Thread by @CeasefireCentre

2022 brought new wars and the continuation of old ones. But it also brought some real advances in the protection of civilian rights. Here are ten of the most important, many of which involved efforts from @CeasefireCentre over the last 3 years:
#PoC #IHL #NotATarget

1. For decades the poor cousin of criminal prosecutions, #reparations awards took centre stage in 2022, incl. a ground-breaking #ICJ judgment in Feb ordering Uganda to pay $325m for armed activities and mass violations on territory of #DRCongo
news.un.org/en/story/2022/…

2. While the intl community has largely failed to deliver justice to the victims of #ISIS – incl. the #Yazidis – Iraq launched in the Autumn a holistic reparations scheme for Yazidi, Christian, Turkmen and Shabak survivors under the new Yazidi Survivors Law
#YSL #Yazidis #Iraq

3. 2022 was book-ended by advances in #UniversalJurisidiction In Jan, a German court convicted a Syrian colonel of crimes against humanity. Then in Dec the US passed an act enabling war crimes prosecutions of foreign offenders present in the jurisdiction.
syriaaccountability.org/new-report-bet…

4. In Aug the US published a Civilian Harm Mitigation & Response Action Plan, a late effort to improve the US record on civilian damage, following a string of exposés incl. in the @NYTimes . Will it make a difference and will allies follow suit?
#CHMRAP
ejiltalk.org/civil-liabilit…

5. Another UK attempt to lessen military accountability was defeated. The Bill of Rights Bill sought to end extra-territorial human rights jurisdiction but was axed by the Truss gov. The Justice Sec wants to bring it back, but may fail.
#RightsRemovalBill

https://twitter.com/CeasefireCentre/status/1567510292849885184

6. Following revelations in High Court & @BBCPanorama the UK was forced in Dec to announce a statutory inquiry into killings of civilians by UK special forces in #Afghanistan . Bravery of Saifullah and Noorzai families and lawyers @LeighDay_Law
gov.uk/government/new…

7. In November for the first time a NATO member was held legally liable for civilian harm from bombing, again in #Afghanistan. The Hague District Court found NL bombing of a residential compound killing civilians in the battle of Chora violated #IHL
courthousenews.com/dutch-court-fi…

8. In Nov in Dublin, with Russia’s bombing of Ukraine in mind, 82 countries endorsed a new Political Declaration limiting use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Many of those signing up, incl US and UK, have a recent record of urban bombing
#EWIPA

https://twitter.com/explosiveweapon/status/1593592598211461122

9. Crimes against humanity are the worst crimes against civilians. Tramping UN halls over the years, a small group of jurists and activists incl. @leilasadat1 have pushed for a new international convention to suppress #CAH. This year, a breakthrough:

https://twitter.com/ForeignPolicy/status/1607941911892955137

10. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a terrible crime and a tragedy, but the breadth of revulsion may strengthen the global norm against #aggression. Moves for a special tribunal accelerated towards year end. But will we see an end to double standards?

https://twitter.com/michaeldamianw/status/1527078137582047236

In 2023 @CeasefireCentre will be working on these and other challenges. Follow us, support us, and help us realize the potential of #civilianrights
ceasefire.org