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Environmental law is the law relating to environmental problems – but these problems are anything but simple. Traditional legal systems weren't designed with challenges like climate change or biodiversity loss in mind, making this one of the most diverse, evolving, and demanding areas of law today.In this episode, James and Daisy are joined by Philippe Sands KC – a leading international lawyer, professor at UCL and Harvard, and author of East West Street and the recently published 38 Londres Street. Together, they explore the role of international law in protecting the environment. When did international law begin to take environmental issues seriously? Can nature itself have legal rights? What might international environmental law look like for future generations? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Financial Times (2025) – Philippe Sands argues that our planet – not just its people – should have legal rights. “Should Trees Have Standing?” by Christopher Stone (1972) – A landmark law review article that launched the idea of legal rights for nature. LSE (2024) – Analysis of climate change litigation cases in 2023, drawing on the Sabin Center's Climate Change Litigation Databases. Stop Ecocide International – Leading the movement to make ecocide a crime. Philippe helped draw up the legal definition: “Ecocide" means unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.KEY CASES AND LEGAL CONCEPTS: Chernobyl – The most serious nuclear accident in history. Philippe's book, Chernobyl: Law and Communication, explores the international legal aftermath of the disaster.ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons (1996) – Paragraph 29 recognised a state's obligation to respect the global environment. A new ICJ advisory opinion on climate change is expected in 2025. Chagos Islands – Philippe has long represented Mauritius in its legal battle against the UK over the Chagos Islands. In 2023, he argued that the UN's International Telecommunication Union could deem UK-US activities there unlawful.The Gambia vs Myanmar – A landmark ICJ case against Myanmar for violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to the Rohingya Muslims.Red Eagle vs. Colombia – A case involving Colombia's protection of the pàramos ecosystems from mining. The Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression – Proposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, aiming to hold individuals responsible. The proposal followed this article by Philippe. Montreal Protocol – A successful international treaty to phase out ozone-depleting substances. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – An EU carbon tariff on carbon intensive products, such as steel, cement and some electricity. The Law of Sea – Governs maritime conduct and environmental protection beyond national borders.OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) – A nonprofit focused on environmental law (founded in 1989). Brownlie's Principles of Public International Law by Ian Brownlie – A foundational text in public international law. Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane – At powerful book on the legal and imaginative rights of nature. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson – A groundbreaking book published in 1962 on the environmental harm caused by the widespread use of pesticides that reshaped environmental policy. Bill McKibben – An American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming.Thomas Buergenthal – An Auschwitz survivor who became a judge with the UN war crimes court in The Hague. Sir Nicholas Lyell QC – An Attorney General in the John Major government and Conservative MP.Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3Producer: Podshop StudiosHuge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.
Legal experts from the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the Council of Europe, Ukraine, and representatives from 37 countries agreed on the legal framework for a special tribunal to try Vladimir Putin and his officials for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.The experts finalized the so-called ‘Schuman draft Statute', the core legal text governing the tribunal's functioning.But, will this tribunal really bring justice? Will Putin ever pay for what he has done in Ukraine?Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered an Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories while, at the same time, examining alleged breaches of the Genocide Convention by Israel in the context of its war on Gaza in a separate case brought by South Africa. This panel of experts explores these recent and ongoing legal processes, their historical context, the significance of the Court's findings thus far, and the legal effects of its decisions on other states. Furthermore, the panel discusses Ireland's role in these processes and what impact these legal processes may have on Ireland, for international law, and for delivering justice in the Middle East. About the Speakers: Dr Giulia Pinzauti, Assistant Professor of Public International Law at Leiden University Dr John Reynolds, Associate Professor of International Law at Maynooth University Prof Hélène Tigroudja, Professor of Public International Law at Aix-Marseille University Giulia Pinzauti is Assistant Professor of Public International Law at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies of Leiden Law School. She previously served as an associate legal officer at the International Court of Justice from 2015 to 2016, in the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia from 2012 to 2014, and at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon from 2011 to 2012. John Reynolds is Associate Professor of International Law at the School of Law & Criminology, Maynooth University. His research focuses on questions of international law in relation to colonialism, apartheid, and states of emergency. Dr Reynolds' book on Empire, Emergency and International Law, published with Cambridge University Press, was awarded the Kevin Boyle Book Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship. He is an editor of the Third World Approaches to International Law Review (TWAIL Review) journal. Hélène Tigroudja is Professor at the Faculty of Law at Aix-Marseille University, where she teaches international law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international criminal law. She is currently serving as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee and is appointed as Special Rapporteur on New Communications and Interim Measures. She also regularly works with other universal and regional organisations such as UNESCO, the European Union and the Council of Europe. She has authored several articles, chapters of collective books, and monographs in French, English, and Spanish. Her collected specialised course delivered at The Hague Academy of International Law in 2023 on Armed Conflicts and International Human Rights Law will be published in 2025.
Russia's aggression against Ukraine has been ongoing for 10 years. It started with the occupation of Crimea and parts of the Donbas in 2014 and culminated in the full-scale invasion in 2022. Various domestic and international justice initiatives to ensure accountability for war crimes and other conflict related violations have been unfolding since 2014. However, 2022 marked the start of a new important debate. How can Russia be held accountable for the underlying crime of aggression? In this RevDem Rule of Law podcast Oliver Garner discusses the proposal for a special tribunal to address Russia's crime of aggression in Ukraine with Kateryna Busol.
The Gauteng Department of Health has noted a recent ruling by the Special Tribunal which invalidated and set aside a R257 million COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) contract awarded to Nkhane Projects and Supply by the Department. The matter was brought before the Tribunal, a court with similar status to the High Court, by the Special Investigating Unit after the unit found that the contract did not adhere to the necessary legal frameworks, particularly highlighting non-compliance to the Public Finance Management Act. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Wayne Duvenage, CEO of organisation undoing Tax Abuse, OUTA
The DA's motion of no confidence in the speaker has been accepted. The Special Tribunal has ordered software giant SAP to pay R500 million to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) within seven days concerning corrupt contracts at Eskom.Kaizer Kganyago. The DA wants the DIRCO to open more voting stations abroad. Statistician-General releases the results of the Non-financial Census of Municipalities, 2022. Jackie Phamotse will be sentenced for criminal defamation, crime injuria, and contempt over her Twitter post about the Khumalos. We federal agents raided rapper and Hip Hop Mogul Sean Diddy Comb's home amid sex trafficking claims and sex assault lawsuits. Bafana Bafana VS Algeria, what can we expect? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lithuania's Vice-Minister of Justice discusses progress on creating a Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
Michael Moulden is a seasoned Fire Scene and Chartered Crime Scene investigator with over 30 years of experience, having conducted 1000+ investigations globally. Holding a master's degree in forensic engineering and science from the Royal Military College, Mike is an Honorary Fellow at Cranfield University and a senior research fellow at the University of Exeter. Currently, he serves as a Crime Scene Science and Fire Investigation expert at the Naif Arab University for Security Science (NAUSS) in Riyadh, contributing to training, research, consultancy, and casework. Mike's diverse career includes roles with EFI Global and Zetetech Forensic Investigations, with notable investigations such as the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Grenfell Tower, and the German Wings Mass Homicide. His commitment extends to volunteering with Geoscope Services, aiding in the forensic recovery of Allied POW/MIA war casualties. Mike's international impact encompasses five tours in Afghanistan, mentoring a crime scene investigation unit for the Afghan Ministry of Interior, and providing training to Ukrainian Law Enforcement. A dedicated educator, he continues to deliver crime scene documentation training for the Institute of International Criminal Investigations (IICI) based in the Hague, making Mike a distinguished speaker for our Forensics Talks program.Originally aired on: Jan 18, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for the creation of a Special Tribunal against Russia, during a speech at the United for Justice conference in Lviv. Zelenskiy also confirmed the development of a new International Criminal Court office in Ukraine, which he described as "a great event for justice". It comes as Russian forces continue their attempts to capture the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's east, where the conflicts are escalating. - Президент України Володимир Зеленський під час виступу на конференції United for Justice у Львові попросив створити Спеціальний трибунал проти Росії. Зеленський також підтвердив розвиток нового офісу Міжнародного кримінального суду в Україні, який він назвав «великою подією для правосуддя». Це відбувається в той момент, коли російські війська продовжують спроби захопити місто Бахмут на сході України, де загострюються конфлікти.
