Holding perpetrators accountable
The Global Initiative Against Impunity (GIAI) for International Crimes and Serious Human Rights Violations is a civil society initiative. Our goal is to fight impunity for international crimes and serious human rights violations. We do so by promoting justice and accountability. The Global Initiative Against Impunity is co-funded by the EU and will run for four years, from 2024 to the end of 2027.
Learn moreThe threat of impunity is too great to tackle alone: together, we want to make justice work for those who need it most.
Beyond trials: ending impunity
In recent decades, survivors, activists, and lawyers have worked hard to address impunity for international crimes and serious human rights violations. International tribunals, special courts, and national courts have been used to prosecute perpetrators.
Despite this progress, many challenges persist. Too often, only a few perpetrators are brought to justice. This has profound consequences for societies: impunity fuels inequality and undermines people’s trust in institutions. When perpetrators continue to enjoy impunity, especially after violent conflict, it diminishes the chance of meaningful, peaceful change.
The unfinished fight against impunity
The Global Initiative Against Impunity raises awareness of accountability mechanisms and helps survivors access decision-makers. We make justice processes more inclusive by ensuring survivors and civil society get to participate. We put the fight against impunity on the political agenda, holding policymakers accountable.
We operate worldwide. Our work is survivor-centred: we champion survivors as actors and advocates.
Core International Crimes
Grave violations of human rights, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, are committed all over the world. The perpetrators rarely face prosecution and are often able to continue to commit crimes with impunity. Through legal means, we work to keep dictators awake at night and to hold them accountable in order to achieve justice for their victims.