Mark Kersten
@markkersten.bsky.social
Work in human rights, international criminal law, and accountability for mass atrocities - in Canada and around the world. Professor and advocate. Based in Vancouver. www.markkersten.com
It may not be surprising, but it's nevertheless sad to see a Canadian newspaper trumpet Washington's call to demolish the #ICC, and siding with impunity for Putin, Netanyahu, and the Taliban. This is now part of the right's firmament, along with anti-trans politics and Residential School denialism.
👀 Bank accounts held by U.S. President Donald Trump were closed by Capital One in 2021 after it flagged financial activity that raised concerns of money laundering --- and the only reason we know about it is bc he is suing them: www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl... #MoneyLaundrering
Trump bank accounts closed due to money laundering concerns, Capital One says
U.S. President alleges bank illegally closed his accounts for political reasons after Jan. 6 attacks on U.S. Capitol
theglobeandmail.com
"Among the countries that have undertaken a national transitional justice process, The Gambia remains one of the few to have made substantial progress in implementing the recommendations of a truth commission." www.ictj.org/latest-news/... #Gambia #Jammeh2Justice
The Gambia’s Justice Process Must Now Deliver for Victims | International Center for Transitional Justice
The establishment of the Reparations Commission in April 2025 and the recent appointment of British barrister Martin Hackett in April 2026 as The Gambia’s first special prosecutor represent crucial an...
ictj.org
Not a word in the government’s new mission for Canada’s diplomats on international law or human rights. Canada’s diplomats have been dispatched on a new mission: www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/opi... #cdnpoli
Opinion: Canada’s diplomats have been dispatched on a new mission
Commercial interests are now the dominant priority, raising criticism from stalwarts of past diplomatic traditions
theglobeandmail.com
Trump admits that his government's campaign of aggression against the #ICC is about "defending Netanyahu and various other people". 👀 www.aa.com.tr/en/world/tru...
Trump says 'there is no information' International Criminal Court is after him
Rubio 'is not trying to defend me. He's trying to defend Bibi and various other people,' says US president | Anadolu
aa.com.tr
"The Trump administration’s campaign to dismantle the ICC could weaken any hopes of justice for the victims of mass atrocities in Darfur." Reasonable Republicans should revolt. The referral of Darfur to the #ICC in 2005 was their cause. www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
U.S. campaign against international court threatens to jeopardize Darfur probe
ICC’s investigation will face new obstacles if Chad goes ahead with its planned withdrawal from the court
theglobeandmail.com
So much of public health programming around the world still reflects the agendas and ambitions of the Global North institutions financing them. Inequity characterizes the past and present of global health. But what about its future? A great listen here 👇
Just Medicine Podcast@justmedicinepod.bsky.social · last wk.Episode 40 is out now! Join Drs. @madhupai.bsky.social & @sandrasmiley.bsky.social as they discuss what #globalhealth is, where the idea originated, & why the field urgently needs a reimagining. Link below 👇 🌍 #publichealth #healthequity #medicaleducation open.spotify.com/episode/3rA0...
The ppl of Sudan have been denied accountability for countless atrocities. Regional neighbours, like Kenya, could be the answer - if they're willing to take up universal jurisdiction cases. That's what colleges & I have been working on: justiceinconflict.org/2026/08/03/t... #KeepEyesonSudan
To Sudan, from Kenya: The case for prosecuting RSF atrocities in the courts of a regional neighbour
The following article was written by Mikel Delagrange, Senior International Legal Advisor at the Wayne Foundation and Mark Kersten, Senior Consultant at the Wayamo Foundation and the founder of Jus…
justiceinconflict.org
To Sudan, from Kenya: The case for prosecuting RSF atrocities in the courts of a regional neighbour The following article was written by Mikel Delagrange, Senior International Legal Advisor at the Wayne Foundation and Mark Kersten, Senior Consultant at the Wayamo Foundation and the founder of…
To Sudan, from Kenya: The case for prosecuting RSF atrocities in the courts of a regional neighbour
The following article was written by Mikel Delagrange, Senior International Legal Advisor at the Wayne Foundation and Mark Kersten, Senior Consultant at the Wayamo Foundation and the founder of Justice in Conflict Sudanese soldiers from the Rapid Support Forces in the East Nile province (Photo: AP) Experts call it the worst humanitarian crisis currently facing the world. Still, no accountability for mass atrocities has been delivered.
justiceinconflict.org
The reason behind US aggression towards the #ICC is the very reason why Washington’s effort to destroy the Court must be resisted. The US cannot stand the existence of a court capable of investigating & prosecuting atrocities that it does not control. justiceinconflict.org/2025/02/12/i...