On December 7, USIP, the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and the Ukrainian Embassy to the United States held a conversation on the creation of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. Such a tribunal would apply the definition of aggression that was established through the Rome Statute to hold Russian officials accountable for the war against Ukraine. Speakers Lise Grande, welcoming remarks President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace Andriy Yermak Head, Office of the President of Ukraine Andrii Smyrnov Deputy Head, Office of the President of Ukraine Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) U.S. Representative from Massachusetts Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) U.S. Representative from South Carolina Ambassador Oksana Markarova, welcoming remarks Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Anton Korynevych Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Lesia Zaburanna Member, Parliament of Ukraine; Chair, Subcommittee on Public Expenditures Ambassador David J. Scheffer Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations Ambassador William B. Taylor, moderator Vice President, Russia and Europe Center, U.S. Institute of Peace Ambassador John Herbst, closing remarks Senior Director, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/prosecuting-crime-aggression-ukraine
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that the fight against State capture and corruption is gaining momentum. He wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that in the last few months, several cases have been brought to court, with former executives of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) Eskom and Transnet charged alongside business people for allegedly colluding to steal public funds. He said progress is also being made in other areas where there has been malfeasance. Ramaphosa is facing backlash for allegedly violating the Constitution following the release of a Section 89 panel report, which made damning findings against him in relation to the theft of money from his Phala Phala farm. While many are calling for Ramaphosa to step down, others claim the report findings are being used by those implicated in corruption to push Ramaphosa out of the running for the African National Congress presidency, and ultimately, State President. Ramaphosa explained that the announcement by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) last week that it had reached a settlement with an international company implicated in corruption at Eskom is a huge development in the country's effort to hold those responsible for State capture to account. The NPA Investigating Directorate finalised a landmark agreement with Swiss engineering company ABB to pay R2.5-billion in punitive reparations to South Africa relating to bribes allegedly paid to obtain contracts with Eskom between 2014 and 2017. “This amount, which will be paid into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account, is in addition to R1.6-billion that ABB paid Eskom in 2020 to settle an investigation into allegedly criminal conduct involving contracts at the Kusile power station. Importantly, the current settlement does not indemnify the company or its staff from prosecution,” explained Ramaphosa. He noted that for the last five years, South Africa has been working hard to end the looting of resources and to prosecute those responsible and recover stolen funds. “When we embarked on this journey, we understood that the results would not be felt overnight. We first had to rebuild State institutions that had been deliberately weakened, emptied of expertise and rendered incapable of preventing capture by criminal elements. We had to strengthen law enforcement institutions and shield them from outside interference,” he said. He went on to say one of the most important steps the country took was to establish, in 2019, the Investigating Directorate in the NPA to deal with cases emanating from the State capture commission and other corruption-related offences. He added that recently plans to make the Investigating Directorate a permanent structure were announced. FIGHTING CORRUPTION Meanwhile, the Special Investigating Unit continues with its investigations into corruption and mismanagement at State institutions and SOEs, with its Special Tribunal empowered to recover stolen funds. The South African Revenue Service continues to fight corruption through lifestyle audits and other legislative tools. It is piloting a new wealth initiative to recover assets suspected of having been acquired illegally or through the proceeds of crime. Ramaphosa highlighted that the NPA, through the Investigating Directorate, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and other structures, is successfully using preservation orders, asset forfeiture and other tools to tighten the noose around those involved in corrupt activities. “Many of those involved in State capture and their enablers in the private sector saw nothing wrong with diverting public funds to private pockets. At the height of the State capture era, unscrupulous politicians repurposed State institutions for private enrichment and to cover their tracks,” he said. He said today South Africa has law enforcement authorities and a prosecuting authority devoted to investigating and prosecuting without fear or favour, as well as State institutions committed to fulfilling their respective mandate...
30/11/2022. The latest news from Ukraine and about Ukraine. Ukraine under attack. For Russia to be held to account for aggression, a Special Tribunal is needed, and we are doing everything to create it - address by the President of Ukraine. “Today, we took several new steps to restore justice to Ukraine, to bring to justice all those responsible for this criminal war. We are already cooperating with many countries and international organizations so that every Russian murderer receives the deserved punishment. We have already established cooperation with the International Criminal Court and will increase it. But, unfortunately, the available international legal instruments are not enough for justice. Even in the International Criminal Court, it is still impossible to bring the highest political and military leadership of Russia to justice for the crime of aggression against our state - for the primary crime. The crime that gave birth to all other crimes of this war - and not only after February 24, but also from 2014. That's when it all started”. More News: sbs.com.au/ukrainian - 30/11/2022. Добірка новин із героїчної України, яка і надалі в огні. Наразі наявних міжнародно-правових інструментів недостатньо для того, аби притягнути Росію до відповідальності за злочини російських армійців, вчинені в Україні, за повномасштабне вторгнення вторгнення в українську державу. І нині було зроблено кілька нових кроків, щоб повернути Україні справедливість, щоб притягнути до відповідальності винних у цій злочинній війні. Про це повідомив у своєму щоденному зверненні Президент України Володимир Зеленський.
This episode is the third in a series of podcasts analysing accountability in the current Ukrainian conflict. In this third episode, we are speaking with Dr Carrie McDougall, from the University of Melbourne, who has been heavily involved in the proposal for the establishment of a Special International Tribunal to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of crimes of aggression committed on the territory of Ukraine. In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, unprecedented support has been lent to efforts to ensure that those responsible for serious international crimes being committed in Ukraine are held to account. But what prospect is there for the prime mover, President Putin, being prosecuted?Dr Carrie McDougall, formerly a legal specialist at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Legal Adviser at Australia's Mission to the United Nations, is currently researching and teaching international law at the University of Melbourne. She is an expert on the use of force and international criminal law, in particular the crime of aggression, having been heavily involved in the negotiation of the aggression amendments to the Rome Statute and having authored several works on the crime, including the leading monograph on the subject, The Crime of Aggression under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.Additional Resources: General Crime of Aggression Publications: Carrie McDougall, The Crime of Aggression under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (2nd ed, CUP, 2021).Claus Kress & Stefan Barriga (eds), The Crime of Aggression: A Commentary (CUP, 2016). Carrie McDougall, ‘The Crime of Aggression' in Pedro Caeiro, Sabine Gless and Valsamis Mitsilegas (eds), The Elgar Encyclopedia of Crime and Criminal Justice. Special International Tribunal video recordings and key blog posts: Chatham House: A Criminal Tribunal for Aggression in Ukraine . Chatham House: Aggression Against Ukraine: Holding Russia Accountable. Edgehill Int Law: Do We Need a Special Tribunal for Aggression for Ukraine? Carrie McDougall, ‘Why Creating A Special Tribunal for Aggression Against Ukraine is the Best Available Option: A Reply to Kevin Jon Heller and Other Critics', Opinio Juris. Kevin Jon Heller, ‘The Best Option: An Extraordinary Ukrainian Chamber for Aggression', Opinio Juris. Alexander Komarov and Oona Hathaway, ‘Ukraine's Constitutional Constraints: How to Achieve Accountability for the Crime of Aggression', Just Security.
The Special Tribunal will today hear arguments in the application to review and set aside an R6.7 million lease agreement entered into between SABC and Rybak Properties in 2016. The application relates to the office accommodation of the SABC's Mpumalanga Office. The SABC is seeking to recover all the monies paid by Rybak. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to Advocate Selby Makgotho, Spokesperson for the Special Tribunal.
