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A new path towards accountability? an Analysis of the IIIM for Syria

Kastensson, Lovisa LU (2023) JURM02 20231
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
The conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic is ongoing since more than ten years, and there is no end in sight. The conflict is deemed to be the most documented conflict of all time. Despite the longevity of the conflict, there has been a lack of criminal accountability for the crimes committed. The international community has through the use of international criminal law attempted to refer the conflict to typical international criminal law entities such as the International Criminal Court. However, every attempt to do so have failed, mainly due to a blocking by the United Nations Security Council and the lack of consent from the Syrian Arab Republic. Out of desperation and because of limitations to pursue traditional forms of international... (More)
The conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic is ongoing since more than ten years, and there is no end in sight. The conflict is deemed to be the most documented conflict of all time. Despite the longevity of the conflict, there has been a lack of criminal accountability for the crimes committed. The international community has through the use of international criminal law attempted to refer the conflict to typical international criminal law entities such as the International Criminal Court. However, every attempt to do so have failed, mainly due to a blocking by the United Nations Security Council and the lack of consent from the Syrian Arab Republic. Out of desperation and because of limitations to pursue traditional forms of international criminal law methods, the United Nations General Assembly created the International, Impartial Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM). The IIIM is a fact-finding organ and its mandate is to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations in accordance with international law standards. The IIIM shall assist in preparing material that can be used to facilitate and expediate fair and international criminal proceedings for entities that may have jurisdiction over the committed crimes.
This essay aims to shine a light on, how an organ such as the IIIM can pursue criminal accountability, especially when typical paths of international law fails to do so. The IIIM can work towards criminal accountability through the establishment of its archive, and its assistance to criminal judicial entities using universal jurisdictions. The IIIM has assisted criminal proceedings and states’ use of universal jurisdiction in cases that have led to convictions of Syrian war criminals. Furthermore, it is not possible to determine to what extent the IIIM is able to pursue criminal accountability due to the confidential nature of the IIIM. However, this essay finds that the IIIM still can play an important role in bridging the accountability gap in the Syrian conflict. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Konflikten i den Syriska Arabiska Republiken började för mer än tio år sedan och ingen lösning är i sikte. Konflikten anses vara den mest dokumenterade konflikten någonsin. Trots att konflikten har pågått under en lång tid saknas det straffrättsligt ansvar för de begångna brotten. Det har gjorts försök, att genom användandet av international straffrätt hänvisa konflikten till den Internationella Brottsdomstolen. Detta har varje gång misslyckats, framför allt beroende på att Förenta Nationernas (FN) säkerhetsråd har blockat förslagen eller på grund att den Syriska Arabiska Republiken inte givit sitt samtycke. I desperation och på grund av brist på möjligheter att förlita sig på traditionella internationella straffrättsliga metoder skapade... (More)
Konflikten i den Syriska Arabiska Republiken började för mer än tio år sedan och ingen lösning är i sikte. Konflikten anses vara den mest dokumenterade konflikten någonsin. Trots att konflikten har pågått under en lång tid saknas det straffrättsligt ansvar för de begångna brotten. Det har gjorts försök, att genom användandet av international straffrätt hänvisa konflikten till den Internationella Brottsdomstolen. Detta har varje gång misslyckats, framför allt beroende på att Förenta Nationernas (FN) säkerhetsråd har blockat förslagen eller på grund att den Syriska Arabiska Republiken inte givit sitt samtycke. I desperation och på grund av brist på möjligheter att förlita sig på traditionella internationella straffrättsliga metoder skapade FNs generalförsamling ”the International, Impartial Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011” (IIIM). IIIM är ett organ som baserar sitt arbete på att söka fakta och dess uppgift är att samla, konsolidera, bevara, och analysera bevisning avseende brott mot internationell humanitär rätt och brott mot mänskliga rättigheter i enlighet med internationell rättslig standard. IIIMs uppgift är att förbereda material som kan användas för att förenkla och expediera rättvisa och hantera internationella straffrättsliga brottmål för organ som kan ha jurisdiktion över de begångna brotten.
Syftet för denna uppsats är att belysa hur ett organ såsom IIIM kan sträva mot straffrättsligt ansvar, även när det inte är möjligt via traditionell tillämpning av internationell rätt. IIIM kan arbeta för straffrättsligt ansvar genom att skapa arkiv och assistera organ som använder universell jurisdiktion. IIIM har assisterat i brottmålsutredningar och staters användande av universell jurisdiktion vilket har bidragit till att syriska krigsbrottslingar har kunnat dömas till straffansvar. Det är svårt att avgöra hur mycket IIIM har bidragit till detta på grund av den konfidentialitet som råder inom organisationen. Denna uppsats visar dock att IIIM ändå kan spela en viktig roll när det gäller att överbrygga ansvarsklyftan i konflikten i Syrien. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Kastensson, Lovisa LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20231
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
IIIM, Syria, Public international law
language
English
id
9116315
date added to LUP
2023-06-16 12:37:36
date last changed
2023-06-16 12:37:36
@misc{9116315,
  abstract     = {{The conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic is ongoing since more than ten years, and there is no end in sight. The conflict is deemed to be the most documented conflict of all time. Despite the longevity of the conflict, there has been a lack of criminal accountability for the crimes committed. The international community has through the use of international criminal law attempted to refer the conflict to typical international criminal law entities such as the International Criminal Court. However, every attempt to do so have failed, mainly due to a blocking by the United Nations Security Council and the lack of consent from the Syrian Arab Republic. Out of desperation and because of limitations to pursue traditional forms of international criminal law methods, the United Nations General Assembly created the International, Impartial Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM). The IIIM is a fact-finding organ and its mandate is to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations in accordance with international law standards. The IIIM shall assist in preparing material that can be used to facilitate and expediate fair and international criminal proceedings for entities that may have jurisdiction over the committed crimes. 
This essay aims to shine a light on, how an organ such as the IIIM can pursue criminal accountability, especially when typical paths of international law fails to do so. The IIIM can work towards criminal accountability through the establishment of its archive, and its assistance to criminal judicial entities using universal jurisdictions. The IIIM has assisted criminal proceedings and states’ use of universal jurisdiction in cases that have led to convictions of Syrian war criminals. Furthermore, it is not possible to determine to what extent the IIIM is able to pursue criminal accountability due to the confidential nature of the IIIM. However, this essay finds that the IIIM still can play an important role in bridging the accountability gap in the Syrian conflict.}},
  author       = {{Kastensson, Lovisa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A new path towards accountability? an Analysis of the IIIM for Syria}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}