International Investigator Course 9 took place in The Hague and at the Royal Netherlands School for Peace Missions, Amersfoort from 26 May to 6 June 2008. 22 candidates, eight on scholarship, participated in for the course. There were nine female participants.
They came from the following countries:

• Switzerland (1)
• Italy (1)
• Norway (2)
• Canada (2)
• Rwanda (1)
• Kenya (3)
• Serbia (2)
• Netherlands (4)
• France (1)
• Kosovo (1)
• Bulgaria (1)
• Argentina (1)
• Afghanistan (2)

and the following organisations:

• International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
• UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
• Serbia Ministry of Interior War Crimes Office
• Norway War Crimes Office
• Kenya National Commission for Human Rights
• Netherlands Police International Crimes Unit
• Netherlands Ministry of Justice
• UN Mission in Kosovo Missing Persons Project
• Afghanistan Independent Commission for Human Rights

In January 2008 at the request of the organisation "No Peace Without Justice" the IICI provided assistance to the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights in establishing its investigation of post December 2007 election violence. IICI Executive Director John Ralston assisted KNCHR Commissioners in the design and planning of their investigation and with training 80 staff members.

In April 2008 the IICI conducted two, four day workshops in Darfur; one in El Fasher and the second in El Geneina. 25 human rights monitors attended the El Fasher workshop and 17 human rights monitors attended the El Geneina workshop. Topics included international human rights and humanitarian law, military organisations and operations, investigation skills and safety and security in the field.

The IICI held its most recent International Investigator Course (IIC8) from 29 October to 9 November 2007 at the UN Training School, Defence Force Training Centre, The Curragh Camp, Co Kildare Ireland. 29 participants attended, with representatives from Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Serbia, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, South Africa, Portugal, Germany and Canada.

Twenty-two students attended the second 2006 International Investigator Course - IIC7, held from 27 November to 9 December 2006. The most important change in the structure of this course, in comparison to IIC6, was that more emphasis was put on the distance-learning phase of the course. Through its alumni website, students could do self-tests before coming to The Hague and starting the residential phase of IIC7. The feedback from participants was positive and constructive. Comments indicated that the composition of the course, the balance between theoretical and practical aspects and also on the mix of professions, backgrounds and experiences were highly appreciated.

At the request of the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and with assistance of the Human Rights Division of MONUC, the IICI conducted a two week training program, in Kinshasa for staff of the office of the Militaire Auditaire and Justice Department. There were 20 participants in the course – ten from each Ministry. While in Kinshasa the IICI provided a two day training seminar for staff of the Human Rights Division of MONUC.

The International Humanitarian Law and Evidence modules were presented by James Stewart, Head of Appeals and Acting Chief of Prosecutions, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The Investigation Skills modules were presented by Jean-Guy Foy, formerly of Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with considerable experience as an Investigator and also as a trainer at their Police Academy. He also served for six years as an investigator at ICTR. The Military Modules were presented by Traolach Sweeney, formerly of the Irish Defence Forces.

A special webpage refers to the program.

IIC6 was held in The Hague from 8 to 19 May 2006. Two new modules were included in the course: Information and assistance from governments, and Interview Skills. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Highlighted for comment were course content, design, adherence to timetables, team building and networking. The mixed backgrounds of participants, both professional, gender and nationality gave important experience for interaction, networking and in the group exercises, team building in an international environment. This was praised as one of the most important aspects of the course.

In 2006 the Director of Administration of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) requested that the IICI provide investigation skills training to 121 judicial police who may be called upon to assist the work of the ECCC. The project took place at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia between 5 February 2007 and 17 February 2007. The training consisted of a three day schedule conducted on four separate occasions in the above time frame. 90 of the judicial police participants were from Cambodian provinces and 31 from Phnom Penh. On each occasion His Excellency, HY Sophea, Special Minister of State for Justice opened the course with a presentation on applicable national law, ethics and the role of the Judicial Police in the ECCC.