Guests featured in this episode: Mykola Gnatovskyy, a renowned Ukrainian legal scholar who was recently elected to serve as judge at the European Court of Human Rights. Before taking up this very prestigious nine-year appointment at the ECHR, Mykola was a professor at the Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. He also advised the Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs on international criminal justice, and was a member of the International Expert Board on Crimes Committed during Armed Conflict at the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.From 2015 until 2021, Mykola served three consecutive terms as President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.In March of this 2022, he was one of the original signatories, together with Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs and the former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, calling for the establishment of a special tribunal to investigate Russia for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. GLOSSARY:What is the International Criminal Court?(01:58 or p.1 in the transcript)International Criminal Court (ICC): permanent judicial body established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998) to investigate, prosecute, and try individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity and to impose prison sentences upon individuals who are found guilty of such crimes. On July 1, 2002, after the requisite number of countries (60) ratified the agreement, the court began sittings. It is headquartered in the Netherlands at The Hague: source What is the War in Ukraine?(04:32 or p.2 in the transcript)In early November 2021 Russia began building up military forces along the borders of Ukraine, for the second time in a year. Over 100,000 Russian military personnel and assets were deployed in Crimea and in the Voronezh, Kursk and Bryansk regions of western Russia. Further Russian forces were deployed to Belarus for a series of exercises close to the Ukrainian border and Russian naval assets from the Baltic and Northern fleets deployed for exercises in the Black Sea. Tensions escalated following a US intelligence assessment in December 2021, which suggested that Russia could be planning an invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. On 24 February 2022 Russia launched military action in Ukraine, with forces crossing into the country from Belarus in the north, Russia in the east and Crimea in the south. Russia's actions came just days after President Putin officially recognized the self-declared independence of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), the regions of eastern Ukraine that are under the control of Russian-backed separatist forces, and deployed “peacekeeping” forces to the region: source What is the massacre in Eastern Anatolia?(07:18 or p.2 in the transcript)Massacre in Eastern Anatolia, also known as Armenian Genocide: campaign of deportation and mass killing conducted against the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire by the Young Turk government during World War I (1914–18). Armenians charge that the campaign was a deliberate attempt to destroy the Armenian people and, thus, an act of genocide. The Turkish government has resisted calls to recognize it as such, contending that, although atrocities took place, there was no official policy of extermination implemented against the Armenian people as a group: source What is the Wagner Group?(17:02 or p.5 in the transcript)Wagner Group: a network of businesses and groups of mercenaries that have been linked by overlaps in ownership and logistics networks. Entities making up the network have been described in sanctions designations by the U.S. Treasury as being involved in a wide range of activities, including working to suppress pro-democracy protests, spreading disinformation, mining for gold and diamonds, and engaging in paramilitary activity. The group, such as it is, first appeared in Ukraine in 2014, where it assisted the Russian military in the annexation of Crimea. Since then, paramilitaries and businesses have branched out to Syria—where they have fought in support of embattled President Bashar al-Assad while securing a foothold in the country's energy sector—as well as to Libya, Sudan, Madagascar, Mozambique, and the Central African Republic: source What is the occupation of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine?(31:38 or p. 8 in the transcript)The Crisis in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine: on 22 February 2014, President Yanukovych disappeared from Ukraine and a new government was installed by the Ukrainian parliament. Later that month unidentified military figures, widely thought in the West to be Russian personnel (this was later confirmed), surrounded the airports in Crimea, a majority-Russian peninsula in Ukraine and the Crimean autonomous assembly was taken over by pro-Russian forces. In March 2014 a declaration of independence was issued by the assembly and a subsequent referendum on union with Russia was held. Since then, Russia has maintained its control over Crimea and supported pro-Russian separatist forces who also took control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine (the Donbas) in 2014. Fighting between Russian-supported separatists and Ukrainian government forces has continued in the Donbas for the last eight years despite the negotiation of the Minsk Agreements in 2014/2015 which called for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of all foreign armed groups and constitutional reform recognizing the special status of Donetsk and Luhansk: source Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:• Central European University: CEU• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD• The Podcast Company: Novel Follow us on social media!• Central European University: @CEU• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @AHDCentreSubscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!
Included in this episode: 1. ‘The Most Explosive Issue.' Republicans Reveal Immigration Agenda Ahead of Midterms 2. Column: We Need a Special Tribunal to Put Putin and His Regime on Trial 3. Russian Exodus Grows Amid Fears Kremlin May Restrict Borders for Mobilization-Eligible Men 4. A NASA Spacecraft Is About To Collide With an Asteroid in an Effort to Keep Earth Safe
The Ukrainian government calls for a special tribunal to try Putin and his ruling circle for war crimes against Ukraine and the world
Four South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members appeared in the military court on allegations of personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud and corruption to the tune of R273-million. According to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the four - Lieutenant Dimakatso Modise, Lieutenant-Colonel Vivian Seadimo Peu, Captain Mbomolelo Avroline Tshikosi and Leading Seaman Suzen Jiane - appeared on charges of fraud and corruption related to the procurement of PPE items, such as masks and gloves, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said investigations found the SANDF irregularly awarded PPE contracts - worth R273-million - to five companies between May and August 2020. "Evidence from the SIU probe shows that the list of service providers was predetermined, and some of the PPE items were delivered before approval, thus deviating from normal supply chain management processes. "The SIU investigation revealed that the procurement process followed by the SANDF to procure PPE related items was not fair, transparent, equitable, competitive or cost-effective and thus contravened the provisions of Section 217(1) of the Constitution." Kganyago said the four would be appearing in court on Friday, and it was "a continuation of the implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover assets and financial losses suffered by state institutions and to prevent further losses, and to hold them accountable". He said the SIU would institute civil action in the Special Tribunal to review and set aside the contracts, and recover the money paid.
19/08/2022. The latest news from Ukraine and about Ukraine. The war - Ukraine under attack. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres during a tripartite meeting in Lviv discussed the grain export initiative, Russia's dangerous actions around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the issue of protection and liberation of Ukrainian prisoners of war and the establishment of a Special Tribunal on the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. - 19/08/2022. Добірка новин із героїчної України. Війна в Україні. Президент України Володимир Зеленський, Президент Турецької Республіки Реджеп Таїп Ердоган та Генеральний секретар ООН Антоніу Гутерріш під час тристоронньої зустрічі у Львові обговорили експортну зернову ініціативу, небезпечні дії Росії навколо Запорізької атомної станції, питання захисту та звільнення українських полонених і створення Спеціального трибуналу щодо злочину агресії Росії проти України.
