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International Criminal Justice

SALC’s International Criminal Justice programme has the following objectives:

  • To raise regional awareness about the domestication of the ICC Convention and to promote accountability for crimes against humanity at domestic levels through strategic litigation.
  • To improve understanding of the ICC and its mandate whilst supporting domestic and regional accountability mechanisms.
  • To litigate at domestic levels to establish jurisprudence on universal jurisdiction.
  • To litigate at domestic levels against corporate complicity in violations of international law and human rights.

On-going cases:

Completed cases:

Publications:

Advocacy:

International Criminal JusticeNewsSouth Africa

News Release: Supreme Court of Appeal dismisses appeal for a permanent stay of prosecutions by alleged apartheid-era perpetrator

On 21 June 2021, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) handed down judgment in the matter Joao Rodrigues v National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others concerning an application for a stay of prosecution for the alleged murder of Ahmed Timol. Joao Rodrigues (Rodrigues), the Appellant, is a former member…
Staff Writer
22 Jun 2021
International Criminal Justice

Joint Statement: ‘We stand with the people of Yemen’ Human Rights organisations ask the Courts to review decisions to export arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

On 3 June 2021, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and Open Secrets launched an urgent two-part application in the North Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) seeking:   The names of all permit holders that are authorised to export arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), so that…
Staff Writer
7 Jun 2021
International Criminal Justice

South African Arms Trade case: Human Rights organisations ask the Courts to review decisions to export arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

On 3 June 2021, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and Open Secrets launched an urgent two-part application in the North Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) seeking: The names of all permit holders that are authorised to export arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), so that they…
Staff Writer
7 Jun 2021
International Criminal JusticeResearch Reports & Policy BriefsSADC

SALC Policy Brief on ICC Witnesses and the Review of the Rome Statute: The Missing Link

The Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court resolved in December 2019 to establish the Independent Expert Review to identify ways of strengthening the ICC and the Rome Statute system. The ASP mandated the Experts to make “concrete, achievable and actionable” recommendations to…
Suzgo Lungu
15 Dec 2020
Articles and OpinionsInternational Criminal JusticeSouth Africa

João Rodrigues, apartheid-era crimes and the question of a blanket amnesty

Mail and Guardian 6 November 2020 By Atilla Kisla Today, on 6 November 2020, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) hears the case of João Rodrigues v National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others. João Rodrigues, a former member of the Security Branch during apartheid, is charged for the murder of Ahmed Timol on 27 October 1971. In his…
Atilla Kisla
16 Nov 2020
International Criminal JusticeNewsSouth Africa

PRESS RELEASE: SOUTH AFRICA’S DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS DECLARES KOUWENHOVEN AN UNDESIRABLE PERSON

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SOUTHERN AFRICA LITIGATION CENTRE AND LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SOUTH AFRICA’S DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS DECLARES KOUWENHOVEN AN UNDESIRABLE PERSON Southern Africa Litigation Centre v Minister of Home Affairs and Others, Case No. 18052/2019, High Court, Western Cape Division, Cape Town In 2019 the Southern African…
Staff Writer
14 Nov 2020