haytham manna
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Haytham Manna. Gaza and Universal Jurisdiction MEMO- London 07/12/2009 British Institute of International and Comparative Law. Sovereignty and International Justice. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Haytham Manna
Gaza and Universal
Jurisdiction
MEMO- London 07/12/2009
British Institute of International and Comparative Law
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Sovereignty and International Justice
In origins and evolution, sovereignty is definitely a Western concept; it is accepted as an indispensable term in both academic and diplomatic discussions of political life and juridical procedures. From the second half of 20th century, this concept becomes relative and partially reviewed
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Elements behind the evolution of international criminal
jurisdiction
Delimiting the sphere of States authority
Refusal of hegemony as a global system
Structural interdependence of our era
Crisis and war in post colonial States.
National Complicity with criminals Impunity as an element of world
destabilization Role and influence of Global Civil
Society
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Struggle against impunity
- National Tribunals and Truth and Reconciliation commissions
- International Criminal Court - International Court of Justice - Regional and Special UN
Tribunals - Universal Jurisdiction - Tribunals of citizens and people
ICAWC Gaza Program
- Establishing legal evidence, investigation data base and documentation on the crimes perpetrated in Gaza - Starting legal proceedings at the national level under the principle of universal jurisdiction and the national justice in cases of dual nationality. - Following our ICC complaint - Asking to stop agreements ties between Israel and the European Union. End of the blacklisting of Palestinian political organizations in Europe. - End of Gaza Blockade.
Malakoff- 31 January 2009
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Universal Jurisdiction: Why ?
Because of the State incapacity to generate belief in its own national justice.
Existential necessity for international standard and national, regional and international related instruments.
Reinforcing international responsibility and cooperation in the administration of Justice.
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Universal Jurisdiction: Where and How ?
Universal jurisdiction is regulated in Europe with very different rules
It is open in Norway and Sweden, limited in Holland, United Kingdom, France and Switzerland, in regression in both Belgium and Spain.
Australia South Africa Chili, Canada, USA
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Political Obstacles
Since Oslo agreements, Western policymakers live with 4 obsessions:
Struggle against terrorism and Islamism,
Protection of Israel and covering Israeli crimes,
The influence of a very strong pro Israel Lobby
Priority for the so called Peace Process, peace keeping and Peace building,
.
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Juridical Obstacles
Legal limits of universal jurisdiction.
Intervention of the executive and legislative authorities to stop the legal procedures.
Personal characters of judges If European States allow unfettered
universal jurisdiction, then it will be very difficult for Israelis of any kind to travel (Dr Avi Bell)
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Juridical Support More than 62 excellent reports. More than 26 fact-finding missions. Very good job of Palestinian NGOs Very good collaboration of Gaza de
facto government. Goldstone report as a roadmap for a
global legal campaign against Israel, including lawsuits by individual states
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International Networking for Gaza
100 intellectuals for the ratification by the P. A to Roma Status (12/12/08)
240 NGOs: No Peace Without Justice, Together against Impunity (07/01/09)
350 NGOs for an ICC complaint (22/01/09)
Coordination between Gaza, Madrid, Oslo, Paris, Brussels, London, Vienne, Istanbul, Rabat and Cairo for an International Coalition against War Criminals (30-31/01/2009)
One year after - Organization of 3 missions to Gaza. - Organization of 4 seminars and 3
workshops - 2 conferences in the UN Palace of
Nations-Geneva - Good coordination between Lawyers,
experts and human rights defenders by ICAWC.
- Taking contact with political responsible in concerned States for our Program: Bolivia, Venezuela, South Africa, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and the Arab League.
- Membership of the best Palestinian NGOs
- Reinforcing the international justice and the principle of civilian Resistance in the region. - Following the ICC complaints and Palestinian adhesion to the International Criminal Court.
- Translation of reports and juridical documents
- Gel of December 2008 agreement between Israel and the European Union.
- Preparing juridical actions in 3 European Countries
- Mobilizing civil society with the Norwegian lawyers complaint- Coordinating between different initiatives
ICAWC MRAP PARIS
ICAWC – ICC The Hague
ICAWC – Malakoff
Lawyers of ICAWC
ICAWC in the UN
ICAWC in South Africa
Mission in Gaza
ICAWC : with Oslo Complaint
ICAWC
International Coalition against War Criminals
[email protected] [email protected]
www.icawc.net
www.justiceforpalestinians.net Tel & Fax
00331 465 419 13 * 0047 516 55 001