In the midst of economic collapse and ongoing demonstrations, Lebanese citizens were awaiting the verdict of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was to issue its ruling on the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on August 7th. However, days before this announcement, Beirut was devastated by an explosion that left thousands homeless, wounded, or dead. In response to accusations of negligence, the Lebanese cabinet soon resigned en masse, leading many to wonder how the relief process will move forward. Will the verdict of the Special Tribunal, now to be released on August 18th, introduce accountability to a country plagued by turmoil? Join us when Nadim Shehadi, Executive Director of the Lebanese American Universtiy New York Headquarters and Academic Center and Associate Fellow of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, discusses the forces that led Lebanon to such a tragic situation.---This Virtual Briefing Series event was originally hosted on August 20th, 2020.Upcoming events: https://network2020.org/upcoming-events/ Follow us at:Twitter: @Network2020LinkedIn: Network 20/20Facebook: @network2020Instagram: @network_2020Follow us at:Network2020.orgTwitter: @Network2020LinkedIn: Network 20/20Facebook: @network2020Instagram: @network_2020
Guest: Selby Makgotho, Special Tribunal spokesperso See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted an application to add more companies to its legal bid to recover money which was allegedly siphoned from government's tender with Digital Vibes. The SIU had argued before the Special Tribunal that it should be allowed to recover money from six companies which had allegedly received payments from the Digital Vibes contract, amounting to R150 million. We spoke to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago
Episode 165 - Evelyn Anoya was born in Baghdad, Iraq. Her parents immigrated to the United States in early 1980. She graduated from DePaul College of Law in 2001 with a Juris Doctor and Certificate in International Law. Since graduating from law school, Evelyn spent 20 years as an international civil servant employed with international tribunals in The Hague, Netherlands. She is specialized in international justice with a focus on judicial administration, capacity strengthening and governance of international organizations. From 2017 to 2021, she led the Division of Judicial Services at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (“STL”). Ms. Anoya initially joined the STL in 2009 to serve as the Registry's Senior Legal Adviser. Ms. Anoya worked at the United Nation's International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (“ICTY”) since September 2001, holding various positions within the Registry. She was the Registry Court Officer at the ICTY on the Prosecutor v. Slobodan Milošević case and during the defense phase of the case was assigned as the Registry Pro se Legal Liaison Officer, acting as a conduit between the Court and the self-represented Accused. She is currently an international consultant with Axiom International Limited supporting a counter-terrorism justice project in Iraq. Due to the nature of Evelyn's work and sensitive information, you may notice some fade outs and fade ins between her recollections. Thank you for your patience. This episode is sponsored by @theoushanapartners -- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana's at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com
Photo: International Mixed Court at Shanghai 7 #Ukraine: Proposing a special tribunal for Putin and other Russian war criminals. @RichardAEpstein @HooverInst https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-03-10/putin-must-face-a-war-crimes-tribunal-for-ukraine-war?sref=5g4GmFHo
Legal representative Jabu Motepe says former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng did not secure private funding to pay artists as he had claimed. Motepe has been making submissions at the SIU's special tribunal, hearing a review application in the matter between Motsoeneng and the public broadcaster. The SABC and the SIU seek to recover 2.5 million rand paid in royalties to some music legends in 2016 by Motsoeneng and former executives. The two parties want the decision to award R50 000 each to about 50 musicians set aside and declared invalid. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SIU special tribunal spokesperson, Advocate Selby Makgotho
The Public Works Department says it has completed most of the disciplinary hearings against employees implicated in the Beitbridge border fence scandal. This comes after Special Tribunal ordered contractors involved in the R40 million project to pay back their profits earned from the costly development to the department. The fence was put up as part of the COVID-19 emergency procurement in 2020, however, the Special Investigating Unit found that it was irregular. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Acting Director General of the Public Works Department, Imitiaz Fazel
The Special Tribunal is today hearing the joinder application in the Digital Vibes cases. The respondents are opposing the application and have filed their Heads of Argument as per the outcomes of several case management meetings preceding the hearing of the joinder application. However, the SIU is said to have obtained evidence showing that the R150-million tender was awarded to Digital Vibes unlawfully, and that the respondents "are all recipients of monies deriving from the impugned transactions" between the health department and Digital Vibes. Sakina Advovate Selby Makgotho Spokesperson of the Special Tribunal..
In this episode Dapo Akande, Marko Milanovic and Philippa Webb, joined by Rebecca Barber and Mike Becker, examine various aspects of Russia's war on Ukraine. The discussion begins with an evaluation of Russia's legal justification for invading Ukraine, moving to an analysis of the responses to Russia's aggression by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. We then turn to the proceedings brought by Ukraine against Russia before the International Court of Justice pursuant to the Genocide Convention, the investigation initiated by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the commission of inquiry created by the Human Rights Council, and the pros and cons of an initiative to set up a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression.
The Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe, or CPT, is the supervisory body established by the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Its most distinctive feature is that it can inspect places of detention in member states with the aim to strengthen the protection of persons who were deprived of their liberty. As its first President, Nino was a driving force behind the Committee's institutionalisation, and played a major role in prompting States to publish the Committee's (otherwise confidential) reports. We get a glimpse of what inspections were like through Nino's voice, as he was dictating the report of an inspection to his secretary. Then we hear how Nino continued to be attentive to conditions of detention as he was President of the Yugoslavia Tribunal, this time through the voice of his legal officer at the time, the late John Jones. The co-hosts discuss the Committee's powers and its role in inducing states to comply with their international obligations with Antonio Marchesi, who at the time of Nino's election as CPT President was writing his PhD on torture under Nino's supervision and then became President of Amnesty International Italy. Andrew Clapham reads an excerpt explaining why Nino chose to take part in the Committee's work, and more generally to take an active role in the protection of human rights.LinksEuropean Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentJohn Jones tells the story of Nino inspecting the cells at the UN Detention Unit in The Hague (video from the tribute to Nino organised by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in 2011, “Walking the Road he Paved”, Antonio Cassese 1937-2011) Antonio Cassese, Human Rights in a Changing WorldFollow and contact us at:https://cassese-initiative.org/https://twitter.com/cassese_initiathttps://www.facebook.com/casseseinitiative/http://info@cassese-initiative.org/Credits for the production go to Janet Anderson, Stephanie van den Berg and Ilaria Molinari. The logo for this podcast has been designed by https://delrossostudio.com/
The University of Cape Town says rape allegations against a senior member of the SRC are receiving urgent attention at the highest level. This follows protests on campus which were sparked by an anonymous social media post alleging that a member of the SRC had sexually assaulted and raped a first-year student in October last year. The SRC has since also issued its own statement condemning sexual violence and insisting that a case will be formally opened soon with the institution's Special Tribunal for Gender-Based Violence. For the latest on this here is our reporter, Carmel Loggenberg
The intersection of business and human rights led to the Oxford Said EMBA [Show Summary] Anthony Triolo is a champion of social justice with an impressive work history serving countries all over the globe. He's currently earning his Executive MBA at Oxford Said and shares what led him to the program and how he intends to incorporate his learning in the next steps of his career journey. Interview with Anthony Triolo, Oxford Said Executive MBA candidate [Show Notes] Thanks for joining me for this, the 454th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Before I dive into today's interview, I want to invite you to download Ace The EMBA, Expert Advice For The Rising Executive. This free guide will compliment today's podcast and give you suggestions on how to choose the right EMBA program for you, how to differentiate yourself from your competition - in a positive way - and how to present yourself effectively as a business leader who will bring credit to any program that accepts you. Download Ace The EMBA. I'd like to welcome to Admissions Straight Talk, Anthony Triolo. Anthony has an absolutely fascinating background. After graduating from Yale with a bachelor's in history and political science in 2000, he went on to work on the Truth And Reconciliation Commission for Sierra Leone, where he worked from 2003-2009 in differing roles, all relating to justice. He then worked as a Senior Associate for the UN's Special Tribunal for Lebanon at the Hague. After serving in additional roles related to international law and justice, he became the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Rule of Law Collaborative at the University of South Carolina in 2020. While all the above is extremely impressive and interesting, he has been invited to Admissions Straight Talk because he recently began his Executive MBA at the Oxford Said Business School as an Executive MBA Director Awardee, which earned him a sizable financial award. Let's get right to it. In preparing for the call, I saw the phrase “transitional justice”, several times in your bios and in your work. So I have to ask you, what is transitional justice? [2:35] Transitional justice is a way to help societies who are grappling with the legacy of massive human rights abuses confront their past so they can move forward and have a more prosperous future. We usually talk about transitional justice in the post-conflict setting. I've worked on transitional justice initiatives on a global scale and usually what that means is prosecuting individuals who were responsible for war crimes that were committed during the conflict. It's about truth telling, telling the story of what happened during the conflict and making recommendations for the way forward. It's about reparative justice for the victims, and it's about institutional reform. How do we repair what was broken and make it better so that the occurrence of violence doesn't happen again? In reality, transitional justice is not only limited to post-conflict societies. It includes all societies across the board, including the U.S. Given your career progress to date, why did you decide to even consider an Executive MBA? [3:51] I'm 20 years into my professional career, and I'm sort of reading the tea leaves. I'm really interested in the intersection of business and human rights. I've worked a lot in the public sector, but I realize in order to really make an impact and have a transformative impact in the world, you need greater partnerships between the public and private sector. I was thinking that the MBA could help me get a better understanding of the private sector to help build those partnerships that are necessary to bring about change in our society. That's what really led me to pursue the Executive MBA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yicKKHheUE What was the most difficult part of the application process for you and how did you deal with it? [4:40] I think it was trying to pick a program that was right for me...
