Joint NGO Letter on the “Mutual Legal Assistance Initiative”

Together with 12 other NGOs, Civil Rights Defenders has signed a letter to the Core Group and Co-Sponsoring States of the initiative for the creation of a new multilateral treaty for the domestic prosecution of the most serious international crimes (the “Mutual Legal Assistance Initiative”). The joint letter is in response to the Draft Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes (version 02/10/2019). The letter was sent in advance of the Informal Consultation held in the Hague on 27-28 January 2020.

In the letter, the NGOs note their commitment to enhance victims’ rights, including the right to justice, truth, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. The letter addresses three main concerns with the Draft Convention, relating to (1) jurisdictional scope (ratione materiae and ratione loci); (2) the effective protection of victims’ rights; and (3) asset recovery and disposal. 

Read the full joint letter here.