For the first two courses the modules on International Humanitarian Law were presented by Helen Brady, currently Senior Appeals Counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. For the second two courses the modules on International Humanitarian Law were presented by Dr Ray Murphy, Senior Lecturer in International Humanitarian Law from the Human Rights Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway Ireland. The investigation skills components of the course were presented by John Ralston, IICI Executive Director and former Chief of Investigations ICTY and Bernard O’Donnell, former Investigation Team Leader, ICTY, Investigator for the UN Oil for Food Program investigation and currently Director of Investigations for the Department of Employment and Work Relations in Australia.

For the first time, and due to increased demand, two International Investigator Courses were held in 2005. Twenty-two (22) students attended the second course, IIC5 in December. Seven were female. The students came from Cambodia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, The Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom and United States. 13 students received scholarships to attend the course.

The IICI followed the development of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) often referred to as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. In September 2005 the Executive Director, in conjunction with the Open Society Justice Initiative, visited Cambodia to participate in a Technical Advisor program to assist the Task Force establishing the ECCC. Following the visit the IICI prepared a project outline for training of members of the Judicial Police and Gendarmerie assigned to assist the court. The project outline was forwarded to the ECCC and potential funders of the project for consideration. Following the visit the IICI prepared a project outline for training of members of the Judicial Police and Gendarmerie assigned to assist the court. The project outline was forwarded to the ECCC and potential funders of the project for consideration.

Together with the OSCE the IICI conducted a 4 day seminar, “War Crimes Investigators – Interview Techniques” from 20 to 31 March 2006. Dennis Milner, former ICTY Deputy Chief of Investigations and Anthony Forde from Leeds Metropolitan University (and IIC5 participant) conducted the seminar for the IICI.

In March 2004 the Institute and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) organized and co-sponsored a conference to discuss issues pertaining to the requirements of the Iraqi Special Tribunal. Conference participants included thirteen experts on international criminal law and on the practical operations of special tribunals from nine countries, as well as eleven Iraqis involved in establishing the IST.

A new international initiative by several members of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court saw a group of their representatives researching the feasibility of establishing Justice Rapid Response Teams (JRRTs). This initiative contemplates the creation of an international mechanism to provide, in a timely fashion, investigative, legal and judicial assistance to states emerging from conflict. “Underlying the initiative for JRRTs is the realization that setting up the ICC and ensuring its proper functioning is not sufficient to fulfil States Parties’ commitment to eradicate impunity.”

To date the Institute has attended all meetings convened in furtherance of this initiative. The Institute has expressed its views on various proposals, commented on written concept papers and prepared and presented papers of its own to assist in development of a feasible model.

The concept being pursued is very similar to the Institute’s proposed Investigation Wing, which it had begun to develop in 2001. While the Institute retains its roster of investigators, analysts and human rights officers, it has otherwise put its plans for the Investigation Wing on hold while pursuing the advancement of the JRR initiative. Support of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) is crucial to deployment of investigation teams. At this time it appears the Investigation Wing concept would be more feasible under the new ASP initiative.

Executive Director John Ralston and IICI Chairman Professor William Schabas of the Irish Centre for Human Rights now serve as Advisers to the JRRI Study which is examining the feasibility and requirements to establish Justice Rapid Response teams.

Paper “The Concept of Justice Rapid Response Teams” Anne Rubesame and Andras Vamos-Goldman prepared for distribution on 24 May 2004.

Executive Director Ralston was temporarily engaged by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as the Chief Investigator of the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry for Darfur, Sudan. Although engaged in his personal capacity, Director Ralston utilised the Institute’s roster to identify and engage suitable investigative staff for the Commission of Inquiry.

The Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) has produced this newsletter to provide you with an overview of its 4th International Investigator Course that took place from April 4 till April the 15th.

Download the newsletter in Adobe® PDF format

The Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) has produced this newsletter to provide you with an overview of its 3rd International Investigator Course that took place from February the 22nd till March the 5th.

Download the newsletter in Microsoft® Word format

Download the newsletter in Adobe® PDF format

With the generous support of the Government of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the United States Institute of Peace, the IICI held its second International Investigator Course (IIC) from 2-15 February 2003.