The co-hosts, Antonio Coco and Giulia Pinzauti, introduce the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), of which Antonio Cassese ('Nino') was the first President. The Tribunal was created in 2007 to prosecute those responsible for the killing, among others, of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Nino explains the Tribunal's mandate with his own voice. His best-known contribution to the Tribunal's work is the controversial Appeals Chamber's Interlocutory Decision on the definition of the crime of terrorism, issued on 16 February 2011. The co-hosts discuss the decision, the struggle to define terrorism in international law, and the lessons learned from the Tribunal's experience with Guido Acquaviva, who worked as Chef de Cabinet during Nino's presidency. Guido describes Nino's energetic and optimistic approach and his determination to fight terrorism through the rule of law. Links- Antonio Cassese explains the mandate of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and what he hoped the Lebanese people could get from the Tribunal's success (videos from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's YouTube channel)- Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Appeals Chamber, Interlocutory Decision on the Applicable Law, 16 February 2011- Special Tribunal for Lebanon: website- Antonio Cassese, L'esperienza del male (2011) Follow and contact us at:https://cassese-initiative.org/https://twitter.com/cassese_initiathttps://www.facebook.com/casseseinitiative/http://info@cassese-initiative.org/ Credits for the production go to Janet Anderson, Stephanie van den Berg and Ilaria Molinari. The logo for this podcast has been designed by https://delrossostudio.com/
Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele says the Cabinet believes enough is being done in government's fight against corruption. Gungubele was speaking at a media briefing on Thursday on the outcomes of a Cabinet meeting held the day before. He said 120 corruption cases were before the High Court and the Special Tribunal, and that, as of March 2021, R42-billion in pension benefits and bank accounts had been frozen. The pension funds and bank accounts belong to individuals being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for alleged corruption. Gungubele's media briefing coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day, commemorated annually on 9 December, in recognition of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which was signed in Mexico in 2003. The day provides an opportunity for political leaders, governments, legal bodies and lobby groups to join forces against corruption. On this day, anti-corruption advocates also engage the general public on effectively fighting corruption and fraud in communities. Gungubele said "corruption, whether large or small, remained one of the greatest challenges facing the country and held back economic growth and social development". "Cabinet remains encouraged that the justice system continues to take decisive steps to bring those who were found to have been involved in acts of corruption to account," he added. Gungubele said one such proactive endeavour by the justice sector was the State Capture Inquiry. "The commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture is scheduled to submit its final report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 1 January 2022. Watch this space. Cabinet anticipates that in addition to exposing the perpetrators of corruption, this report will also provide us with proposals on how to strengthen our systems to prevent corruption," the minister said. He praised the SIU for instituting a number of cases in the High Court and the Special Tribunal. "The following are pending as of 31 March 2021: 56 cases in the highest court, which involved contracts to the amount of 62-billion. There are also 64 case at the Special Tribunal, which involves contracts to the tune of R6.99-billion. The amounts, or values, are the contractual amounts which were irregularly and unlawfully awarded by state institutions and form the basis of the litigation by the SIU," said Gungubele. "In the financial year 2020-'21, the SIU has already frozen pension benefits of former civil servants, bank accounts and accounts of individuals and businesses amounting to R42-billion." He said between April 2020 and March 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa had signed nine SIU proclamations empowering the investigating unit to probe cases of corruption as part of the government's fight against corruption.
Investigations into the irregular R150-million Digital Vibes contract have so far yielded little results as only R12-million has been repaid by those who benefitted illegally. According to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), approximately R22-million is contained in several bank accounts resulting from cash flows from the Digital Vibes Nedbank account. On Tuesday, SIU head advocate Andy Mothibi and his senior management presented their investigations into the procurement of Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) and other related matters to Parliament's finance watchdog Scopa. Mothibi told the committee that on 17 June 2021, the Special Tribunal granted the SIU an interim preservation order or interdict against Digital Vibes and 11 others for just over R22-million. "In terms of the interim order, the SIU had to file the review application on or before 29 July 2021. The SIU submitted and filed its review application to the Special Tribunal against Digital Vibes and 29 others to review and set aside the two contracts that were awarded by the national Department of Health (NDoH) to Digital Vibes in respect of the NHI media campaign and the Covid-19 media campaign, and to recover the full value (approximately R150-million) paid out under such unlawful and invalid contract," Mothibi said in his presentation. He said thus far, the SIU had received R12 179 429.90 from or on behalf of some of the respondents. Close associates The health department initially contracted Digital Vibes for the National Health Insurance (NHI) campaign in 2019. Former health minister Zweli Mkhize allegedly pressured officials to appoint the company owned by his close associates Tahera Mather and Naadhira Mitha. According to the SIU, Mkhize approved two budget applications for Digital Vibes for NHI communication amounting to R132-million. On 20 January 2020, an amount of R46 939 550 was approved 52 days after the Digital Vibes service-level agreement (SLA) was signed on 29 November 2019. On 16 June 2020, R85 502 500 was approved for NHI communication work (from 6 March 2020, Digital Vibes only delivered Covid-19 communication services). This amount was approved 199 days after Digital Vibes' SLA was signed on 29 November 2019. The SIU determined from the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) report, containing the combined scores of all the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) members, that one BEC member's score was altered for the second bidder from "3" to "2". This resulted in the overall score of the second bidder being 59.2%. If the score was not changed, the second bidder would have "qualified for functionality". "The end result was that the second bidder failed to meet the required 60% for functionality, disqualifying them from advancing through to the next stage of the tender process. Digital Vibes quoted R141-million, and the second bidder quoted R69-million. It should be noted that Digital Vibes was R72-million (104%) more expensive than the second bidder," Mothibi's presentation read.
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law two important bills passed by the National Assembly thereby making them become part of the Laws of the Federation. The Climate Change Act owes its origin to a bill sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, and provides for, among other things, the mainstreaming of climate change actions and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change. It also paves the way for environmental and economic accounting and a push for a net-zero emission deadline plan in the country. It provides for the extension of the tenor of the Resolution Cost Fund and grants access to the Special Tribunal established by the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act 2020.
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law two important bills passed by the National Assembly thereby making them become part of the Laws of the Federation. The Climate Change Act owes its origin to a bill sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, and provides for, among other things, the mainstreaming of climate change actions and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change. It also paves the way for environmental and economic accounting and a push for a net-zero emission deadline plan in the country. It provides for the extension of the tenor of the Resolution Cost Fund and grants access to the Special Tribunal established by the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act 2020.
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law two important bills passed by the National Assembly thereby making them become part of the Laws of the Federation. The Climate Change Act owes its origin to a bill sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, and provides for, among other things, the mainstreaming of climate change actions and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change. It also paves the way for environmental and economic accounting and a push for a net-zero emission deadline plan in the country. It provides for the extension of the tenor of the Resolution Cost Fund and grants access to the Special Tribunal established by the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act 2020.
I discuss the recurring suspension of the Beirut port blast investigation, Judge Tarek Bitar's continued pursuit and the reasons I think the threats against him are more performative in nature than meant to remove him, in an attempt to discredit the entire process as was done to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Fve_5cMKr3U Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.ronniechatah.com Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.
An online Briefing Room conversation organized by the Arab News Research & Studies and the LAU NY Academic Center. Themed on an Arab News Research & Studies research paper of the same title written by Olga Kavran, a fellow and PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the founding director of IUSTICOM, the first NGO specifically dedicated to communicating justice, and Nadim Shehadi, the executive director of the LAU Headquarters and Academic Center in New York and an Associate Fellow of Chatham House in London.
