitled "Negotiating with Killers".  The seminar, whose focus is to educate diplomats and humanitarians about effective strategies for responding to genocides and atrocities, has been documented by the Committee on Conscience and has been released on their website. 

The script for the program can be found here. 

The full audio and transcripts of the program can be found here.