Accountability for Violations of International Law in Armed Conflict: The Siracusa Guidelines on Fact Finding

Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, formerly, Chair United Nations Commission of Inquiry for Libya (2011-2012); Chair, Drafting Committee, Diplomatic Conference on the Establishment of the International Criminal Court (1998) & Chair of the United Nations Commission of Experts to Investigate Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Former Yugoslavia (1993-1994))

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950 to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948. The UDHR was drafted as ‘a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations’ and was the first universal statement that all human beings have certain inherent rights that are inalienable. As part of the commemorative day, the HRFG programme has invited Professor Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni to deliver a lecture on the challenges to promote accountability for violations of human rights in conflicts around the world.

Prof. Bassiouni will discuss the Siracusa Guidelines for International, Regional and National Fact-Finding Bodies. These guidelines, developed from inputs by more than 80 experts, seek to provide a framework to ensure clarity and consistency throughout the processes of creating, investigating, and reporting for these bodies that are an essential component of international, regional and national investigative processes. Setting the standards and procedures that should be applied in this context can contribute immensely to the process of international criminal justice.

For further information about the Human Rights Programme visit our website www.humanrights.ox.ac.uk or contact zoe.davis-heaney@law.ox.ac.uk to be added to the mailing list and receive updates on forthcoming events.