0:00 Intro 3:14 Fait Accompli? 10:09 Why is this happening? 17:30 Explanation Problems 22:09 Missing from the Story 26:32 Port Blast 32:35 Narrowness We're with Olga Kavran for Episode 262 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/hpo11X6FtjU We discuss the cost of impunity, budgetary constraints and the potential shutting down of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Olga Kavran is former Head of Legacy & Outreach at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.
Guest: Kaizer Kganyago/ SIU Spokesperson See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In episode 25, Omer talks to Olga Kavran, the former head of outreach and legacy at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on the work of STL, its 2020 judgment, and its outreach program. More info can be found about the tribunal can be found at https://www.stl-tsl.org/en Jus Cogens socials: • Website/Blog: https://juscogens.law.blog/ • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JCLawPodcast • Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCLawPodcast • Audio Stream on Anchor. FM: https://anchor.fm/jus-cogens-podcast
Frankly Speaking: Season 1 Episode 5 | featuring Lebanese businessman Bahaa Hariri, son of slain PM Rafic Hariri, spoking to Arab News's Frank Kane on Lebanon's politics, the Special Tribunal that put Hezbollah on trial for killing his father, and his views on how Saudi Arabia helped Lebanon
The controversial PPE tender awarded to Ledla Structural Development has been cancelled, in a ruling by the Special Tribunal of South Africa. The matter was brought to the tribunal by the Special Investigating Unit which also requested that the 38 million Rand paid out to the company and then distributed to six other entities, be frozen. The tender was clouded with allegations of nepotism and corruption earlier this year and cost Health MEC Bandile Masuku his job. Judge Billy Motlhe also upheld the application to freeze the pension payout of former Health Department Chief Financial Officer Mantsu Lehloenya. We spoke to Advocate Selby Makgatho, spokesperson for the Special Tribunal of South Africa.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) wants the Special Tribunal, sitting at the Booysens Magistrates Court, to freeze the assets of contractors involved in the multi million rand Beitbridge Border fence contract. This relates to an advance payment of 21-point-8 million rand by the Public Works Department to two contractors. The contract was for the erection of the 40 kilometer Beitbridge border fence. The tribunal will hear the urgent application today.
The Special Investigations Unit says it has referred four criminal matters to the NPA with regard to the procurement of a border fence by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure at the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. SIU Head Advocate, Andy Mothibi says this is with regard to two department officials, as well as two service providers. DPWI Director General Sam Vukela, Ministerial Advisor Melissa White and 11 other officials, are on suspension pending disciplinary measures. Joseph Mosia reports… Meanwhile, The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has set the date for the hearing into the Beitbridge Border fence contract to next week Friday. The Special Tribunal, sitting at the Booysens Magistrates Court, wants to freeze the assets of contractors involved in the multi million Rand Beitbridge Border fence contract. This relates to an advance payment of 21 point 8 million rand by the Department of Public Works to two contractors. The contract was for the erection of the 40 km Beitbridge border fence. The tribunal will hear the urgent application today. We also spoke to our reporter, Angela Bolowana…
Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba is answering questions before the Special Tribunal today. This follows allegations of financial irregularities involving her department's controversial R10 million scooter project. The Special Investigative Unit (SIU) alleges that the contract was "awarded in an unusual and unexplained haste". We spoke to Adv. Selby Makgotho- Spokesperson for the Special Tribunal.
East Coast Radio — The Eastern Cape's Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba will appear before the Special Tribunal in connection with the province’s controversial R10 million scooter project.
On August 22 as we mark the second International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief Sabrina Dent, Richard T. Foltin, Kristen Lavery, and The Rev. William H. Lamar IV shared their insights on religious freedom. Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is the protection of the conscience and the free exercise of people’s understanding of the ultimate truth. It is not only a fundamental right but also an individual, institutional, private and public right as well. As enshrined in the First Amendment, the Articles 18,19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also protect the rights to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and association. However, not every region is always a stronghold of allowing people to live by their core values and beliefs. The rate of ill-treatment against religious institutions, people, objects, or events is increasing significantly. On August 22, 2019, UN General Assembly recognized this by adopting a resolution declaring “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”. Upholding these rights and responding to the alarming increase in persecutions of religious people and communities around the world, we believe within the scope of open, constructive, and respectful exchanges at various platforms across local, national, and international levels will be invaluable assets in confronting these ongoing acts of intolerance. To that end, Rumi Forum has invited distinguished speakers to address various dimensions of the topic. On August 20th, our moderator Sabrina Dent and speakers Richard T. Foltin, Kirsten Lavery, and Rev. William H. Lamar IV, will share their insights on highlight mechanisms to prevent unfair treatments towards individuals, communities, and minorities. Moderator: Sabrina Dent, Senior Faith Adviser, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Sabrina is a life-long advocate for human rights and social justice. Throughout her career, she has worked with vulnerable populations including women and children impacted by domestic violence and abuse, youth with mental health and behavioral challenges, and racial and religious minorities. However, she developed a passion as a religious freedom advocate in 2015 when she became a Fellow with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom. Before joining the AU team, Sabrina worked as director of recruitment and admissions at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Prior to her time at the Religious Freedom Center, Sabrina served as program coordinator for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University (STVU). Sabrina is the past president of the Interfaith Community of Greater Richmond. Sabrina earned her master of divinity degree and doctor of ministry degree from STVU. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech. Speakers: Richard T. Foltin, Fellow, Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Richard T. Foltin is a fellow at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. He served in a number of positions at the American Jewish Committee, most recently as director of national and legislative affairs in the AJC’s Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C., from 2009 to 2018. Prior to coming to AJC, he was an associate with the litigation department of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, a New York law firm. Mr. Foltin serves on the governing council of the American Bar Association’s Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and as co-chair of the section’s Religious Freedom Committee; he previously served as chair and co-chair of the section’s First Amendment Rights Committee. Mr. Foltin is a member of the Committee on Religious Liberty, founded by the National Council of Churches and today convened by the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Mr. Foltin received his B.A. in Political Science from New York University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is a member of the bars of New York State, Washington DC, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Kirsten Lavery is Supervisory Policy Analyst and Team Lead for International Law, Africa, and Latin America for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Prior to joining USCIRF, Ms. Lavery worked at the Public International Law & Policy Group and provided legal and policy assistance to civil society representatives in conflict and post-conflict states. Her work focused on transitional justice and human rights documentation, as well as legal and policy reforms to advance human rights protections. Ms. Lavery has also worked on a range of international legal issues at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the UN Office of Human Resources Management, and the International Narcotics Control Board. Ms. Lavery previously practiced law in the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where she focused on international criminal investigations. Through her pro bono practice and prior clinic work, she has experience representing clients in immigration proceedings, including in asylum cases based on religious persecution. She holds a B.A. in Government and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a J.D. with a specialization in International & Comparative Law from Tulane University Law School. Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Pastor, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church The Rev. William H. Lamar IV is pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida: Monticello, Orlando and Jacksonville. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. While he continues to advocate for his community of Washington, D.C., you can find Rev. Lamar fueling his faith by proudly supporting the Poor People’s Campaign, the Washington Interfaith Network or every Sunday at pulpit of AME Church. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," the Faith & Leadership podcast.
Michael is joined by Nick Kaldas, former NSW deputy police commissioner, to discuss his view on the Tribunal verdict on the assassination of Lebanon Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, which occurred on 14 February 2005, when explosives equivalent to around 1,800 kilograms of TNT concealed inside a parked Mitsubishi van were detonated as his motorcade drove near the St. George Hotel in Beirut. Mr Kaldas, who was seconded to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in 2009, says the verdict is disappointing in many ways, but there are positives. He writes, ‘of the four accused of murdering Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, one was been found guilty, and three found not guilty.’ ‘This investigation and the tribunal itself were historic. It has been the first serious attempt to hold to account those who killed within a cult of impunity in Lebanon.’ ‘Moreover, the conviction of a lead individual, who is clearly a Hezbollah operative, was achieved against all the odds and has enormous significance for Lebanon and the Middle East.’ ‘One hopes the verdict brings some comfort to the victims’ loved ones, incomplete though it is.’ See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.
