Publications

In Professor Manfred Nowak's 2005 visit report to Nepal, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture reported the systematic practice of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment predominantly perpetrated by the security forces during the armed conflict with the Communist Party of Nepal. While the use of torture by both the security forces and the CPNM has abated since the end of the conflict in April 2006, torture remains habitual and widespread in a considerable part of the country. Torture in police custody is particularly worrisome, particularly in relation to juveniles and members of certain ethnic groups.

This report formed the basis of a September 2010 workshop organised by the Essex Transitional Justice Network and Redress, which brought  together a multidisciplinary group of experts to discuss the existing and evolving approaches to the rehabilitation of victims of gross human rights violations. Participants were encouraged to establish multidisciplinary dialogues, between representatives of various professional communities working on the issue of rehabilitation (such as psychiatrists, psychologists, academics and lawyers) domestically and internationally for government; governmental or intergovernmental organisations; courts and other justice processes and nongovernmental organisations and networks. These discussions served to identify further ground for development, in order to clarify the scope of rehabilitation under international law and ensure its delivery in practice.  

A new Israeli Bill entitled 'Associations (Amutot) Law (Amendment – Exceptions to the Registration and Activity of an Association), 2010' proposes to prohibit the registration or close down any existing non-governmental organisation, if "there are reasonable grounds to conclude that the association is providing information to foreign entities or is involved in legal proceedings abroad against senior Israeli government officials or IDF officers, for war crimes." In response to a recent right-wing publication accusing at least twelve Israeli human rights organisations of involvement in the indictment of Israeli officials for serious violations of international law, REDRESS, in collaboration with several other civil society organisations, have authored a public statement condemning the dangers posed by this Bill.  

In anticipation of the 8th Session of the Assembly of State Parties in Kampala, Uganda, the Victims Rights Working Group in collaboration with REDRESS has submitted a report regarding the Impact of the Rome Statute system on victims and affected communities. The Review Conference will consider amendments to the Statute and conduct a ‘stocktaking exercise’, to consider the overall impact and effectiveness of the Rome Statute System. Other issues to be considered include aspects of complementarity, cooperation and in relation to peace and justice.

Redress has submitted a discussion paper to the Trust Fund for Victims at the International Criminal Court on the 'Progressive Realisation of its Mandate'. At the international level, victims’ rights to obtain a remedy and reparation have been vastly ignored, mirroring the entrenchment of the impunity of the perpetrators. The ICC's Trust Fund for Victims is therefore a crucial feature of the ICC, distinguishing it from most ad hoc international criminal tribunals and special courts, which have been unable to give effect to victims’ rights to a remedy and reparation.

Our annual report for 2010 provides an overview of the work that REDRESS undertook from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.

Following the 2009 report published by the International Criminal Court regarding Legal Aid, the Victims' Rights Working Group in collaboration with REDRESS have submitted a paper to further critique these issues. The ICC's report contributed positively to the debate on legal aid for victims, raising serious considerations in ensuring their effective participation in the proceedings, and providing a useful first framework with which to consider the implementation of the Court’s activities. However, we remain concerned about the delay in issuing the new procedural forms and their continued unavailability to civil society in situation countries. Furthermore, we note with concern the continued resistance against integrating the declaration of indigence and accepting a possible investigation into means into the form.

Redress, alongside various civil society organisations, has been invited to submit comments to the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court on the recently published Policy Paper on Victims’ Participation. While REDRESS appreciates the steps taken by the OTP to ensure the policy reflect the mechanisms of victim participation as ‘an essential feature of the Rome Statute system and a contribution to international justice', we have sought to to highlight a few issues which are of central concern to us regarding the Policy's implementation. We welcome any further discussion with the OTP on the matters raised here.