Today's news in major cities, regional and local areas hich can include accident reports

Thursday, November 30, 2023

[New post] The Currency of Diplomacy: A Speech Canada’s Commitment to International Law and Prosecuting International Crimes

Site logo image Mark Kersten posted: " This week, I had the opportunity to speak before the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in Ottawa. I spoke Canada's piecemeal commitment to international law and to the prosecution of international crime" Justice in Conflict

The Currency of Diplomacy: A Speech Canada's Commitment to International Law and Prosecuting International Crimes

Mark Kersten

Nov 30

This week, I had the opportunity to speak before the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in Ottawa. I spoke Canada's piecemeal commitment to international law and to the prosecution of international crimes. I appeared alongside Professor Jennifer Welsh and Professor Adam Chapnik. The full video of the speech and the questions and answer period can be found here.

My remarks focused on Canada's refusal to exercise universal jurisdiction over international crimes and its troubling position on accountability for atrocity crimes committed in Israel and Palestine. In case the speech of interest to readers, I have published it below.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to speak to Canada's commitment to a rules-based system in relation to the very currency of diplomacy: international law.

In particular, I will focus on Canada's approach to prosecuting international crimes – war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression.

Canada has done a great deal to support accountability efforts in recent years.

Since 2022, Canada has consistently supported the prosecution of international crimes in Ukraine. With The Netherlands, Canada has taken Syria to the International Court of Justice over torture.

But many question why there are so many inconsistencies in Canada's support for international law and accountability efforts.

I want to explore two questions I believe are instructive in relation to Canada's position on prosecuting international crimes and Canada's standing in the world.

First, what would Canada do if a mid-level Russian or Syrian war criminal, or a member of the Wagner Group entered Canada? 

As a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, Canada is obligated to investigate war crimes and prosecute them in its own courts. Canada's diplomatic partners would expect it to prosecute, and not become a safe haven for war criminals.

Yet all too often Canada does nothing or only attempts to deport the alleged war criminal instead of prosecuting them. And if Canada did deport that person, it would seek zero guarantees that they would be held accountable in the country they were deported to.

In 2016, the Department of Justice released a report that stated over 200 perpetrators of international crimes reside in Canada. It has not prosecuted any of them. Canada has the laws to do it, the resources to do it, but it won't do it.Unlike its allies, since the early 2010s, Canada has abandoned the use of universal jurisdiction.

My second question is: what would Canada do if the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for senior Hamas leaders and those responsible for the atrocities committed on 7 October? There is a real prospect that this will happen in the coming weeks. What would Canada say to the Israeli families of hostages who have asked the ICC to investigate Hamas' war crimes? What would it tell Palestinians victims and survivors?

Continue reading The Currency of Diplomacy: A Speech Canada's Commitment to International Law and Prosecuting International Crimes
Comment
Like
Tip icon image You can also reply to this email to leave a comment.

Manage your email settings or unsubscribe.

Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser:
http://justiceinconflict.org/2023/11/30/the-currency-of-diplomacy-a-speech-canadas-commitment-to-international-law-and-prosecuting-international-crimes/

WordPress.com and Jetpack Logos

Get the Jetpack app to use Reader anywhere, anytime

Follow your favorite sites, save posts to read later, and get real-time notifications for likes and comments.

Download Jetpack on Google Play Download Jetpack from the App Store
WordPress.com on Twitter WordPress.com on Facebook WordPress.com on Instagram WordPress.com on YouTube
WordPress.com Logo and Wordmark title=

Automattic, Inc. - 60 29th St. #343, San Francisco, CA 94110  

at November 30, 2023
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

No comments:

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

JHI Blog: Recent posts

...

  • [New post] Germany Offers Free of Cost Work Visas to Indian IT Workers
    Arooj Fatima posted: " Indian IT professionals can now enjoy Germany's one of the best offers in terms of immigration. ...
  • [New post] 6 Apps You Must Add to Your iPhone ASAP | FinanceBuzz
    lhvi3...
  • [New post] Is Chicken In A Biskit Coming Back? We Just Got Word That It Might Be
    trentbartlett posted: "Rumours around this snack's return have been floating around the internet for a little while now...

Search This Blog

  • Home

About Me

Today's news in major cities, regional and local areas which can include accident reports, police & emergency responses, criminal and court proceedings or live
View my complete profile

Report Abuse

Blog Archive

  • June 2025 (7)
  • May 2025 (3)
  • April 2025 (10)
  • March 2025 (8)
  • February 2025 (6)
  • January 2025 (4)
  • December 2024 (6)
  • November 2024 (8)
  • October 2024 (9)
  • September 2024 (8)
  • August 2024 (5)
  • July 2024 (10)
  • June 2024 (10)
  • May 2024 (11)
  • April 2024 (4)
  • March 2024 (1462)
  • February 2024 (3037)
  • January 2024 (3253)
  • December 2023 (3238)
  • November 2023 (3122)
  • October 2023 (3010)
  • September 2023 (2524)
  • August 2023 (2299)
  • July 2023 (2223)
  • June 2023 (2164)
  • May 2023 (2229)
  • April 2023 (2135)
  • March 2023 (2236)
  • February 2023 (2171)
  • January 2023 (2326)
  • December 2022 (2500)
  • November 2022 (2470)
  • October 2022 (2648)
  • September 2022 (1909)
  • August 2022 (1839)
  • July 2022 (1856)
  • June 2022 (1969)
  • May 2022 (2411)
  • April 2022 (2354)
  • March 2022 (1867)
  • February 2022 (1013)
  • January 2022 (1050)
  • December 2021 (1620)
  • November 2021 (3122)
  • October 2021 (3276)
  • September 2021 (3145)
  • August 2021 (3259)
  • July 2021 (3084)
Powered by Blogger.