It’s all about control: U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court and navigating a path forward
(Photo: AP) The Trump administration’s Executive Order issuing sanctions against staff of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have been called many things: vindictive, disgra…
justiceinconflict.org
And these ding dongs want the world to follow their example 😅 US government map of Africa mislabels every country at global conference reuters.com/world/africa...
"Canada helped build the court through a coalition of the willing. It must now resist predatory coercion and assemble another coalition to preserve and reform it." Canada Must Protect the International Criminal Court www.policymagazine.ca/canada-must-... #ICC
Hopefully that means an end to saying it's up to others whether they violate international law, opposing wars of aggression, not allowing #ICC suspects to fly through our airspace, & rallying around the Court - all of which happen to be in line with respecting our sovereignty.
A couple of months ago someone asked me “What do you think of the DJT administration’s policy on Africa?” To which I replied “what policy?” I stand by that answer. USG Africa map mislaabels every single country on a slide deck at a conference. www.reuters.com/world/africa...
US government map of Africa mislabels every country at global conference
A U.S. government map of Africa mislabeled every country during a State Department presentation at a global conference taking place in Brazil this week, causing a stir among attendees who took screen...
reuters.com
Canada says that it supported the removal of now-former #ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, but that it will not share whether it voted in favour to remove him at an extraordinary meeting of the Court's member-states last week. Other states have shared their vote. www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art...
Ottawa supports ousting ICC prosecutor Karim Khan but won't say how it voted
Ottawa says it supports the decision by International Criminal Court members to oust prosecutor Karim Khan but won’t say whether Canada voted on his expulsion.
ctvnews.ca
"The Panel received reliable information from four sources that the aircraft had transported RSF fighters and mercenaries, as well as military equipment, including drones and weapons." A former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier is fuelling RSF violence in #Darfur: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
EXCLUSIVE: Boeings identified in Reuters report carried weapons for Sudanese paramilitary, UN experts find
United Nations experts have found that Boeing 727s linked by Reuters to a U.S. military contractor's business network transported mercenaries, weapons and drones for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, acco...
reuters.com
The Canadian gov't has again allowed Netanyahu to travel through 🇨🇦 airspace, despite the Israeli PM facing an #ICC arrest warrant. Does that violate Canada's obligations to the Court? Does territorial integrity extend to the air above our land? My deep-dive: justiceinconflict.org/2026/07/29/o...
Obligations, up in the Air? Are ICC member-states obligated to arrest Netanyahu when he enters their airspace?
Netanyahu’s recent flight path In late July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the White House with a mission: get America to continue its war against Iran and to support…
justiceinconflict.org
"People deserve to know that wanted war criminals won’t enjoy the privilege of flying wherever they want, whenever they want." Do member-states have an obligation to arrest #ICC fugitives when they enter their airspace? My latest at JiC: justiceinconflict.org/2026/07/29/o...
Obligations, up in the Air? Are ICC member-states obligated to arrest Netanyahu when he enters their airspace?
Netanyahu’s recent flight path In late July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the White House with a mission: get America to continue its war against Iran and to support…
justiceinconflict.org
Obligations, up in the Air? Are ICC member-states obligated to arrest Netanyahu when he enters their airspace? Netanyahu's recent flight path In late July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the White House with a mission: get America to continue its war against Iran and to…
Obligations, up in the Air? Are ICC member-states obligated to arrest Netanyahu when he enters their airspace?
Netanyahu's recent flight path In late July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the White House with a mission: get America to continue its war against Iran and to support him in his forthcoming election campaign. On his way to Washington, the aircraft carrying Netanyahu, the Wing of Zion, flew over multiple member-states of the International Criminal Court (ICC): Greece, Italy, France, and Canada.
justiceinconflict.org
"The DRC’s creative legal attempts to bring Rwanda to justice in relation to its engagement in and support of armed conflict in the DRC over the past several decades are efforts to invalidate violent incursions on its soil." theconversation.com/drc-has-take... #ICJ
DRC has taken Rwanda to the world court over genocide again. A law scholar explains what’s different this time
The DRC is making a third attempt to bring Rwanda before the world’s highest court in relation to the violence in its eastern region.
theconversation.com
“Humanitarians and hospitals now almost have to justify why we shouldn’t be targeted rather than those launching the attacks having to explain themselves.” From Ukraine and Sudan to Gaza: why have hospitals become a target of war? www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
From Ukraine and Sudan to Gaza: why have hospitals become a target of war?