The course was held at Grotius Hall, in the International Law department of the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies (Leiden University/Campus The Hague), and at the United Nations School of Peacekeeping at the Royal Netherlands Army base at Amersfoort. A third segment of the course was hosted and taught by the Royal Marechaussee (Dutch military police).

In attendance were investigator-students from Canada, Cameroon, Ghana, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Philippines, Germany, Finland, Sierra Leone, New Zealand, Jordan, Egypt, Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq.

Moderators and evaluators included eminent academics from the National University of Ireland, Galway's Irish Centre for Human Rights, the director of forensic science of our sister organization Physicians for Human Rights, a retired senior Irish Army officer, and guest lecturers from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in addition to Institute directors. The Institute was also pleased to host observers from the Office of the UN High Commissioner and the German Bundespolizei. Exercises included a mock mass grave and a mock crime scene.

The Institute expresses its deep appreciation to the Government of Canada and the US Institute of Peace for their support. We also profoundly thank the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies (Leiden University/Campus The Hague), our sister institute the Irish Centre for Human Rights, the Royal Netherlands Army, and the Royal Marechausee for their collaboration and support.

The Third IIC will be held at The Hague on dates to be announced. It is open to investigators from around the world with at least five years' experience in criminal investigation or human rights inquiries involving crimes, and to persons from other, related disciplines, such as criminal attorneys and military officers with relevant international experience. The number of places for any IIC is limited to 25 students. All interested parties should submit their curriculum vitae in English, references and a writing sample in English at their earliest convenience.

The Institute held its first ever international training course from May 20-June 1 at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Ireland, Galway.

The two-week International Investigator Course was attended by investigators and participants from Australia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Nepal, Palestine, Serbia, Sierra Leone, the United Stated and Zambia. Investigators from the International Criminal Tribunal fro the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) participated, as well as senior investigators from Sierra Leone.

Subjects covered in the training included International Humanitarian Law, Military Concepts, Forensics, Evidence Gathering and Handling, Information Sources, Intelligence and Analysis, Sexual Violence and Working with Interpreters, among other topics.

The training was conducted in close collaboration with the Irish Centre for Human Rights, with which the IICI is affiliated. The Institute, which was formed to support the ICC and other international criminal justice fora, is planning a second, revised training in early 2003 and will soon be accepting student applications.

Support for the training came from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Institute, the Human Security Program of the Canadian Government, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Reebok Foundation, The John Merck Fund, Clarence and Snell LLP and Mr. William Chrisman.

IICI is assisting the Hon. David Crane, newly appointed Prosecutor for the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone, by identifying and recommending key personnel for the organization of criminal investigation there. The Institute hopes to assemble a Mobile Training Team to train investigators in Sierra Leone by the Fall of 2002.

The Institute’s companion organization, Physicians for Human Rights, asked IICI to recommend a senior investigator to assist with a preliminary forensic assessment of events at the Jenin Refugee Camp during the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. IICI recommended Col. Brenda Hollis, a former senior prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and a retired United States Air Force officer. Col. Hollis accompanied Dr. Bill Haglund, the well-known forensic expert who is a director of both PHR and IICI, and Dr. Nizam Peerwani, Chief Medical Examiner of Tarrant County, Texas. The PHR report is available for reading at http://www.phrusa.org. The PHR team made recommendations for further investigation of the events at Jenin.

In March 2002 IICI provided investigative protocols to the sub-committee “focal point” of the Preparatory Commission (“Prep Com”) of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Institute had developed the protocols in the form of a training manual over the previous nine months. Included in the Book of Protocols were “modules” later taught at the first International Investigator Course, as well as field protocols for the management of investigations. In July 2002, IICI provided the protocols to the newly-formed ICC.

At the request of that office, in August 2002 IICI provided the Protocols to the International Prosecutor, Office of the Public Prosecutor of Kosovo, at the Department of Justice of the United Nations Mission to Kosovo.