Institutional accountability is vital not only because it supports institutions to more effectively accomplish their mandates, but also because it goes to the heart of credibility, sustainability and the 'well being' of an institution. An institution that does not comply with its own rules, regulations and accepted best practice standards makes itself vulnerable to collapse from within. Unaccountability of institutions, whether domestic or international public institutions, inevitably leads to a loss of trust and credibility in the eyes of those who rely on those institutions and the larger citizenry. Institutions don't need to be perfect, but they do need to be credible and this is derived from their institutional integrity and organisational performance in meeting their mandates.

#JusticeMatters #17July #global; partners in #Uganda #DRC #Libya #CentralAfricanRepublic

The Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice seeks Summer 2016 Legal Intern! The Legal Intern will be part of a small, highly efficient and motivated team. Learn more about this internship and how to apply here: http://4genderjustice.org/womens-initiatives-seeks-summer-…/

Applications close on Thursday, 7 July 2016.

Today the ICC sentenced Jean-Pierre Bemba to 18 years imprisonment for war crimes and crimes against humanity for acts of rape, murder and pillaging. In the decision, the Judges explicitly addressed the particular cruelty with which the rapes were committed. See the statement by the Women's Initiatives.

http://4genderjustice.org/pub/Bemba-Sentencing-Statement.pdf

At a much earlier stage of this case, the Women's Initiatives filed before the ICC highlighting the charge of rape and raising concerns about the dismissal of some of the other sexual violence-related charges. We also urged the Office of the Prosecutor to supplement its evidence if needed to support the rape charges and to persuasively argue the case. They did, the judges listened, Mr Bemba was convicted and today sentenced to 18 years.

Today, the Extraordinary African Chambers in the Senegalese courts convicted Chad’s former dictator Hissène Habré for crimes against humanity, including rape and sexual slavery, and sentenced him to life in prison. This is the first time that courts of one country have prosecuted the former ruler of another for human rights violations. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36411466

For more information on the trial, see also https://www.hrw.org/tag/hissene-habre

According to media sources, today, 18 May 2016, one of the 219 school girls abducted by Boko Haram from the village of Chibok, Nigeria, has been found after two years in captivity. According to activists, this is the first of the Chibok girls to be recovered since their abduction in 2014, and was found carrying a baby. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36321249

UPDATE: Two days later, on 20 May, the second Chibok girl was rescued by the Nigerian army. This comes two days after the first of the girls abducted from Chibok in 2014 by Boko Haram was recovered. To our knowledge, 217 of the Chibok girls remain missing since their abduction two years ago. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36338989

Read about the important work of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI). Find out more by visiting their website http://www.owfi.info/EN/

Today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) terminated, by majority, the case against co-accused William Samoei Ruto (Ruto) and Joshua Arap Sang (Sang) in the Kenya Situation, declaring the proceedings against them a ‘mistrial due to a troubling incidence of witness interference and intolerable political meddling’. However, this decision does not preclude new ICC or domestic prosecution in the future, and may be subject to appeal. The charges of crimes against humanity brought and confirmed against Ruto and Sang in the context of the post-election violence in Kenya are to be vacated and the accused are to be discharged.

Read the ICC press release on the termination of the Ruto and Sang case here: https://www.icc-cpi.int/…/press%20releases/Pages/pr1205.aspx

Le 21 mars, la Cour pénale internationale (CPI) a condamné à l'unanimité Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo (Bemba) en tant que commandant militaire pour deux chefs de crimes contre l'humanité, y compris meurtre et viol et trois chefs de crimes de guerre, y compris meurtre, viol et pillage.

Ceci est la première déclaration de culpabilité devant la CPI pour les crimes de violence sexuelle, ainsi que la première condamnation d'un individu en tant que commandant, en vertu de l'article 28 du Statut de Rome. C’est aussi la première fois que le témoignage de victimes masculines de violences sexuelles a été entendu à l'appui de l'accusation de viol.

Lire la déclaration complète de Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice ici: http://4genderjustice.org/premiere-condamnation-de-la-cpi-…/

Today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) unanimously convicted Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo as a military commander for the crimes of rape and murder as both war crimes and crimes against humanity, and pillaging as a war crime.

This is the first conviction before the ICC for crimes of sexual violence as well as the first conviction of an individual charged with command responsibility, under Article 28 of the Rome Statute. It is also the first case in which testimony from male victims of sexual violence was heard in support of the charge of rape.

Read the Statement by the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice here: http://4genderjustice.org/icc-first-conviction-acts-sexual…/

Le numéro de mars 2016 de la lettre d’information Voix des femmes est maintenant disponible et souligne le travail effectué par Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice et nos partenaires locaux de l’est de la RDC et il présente nos cinq remarquables et courageuses points focaux dans la Province Orientale, au Nord-Kivu et au Sud-Kivu.

Lire ce numéro de Voix de femmes ici: http://4genderjustice.org/…/elet…/voix-des-femmes-mars-2016/

The March 2016 issue of Women’s Voices is now available and highlights the work of the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice and our local partners in eastern DRC and introduces our five amazing and courageous focal points in Province Orientale, and North and South Kivu.

Read this issue of Women’s Voices here: http://4genderjustice.org/…/elett…/womens-voices-march-2016/

The Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice is seeking to appoint an Associate Legal Officer (immediate appointment). Applications close on Friday, 4 March 2016, at 12:00 p.m. (The Hague). The Associate Legal Officer will be part of a small, highly efficient and motivated team. Read here to know more about this opportunity: http://4genderjustice.org/recruitment-associate-legal-offi…/