The Special Tribunal of South Africa has granted an urgent order freezing R38, 7 million held in the bank accounts of 40 Gauteng-based companies involved in the implementation of the contract for the supply and delivery of various Covid-19 Personal Protection Equipment. We spoke to Selby Makgotho, spokesperson for the Special Tribunal of South Africa…
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon delivered its verdict in the trial over the 2005 bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Also, Germany has been the poster child in Western Europe in terms of how it handled the coronavirus pandemic. Protesters have been taking to the streets in German cities each weekend in opposition to government restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Will the demonstrators upset Germany's good record in dealing with the pandemic? A tiny mammal called the elephant shrew, or Somali sengi, which had not been documented by scientists for 50 years, has been rediscovered in Djibouti.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wraps up his trip to Central Europe with a visit to Poland, the Democratic National Convention is set to take place virtually, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is due to give its verdict on the killing of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
BizNews — Broadcaster Tim Modise puts your questions to the people leading the country’s great hope in the fight against corruption: Special Investigating Unit head Advocate Andy Mothibi; Sipho Ngwema, the spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority; and Advocate Selby Makgotho of the Special Tribunal. In these excerpts, the focus is on procedural red-tape and how this often makes the legal process ‘excruciatingly slow’. - Nadya Swart
BizNews — Broadcaster Tim Modise puts your questions to the people leading the country’s great hope in the fight against corruption: Special Investigating Unit head Advocate Andy Mothibi; Sipho Ngwema, the spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority; and Advocate Selby Makgotho of the Special Tribunal. In these excerpts, the focus is on procedural red-tape and how this often makes the legal process ‘excruciatingly slow’. - Nadya Swart
0:00 Intro 2:46 Explosions in Beirut 11:06 Back to the Beginning 21:50 Expectations 38:09 Hesitation? 1:00:11 Disappointment 1:09:27 Incentive 1:19:35 A Long Time 1:24:43 The Lesser Known 1:33:04 Personal Loss 1:40:25 Memories of my Father We're with Olga Kavran for Episode 198 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/Z9EqQInrBtM We address the explosions that shattered Beirut's port, nearby neighborhoods and large swathes of the city. Our conversation addresses accountability, international criminal law, justice and the upcoming judgement this Friday of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Olga Kavran was generous with her time in the immediate aftermath of the explosions. She is the Head of Outreach and Legacy at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. In this episode she is not speaking on behalf of The Tribunal. Lebanon needs your help. Please consider a donation to: The Lebanese Red Cross: https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/ or any of the local Lebanese NGOs listed on the following link: https://lebanoncrisis.carrd.co/#donate Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.
Janet and Stephanie take a break from their break to ask Shannon Raj Singh about the upcoming judgement at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
0:00 Intro 1:37 How We Met 6:07 Where We Are Today 18:41 Appetite for Change 23:57 Politics as Usual 30:49 Hope 35:38 Special Tribunal for Lebanon 40:51 Secularism & Sectarianism 47:02 Online Tirades Click to watch: https://youtu.be/1jBBGEq44-Y We're with Mazen El-Hassan for Episode 191 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the symbolism of how we met; political developments in recent weeks; whether there remains an appetite for fundamental change; politics as usual vs radical change; hope persisting despite immense economic constraints; the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's upcoming verdict; notions of secularism vs sectarianism; and the benefits and disadvantages of online tirades. Mazen El-Hassan is a graduate from Kingston University. He is the elder son of Wissam El-Hassan, Lebanon's former Minister of Interior, assassinated on 19 October 2012. My father and Mazen's are buried side by side in Martyrs Square. Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.
Nile Media — The Head of the Special Investigating Unit talks about R2billion recovery effort that is being pursued through the Special Tribunal that was established last year. He says that the SIU has 20 corruption cases before the special court and 15 new cases are being registered. Advocate Mothibi says the investigation into the R30 million Gauteng eGovernance and Finance Department’s IT has been finalized and reported to the Premier David Makhura. Premier Makhura is expected to publish the findings and recommendations soon. The SIU is Investigating several Covid19 cases, Mothibi says.
Ivana Hrdličková on Special Tribunal for Lebanon – A Tribunal of Many Firsts
From the instant that a State receives an early warning that mass atrocities are likely to occur, what, precisely, is it required to do in response? There is wide agreement that a duty to prevent atrocity crimes exists as a matter of both treaty and customary international law, but little agreement as to the specific content of the obligation. This need has become particularly acute as States hesitate to sign up for new multilateral treaties containing preventive provisions, and courts hesitate to enforce existing preventive duties. The obscurity surrounding preventive obligations is further complicated by the complex legal framework governing atrocity crimes, and the fact that the duty to prevent genocide, crimes against and humanity and war crimes each holds a separate status under the law, derived from distinct sources and the product of unique legal histories. In light of the fact that the precise nature of a crime is often not apparent until the bloodshed has begun, how are States meant to operationalize their responsibilities from the moment that risk appears? This talk will examine States' preventive obligations in relation to genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, by first reviewing the legal frameworks governing each atrocity crime, and then assessing the areas in which further clarity is needed. It will seek to articulate further procedural and substantive guidance as to the specific content of the duty to prevent from the moment that early warnings are provided, particularly in view of the International Court of Justice's recent Provisional Measures decision in the case between The Gambia and Myanmar. Finally, it will conclude by proposing to derive a procedural obligation from the duty to prevent, imported from other areas of public international law, which would assist in filling some of the key operational voids in implementing State responsibility before atrocities have begun. Shannon Raj Singh is a Visiting Fellow of Practice at Oxford with the Blavatnik School of Government's Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC) Programme on International Peace and Security. She is also an Associate Legal Officer at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, where she advises the Appeals Chamber and the Office of the President on the first terrorism trial before an international criminal tribunal. At ELAC, Shannon is researching the prevention of mass atrocities with Federica D'Alessandra, Executive Director of the Oxford Programme on International Peace and Security. Together, they are working to articulate the preventive duties of States in relation to genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and to provide substantive guidance as to implementing and operationalizing the due diligence standard. The research is intended to be part of a stream of work to guide policymakers working in the atrocity prevention and accountability space. Shannon is also an advisor to the Transatlantic Network on Atrocity Prevention, an action-oriented network for engagement across governments, multilateral institutions, academia, and practitioners. Shannon is an American attorney licensed to practice in California, and a graduate of UCLA and the University of Southern California's Gould School of Law. She is also an Officer for the War Crimes Committee of the International Bar Association, and its Special Rapporteur on the ILC Draft Articles on Crimes Against Humanity. She has spoken on expert panels around the world on international criminal law, atrocity prevention, and the intersection of technology and human rights.
