NCICC Commends Establishment of Judicial Commission for Probe of…

PRESS RELEASE, August 7 2017

On Friday, 3 August 2017, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo announced the establishment of a 7 man Judicial Commission headed by Justice Biobele A. Georgewill of the court of appeal, to review compliance of the Nigerian Armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement, especially in local conflict and insurgency situations.

The Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC) commends this move by the Federal Government, which will finally see to the impartial investigation of the Nigerian Military for alleged human rights violations, and any other alleged acts of international humanitarian and human rights law committed on Nigerian soil. This move is a step closer to Nigeria’s fulfilment of international obligations under international law, to not only prevent violations of atrocity crimes, but see to justice for victims across the country.

In recent years, NCICC has collated detailed information from thousands of these victims, who have suffered severe violations of human rights and serious abuses of humanitarian laws in North-Eastern Nigeria by the Military. We therefore stand by the government in its efforts and express our availability to work with the Judicial Commission to meet its targets. As always, NCICC urges the Federal Government to continue unwaveringly in this path to bring to justice all perpetrators of crimes under international law, and other serious violations of human rights in conflict situations in Nigeria.

 

International Justice Day #WarAfterWar

Yesterday, 17th July marked International Justice Day which commemorates the historic adoption of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998 by an overwhelming majority of the world’s countries.

Since then, the International Criminal Court (ICC) celebrated 15 years since opening its doors,  and has made significant progress in holding perpetrators of atrocities to account, placing international justice firmly on the international agenda.

However, global access to justice remains uneven. Many governments continue to deny the ICC jurisdiction where it is most needed. As such, the ICC must continue to evolve into the global court the world demands of it.

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) now stands at 2,500 member organizations, ranging from community and grassroots groups in 150 countries to prominent international human rights NGOs, and NCICC is one of them.

On this important day, NCICC calls on its members and Nigerian citizens as a whole to continue to work for the protection of human rights at the national, regional and global levels through the ICC and Rome Statute system of international justice

International Justice Day is a reminder for all states committed to fair and impartial justice for victims of the worst crimes around the world: to urgently ensure continued support for the international justice system.

INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE

Press Release, 26 June 2017

The Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (“NCICC”) commemorates the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture today, 26^th June 2017, which marks the day the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“UN CAT”) came into effect in 1987. Since its passing, the UN CAT has been ratified by 162 countries including Nigeria; however torture persists both worldwide and within the country despite its absolute prohibition under international law.

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