Publications

REDRESS and 70 other organisations have sent this letter to the UK, US and Canadian governments urging greater coordination between them on the use of Magnitsky sanctions to promote respect for human rights. The UK, US and Canada are the only countries with legislation enabling targeted human rights (‘Magnitsky’) sanctions, which impose travel bans and asset freezes on individuals and entities for human rights abuses. By naming and penalising individual perpetrators, sanctions can serve as a useful tool in deterrence, promoting accountability and prompting behavioural change. 

This Report Summary outlines the main findings of the report Not Without Us: Strengthening Victim Participation in Transitional Processes in Uganda. Uganda is a country whose complex cycle of conflicts at different stages of its development has created untold suffering for its citizens. The report analyses some of the challenges in translating the promise of victim-centred processes from rhetoric into reality. The report is based on research and activities carried out by REDRESS, Emerging Solutions Africa (ESA) and the Uganda Victims’ Foundation (UVF), between November 2017 and March 2020, under the project: Strengthening Victim Participation in the Fight against Impunity for International Crimes. Activities included victim forums in the areas most affected by the war in Uganda and high-level policy conferences in Kampala and The Hague. The project aimed to support victims of international crimes and the local organisations assisting them to participate meaningfully in local, national, and international transitional justice processes.

This report examines victim participation in transitional justice (TJ) processes in Uganda, a country whose complex cycle of conflicts at different stages of its development has created untold suffering for its citizens. The report analyses some of the challenges in translating the promise of victim-centred processes from rhetoric into reality. The report is based on research and activities carried out by REDRESS, Emerging Solutions Africa (ESA) and the Uganda Victims’ Foundation (UVF), between November 2017 and March 2020, under the project: Strengthening Victim Participation in the Fight against Impunity for International Crimes. Activities included victim forums in the areas most affected by the war in Uganda and high-level policy conferences in Kampala and The Hague. The project aimed to support victims of international crimes and the local organisations assisting them to participate meaningfully in local, national, and international transitional justice processes.

In this joint letter, REDRESS and 23 other organisations urge the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to use the Global Magnitsky sanctions to target gross corruption by public officials around the globe in the context of Covid-19. 

In this bulletin, we draw attention to our most recent casework, including the landmark judgment in the Azul Rojas Marín case, the first case of LGBT+ discriminatory torture ever decided by a human rights court worldwide. We also provide the latest updates on our advocacy campaigns, publications and policy work during January-June 2020, including our new reports Litigating Peacekeeper Child Sexual Abuse, and A Way Forward? Anti-Torture Reforms in Sudan in the Post-Bashir Era.

This letter expresses REDRESS' deep concern about the possible transfer out of prison of former Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir, and other former regime members, in light of the COVID-19 health emergency. While REDRESS strongly supports measures to protect detained individuals’ rights to health and personal integrity, Covid-19 must not be a pretext for the unjustified release of those facing charges for serious international crimes. REDRESS calls on the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan to take note of this situation and to encourage the Sudanese authorities to adhere to international standards.

This letter expresses REDRESS' concern about the possibility of the release of individuals suspected and convicted of serious human rights abuses, including torture, in light of the COVID-19 health emergency. The letter discusses the cases of Omar Al-Bashir and Hissène Habré. REDRESS calls upon the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, to take note of these situations and to encourage the Sudanese and Senegalese authorities to adhere to international standards.

This letter expresses REDRESS' concern about the possible transfer out of prison of former Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir, and other former regime members, in light of the COVID-19 health emergency. While REDRESS strongly supports measures to protect detained individuals’ rights to health and personal integrity, Covid-19 must not be a pretext for the unjustified release of those facing charges for serious international crimes. REDRESS calls upon all decision-making authorities in Sudan, especially the office of the Attorney-General, to ensure respect for the rights of victims to justice and reparation, while upholding the rights of detainees to health and safe conditions of detention.