We speak with Nick Kaldas, Adjunct Professor, University of Western Sydney about the continuing rise of hate crimes in Australia. Nick Kaldas held two of the most senior roles in the NSW Police Force executive for well over a decade, serving as Deputy Commissioner and prior to that, Assistant Commissioner. He relieved as Commissioner extensively. His career as a NSW Police Officer spanned almost 35 years. Nick is currently the Managing Director of a consulting firm, Stratium Global, in Sydney Australia, providing high level security, investigative and governance advice. He holds Adjunct Professorships with Western Sydney University and Charles Sturt University in Australia, as well as lecturing on the National Security College of the Australian National University. He is a member of Operation Kenova’s Independent Steering Committee, the Scotland Yard investigation of numerous murders allegedly committed by the IRA during the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland. Nick was Deputy Commissioner, NSW police Force from 2007 to 2016. He commanded up to 14K staff, and a budget of more than $2 billion. His career has primarily been in major crime investigations and operations, including counter terrorism, protection operations, armed robbery, major drug investigations, covert operations, emergency management, community policing and over a decade in homicide investigations. He was a member of the Australian National Counter Terrorism Committee for 8 years, the peak policy body dealing with Counter Terrorism in Australia. He held the statutory position of State Emergency Operations Controller. He played a key leadership role in protection and related operations in significant national events such as the Sydney Olympics, APEC 2007, World Youth Day, Sydney 2008. In 2016-2018, he was the Director of Internal Oversight Services in the United Nations Relief Works Agency, (UNRWA) based in Amman, Jordan, leading investigations, audits, evaluation programs and an Ethics Division. He directed all oversight activities and a reporting regime for a staff of more than 30 thousand, and a budget of over US$2 billion, in five fields: Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, West Bank, and Jordan. He travelled extensively in all five fields. Internationally, Nick was Chief of Investigations in the UN/OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism, (2016) leading the investigation into the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict; he was also Chief of Investigations, U.N. Special Tribunal for Lebanon, (2009-2010) leading the investigations into the assassinations of P.M. Hariri and 21 others, and Deputy Chief Police Adviser with Coalition Forces in Iraq (2004-5) rebuilding the Iraqi National Police. Nick holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration, and is a graduate of the FBI’s Hostage Negotiation Program, their Leadership In Counter Terrorism Program, and the FBI National Executive Institute, the peak program for law enforcement executives. He has completed the Australian Institute of Police Management Police Executive Leadership program, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors Program. He has received numerous awards, including the Australian Police Medal, the National medal, the Overseas Humanitarian Service medal, and numerous commendations for outstanding performance of duty here and overseas.
Shannon Raj Singh, Associate Legal Officer at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, speaking on Panel IV: 'International criminal culpability in the advent of new technologies'. Slides for this presentation are available at: https://resources.law.cam.ac.uk/documents/CILJ_slides/Singh.pptx Cambridge International Law Journal 8th Annual Cambridge International Law Conference, ‘New Technologies: New Challenges for Democracy and International Law'. For more information about the conference, and the Journal, see: http://cilj.co.uk/ This entry provides an audio source for iTunes.
Shannon Raj Singh, Associate Legal Officer at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, speaking on Panel IV: 'International criminal culpability in the advent of new technologies'. Slides for this presentation are available at: https://resources.law.cam.ac.uk/documents/CILJ_slides/Singh.pptx Cambridge International Law Journal 8th Annual Cambridge International Law Conference, ‘New Technologies: New Challenges for Democracy and International Law’. For more information about the conference, and the Journal, see: http://cilj.co.uk/ This entry provides an audio source for iTunes.
Shannon Raj Singh, Associate Legal Officer at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, speaking on Panel IV: 'International criminal culpability in the advent of new technologies'. Slides for this presentation are available at: https://resources.law.cam.ac.uk/documents/CILJ_slides/Singh.pptx Cambridge International Law Journal 8th Annual Cambridge International Law Conference, ‘New Technologies: New Challenges for Democracy and International Law'. For more information about the conference, and the Journal, see: http://cilj.co.uk/ This entry provides an audio source for iTunes.
Shannon Raj Singh, Associate Legal Officer at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, speaking on Panel IV: 'International criminal culpability in the advent of new technologies'. Slides for this presentation are available at: https://resources.law.cam.ac.uk/documents/CILJ_slides/Singh.pptx Cambridge International Law Journal 8th Annual Cambridge International Law Conference, ‘New Technologies: New Challenges for Democracy and International Law’. For more information about the conference, and the Journal, see: http://cilj.co.uk/
President Cyril Ramaphosa has established a special tribunal to enable the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to fast-track the recovery of money and assets lost by state institutions through corruption and irregular spending. In a statement YESTERDAY (Sunday), the Presidency said the Special Tribunal will be headed by Judge Gidfonia Mlindelwa Makhanya for a period of 3 years.
Facebook is in trouble again, this time after an investigation by the Wall Street Journal revealed it is harvesting deeply personal material from people who don’t even have an account with Mark Zuckerberg’s creation. US private equity group KKR is being tipped as the likely buyer of Walmart’s British supermarket chain Asda after the UK’s Competitions and Markets Authority spiked its proposed £7bn merger with Sainsbury. Warren Buffett, the world’s most successful investor, was in the news over the weekend after disclosing that for the first time in decades Berkshire has started buying back its own shares. In South African related news, president Cyril Ramaphosa last night accelerated the process of recovering plundered state resources by establishing a Special Tribunal chaired by Judge Gidfonia Makhanya.
Avi Melamed - Inside The Middle East | Because Real Knowledge is A True Asset
This podcast explores the latest on the investigation of The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), an international tribunal established in March 2009, whose primary mandate is to hold trials for the people accused of carrying out the attack on February 14, 2005 which killed 22 people, including the former prime minister of Lebanon, Rafiq Hariri, and injured many others.
STL begins at 19:25. The nineteenth episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast has presenters Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hassan discuss news of the past week, including who should bare responsibility for the flooding from the first post-summer rains, protests over Horsh Beirut excavations, political bickering through the bureaucracy between the FPM and PSP, Judge Marwan Abboud calling for half of all state employees to be sacked for incompetence and corruption, Abu Faour's extraordinary outburst against Aoun, the economic pressures for cabinet formation, and the growing need to pass the budget. Our main topic: The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). The prosecution at the STL presented its closing arguments this week. We analyse the political atmosphere around the assassination of Rafic Hariri and its aftermath, as well as the political dimensions to the STL, and what a guilty verdict against the accused would mean for Hezbollah internationally and within Lebanon. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel
This episode features QUB's Rachel Killean, joined by Megan Hirst and Kinga Tabori-Szabo. They discuss the role of victims within international criminal courts, and some of the challenges associated with responding meaningfully to mass victimisation. Kinga Tibori-Szabo is a legal officer in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, and was formerly a legal officer working for the legal representatives at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Learn more about her here: www.st-philips.com/our-people/barristers/kinga-tibori/ Megan Hirst is one of the lawyers representing victims in the Dominic Ongwen case at the International Criminal Court. Learn more about her here: www.doughtystreet.co.uk/barristers/profile/megan-hirst1 Megan and Kinga recently edited a volume entitled 'Victim Participation in International Criminal Justice -Practitioners' Guide' by Springer 2017. This book comprehensively outlines the law and practice of victim participation at the International Criminal Court, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Rachel's book, entitled ‘Victims, Atrocity and Justice: Lessons from Cambodia', will be published by Routledge in September.
This talk will explore the history of Trieste with a focus on how the city and surrounding provinces in Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia reflect the transnational and multi-ethnic history of the region at the crossroads of the Italian, South Slav, and Germanic worlds. Through the lens of urban culture including local foodways, architecture, entertainment, and political display, the talk will explore the nostalgia for empire as well as the memory of Italian irredentism and Fascist nationalism, Cold War conflicts over “Slavic” (Slovene or Croatian) identity, and bitter resistance to Nazi German occupation (associated with Austro-Germanism) culture. Hametz will explain the ways in which these memories have played a fundamental role in the reconstruction of the city’s culture and reputation in the post-1989 period. Maura Hametz is a Professor of History at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. Her research explores the history of Trieste and the northeastern Adriatic regions since the late nineteenth century with emphasis on the intersections of politics, culture, economy, law, religion, gender, and ethnic and national identity. Her most recent study In the Name of Italy (Fordham U. Press, 2012) explores nationalist naming in the Adriatic and the judicial system and justice in Fascist Italy. She is now working on a project that explores the memory of the Habsburg Empress “Sissi” in the Adriatic Littoral and on a monograph that examines Mussolini’s Special Tribunal for the Defense of the State. This presentation is sponsored by the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies and the Council for European Studies.
Guido Acquaviva, Senior Legal Officer (Chambers), gives a talk for the OTJR seminar series on 14th October 2015.
Speaker: Omar Nashabe In this talk, Dr Nashabe discusses the creation of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and addresses the tribunal's decision to indict five members of Hezbollah and in turn to try them in absentia. Recorded on 16 January 2014.