International law states only military sites can be targeted during conflicts, but this is routinely being ignored
theguardian.com
A GAC spokesperson suggested “that it was up to the leader of Israel to decide whether to use Canadian airspace.” At a time when Canada’s sovereignty is under threat it must clear: it’s up to Canada and no one else to decide who enters our airspace, seas, or land. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Israel says it asked Canada for permission for Netanyahu to use Canadian airspace | CBC News
The Israeli government has told CBC News that it requested permission for wanted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to overfly Newfoundland and Nova Scotia on Monday en route to a meeting with ...
cbc.ca
Whatever one thinks of the ICC, there is a question more core to Canada’s identity, interests and principles at stake: are we the kind of country that opens its airspace & sovereign territory to wanted war criminals? Surely, our answer to our government must be a resounding: No!
Mark Kersten@markkersten.bsky.social · last wk.Despite being wanted by the #ICC, Netanyahu has flown through Canadian airspace THREE times in the past seven months. Why is Canada flouting its obligations to the ICC & allowing Israel to violate its sovereignty, @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social @mark-carney.bsky.social?? www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Despite being wanted by the #ICC, Netanyahu has flown through Canadian airspace THREE times in the past seven months. Why is Canada flouting its obligations to the ICC & allowing Israel to violate its sovereignty, @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social @mark-carney.bsky.social?? www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Israel says it asked Canada for permission for Netanyahu to use Canadian airspace | CBC News
The Israeli government has told CBC News that it requested permission for wanted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to overfly Newfoundland and Nova Scotia on Monday en route to a meeting with ...
cbc.ca
“There have been ups and downs, and this is probably natural for evolution of a body of law. Those ups and downs have happened in the past; they will happen again, but I’m hopeful”. From Survival to Justice: A Conversation with Theodor Meron www.ejiltalk.org/from-surviva... @ejiltalk.bsky.social
From Survival to Justice: A Conversation with Judge Theodor Meron
Few figures in international law have witnessed and influenced its development as much as Judge Theodor Meron. A Holocaust survivor who became a leading scholar, government legal adviser, diplomat and...
ejiltalk.org
“It’s not outside the realms of probability that we will find up to 800 individuals.” Survivors search for answers as pathologists examine remains of buried children in Tuam, Ireland, with lessons for Canada, writes Paul Waldie: www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Survivors search for answers as pathologists examine remains of buried children in Tuam, Ireland
Similar forensic techniques could be used to identify Indigenous children who went missing from residential schools in Canada
theglobeandmail.com
In my latest analysis, I endeavour to explain: 👉Why the withdrawals of Venezuela & Chad matter 👉 How the withdrawals impact the #ICC's work in both states 👉 How they fit into the wider US attack against the Court 👉 How ICC member states should respond justiceinconflict.org/2026/07/27/u...
Under pressure from Washington, states are withdrawing from the ICC: Time for a Membership Drive?
The International Criminal Court (Photo: Mark Kersten) It has been barely two weeks since U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Washington’s intention to “dismantle” the International…
justiceinconflict.org
“A government that abandons a multilateral treaty commitment on the timetable of another country’s diplomatic campaign is not conducting a foreign policy of its own." What drove Venezuela’s decision to leave the ICC? www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/... #ICC
What drove Venezuela’s decision to leave the ICC?
The ICC says its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity will continue despite the withdrawal.
aljazeera.com
Both Venezuela & Chad have said that they're withdrawing from the #ICC because of "biases" held by the Court, but the record is clear: they are doing so to please / appease the Trump administration, which asked both to leave the ICC in recent days. Wonder what Caracas & N'djamena get in return...
Adam Kochanski@adamkochanski.bsky.social · last wk."The American side expressed its concerns about the functioning of this institution and called on Chad to review its accession to the Rome Statute," it said of the phone call on Thursday between US deputy secretary of state for African affairs and Chadian Foreign Minister. #ICC