Webinar: The UN Basic Principles at 15: The Challenges in Practice
16 March, 3:30pm–5:00 PM (CET)
Languages: English and Spanish.
Join us for an important discussion on the impact of the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to Remedy and Reparations for Victims of Gross Violations of International Humanitarian Law.
On the 16th of December 2020, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Principles. To mark the occasion, we organized a webinar with some of the experts involved in drafting and advocating for the Basic Principles to be adopted. We explored the footprint and influence of the Principles in international and domestic courts worldwide.
We would like to reflect now on the multiple challenges that victims, practitioners, national authorities and other relevant stakeholders have experienced in making the right to reparation a reality in practice.
Openings: Luke Moffet, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast
Panel 1: The challenges of realising the Principles in Transitional Societies:
Introductory remarks: Cécile Aptel, OHCHR Chief of the Rule of Law and Democracy Section
Moderator: Annah Moyo, Advocacy Programme Manager, CSVR, South Africa
Speakers:
– Paula Gaviria Betancur, Former Director of the Victims’ Unit Colombia and Director of Compaz
– Emmerlyne Gil, Asia Deputy Regional Director, AI
– Cristian Correa, Senior Expert ICTJ
Panel 2: Implementing international decisions: From Principles to Realities
Moderator: Priya Pillai, Head of the Asia Justice Coalition Secretariat
Speakers:
– Yasmin Sooka, Former Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights in South Africa and former member of the TRC in South Africa and Sierra Leone
– Gisela Ortiz, Director of Operations EPAF, Peruvian activist and relative of one of the victims in La Cantuta case
– Philip Leach, Professor of Human Rights Law, Middlesex University London an Director of the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre
Closing remarks: Alejandra Vicente, Head of Law, REDRESS
Co-organized by the Essex Transitional Justice Network, Queen’s University Belfast and REDRESS.