Combatting impunity for international crimes

TRIAL International works to combat impunity for international crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Since its creation in 2002, it has supported over 5,000 victims in their quest for justice. They do this by providing legal assistance to victims, litigating cases, developing local capacity and advocating for the rights of victims. TRIAL International has offices in three countries (Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Democratic Republic of Congo) and a local structure in Nepal. In addition, it works on cases in several other countries, often in collaboration with local NGOs.

Ex-warlord Ntabo Nataberi is sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes in a military court in North Kivu, DRC in November 2020. ©Trial International

Notably, TRIAL International helped secure the conviction of the infamous warlord Ntabo ‘Sheka’ Ntaberi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also filed criminal complaints against two companies in Switzerland for gas and oil smuggling as well as illegal timber exportation, demonstrating that the fight against impunity also applies to economic actors.

They also contributed research to hearings at The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission related to the 2005 massacre of more than 50 West African migrants. The incident was the largest loss of life during the rule of former president Yahya Jammeh.