Criminal Proceedings Against two Rwandan Militia Leaders

29 February 2012 ECCHR is monitoring the first criminal proceedings undertaken in Germany under the Code of Crimes under International Law (VStGB), which entered into force in 2002. The main court proceedings began on 4 May 2011 against two Rwandan former militia leaders of the “Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda” (FDLR) before the Higher Regional Court in Stuttgart. The President of the FDLR, Dr. Ignace Murwanashyaka, and his deputy, Straton Musoni, stand accused of committing grave violations of international law in 2008 and 2009 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

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Argentinean court follows international jurisdiction on sexual violence

23 March 2011 The judgment on torture and other crimes in the secret detention centers Club Atlético, Banco and Olimpo, announced on 23 March by the second Buenos Aires Criminal Court (Tribunal Oral Federal N. 2 Buenos Aires), takes into account the perpetration of sexual violence in the centers.

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The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urges prompt investigations into acts of sexual violence in Sri Lanka

10 February 2011 The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) urges Sri Lanka to "promptly investigate, prosecute and punish all acts of violence including sexual violence" which arose during the last stages of the conflict and in the post-conflict phase. Prior to this, ECCHR submitted a report during the 48th Session CEDAW Committee on the foreseeability of sexual violence during the Sri Lanka conflict.

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Criminal Prosecution of Gender-Based Crimes

In a follow-up to her ECCHR expert presentation on 12 May 2010, Berlin lawyer Silke Studzinsky gave an interview about her work as an attorney Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Studzinsky reported on the arduous process of introducing gender-based crimes to the ECCC.

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