News & Features

“In Syria, I was really struck by this lack of revenge. I haven’t seen many people wanting revenge. They want justice. And that’s really a very powerful attitude.” – Catherine Marchi- Uhel Melissa Fleming, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, welcomed IIIM Head, Catherine Marchi-Uhel on her podcast “Awake at Night”. Ms. Fleming meets […]

The Head of the IIIM, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, participated in an event organized by the Henrich Böll Stiftung Foundation on the violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention in Syria. The event featured a diverse group of Syrian civil society representatives, including victims/survivors, first responders, lawyers and human rights documenters. All were advocating for the establishment of […]

IIIM head Catherine Marchi-Uhel said there are not enough justice opportunities for chemical weapons attacks in Syria and that her agency was ready to work with a new court. “An international body with dedicated resources and a team that has developed expertise on building cases around chemical weapons incidents might be well placed to deal […]

Geneva, 13 November – Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, Switzerland’s Head of the FDFA Peace and Human Rights Division, visited the IIIM to meet with Ms. Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the IIIM. The meeting finalised an agreement for an additional contribution from Switzerland to the IIIM. Switzerland’s ongoing support and commitment to the IIIM’s mission strengthens its […]

Catherine Marchi-Uhel, along with many Syrian actors was interviewed for this in-depth article exploring the ongoing efforts by Syrians to build cases, bear witness and pursue justice through the courts. Read about their journeys and the demand for an international court to hold all perpetrators accountable. Syria’s Arab Spring lives on in hearts – and […]

At a recent meeting at Germany’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, the Head of the IIIM Catherine Marchi-Uhel, met with outgoing Chargé d´affaires a. i., Dr. Hans-Peter Jugel, to sign a contribution agreement in support of the IIIM Strategic Plan 2023-2025.  The IIIM extends its deep appreciation for Germany’s ongoing support and collaborative […]

30 June – The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism – Syria (IIIM) welcomes the UN General Assembly’s decision yesterday to establish an independent institution to clarify the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in Syria and to provide support to victims, survivors and the families of those missing, in close cooperation and complementarity with […]

On June 12, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that a joint application had been filed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Canada against the Syrian Arab Republic. The application relates to alleged violations of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The International, Impartial and Independent […]

Brussels, June 15 – During the seventh edition of the EU’s Brussels Conference on the future of Syria, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, the Head of the IIIM, called for Member States to reinforce their support for the IIIM’s work. In her remarks at the Ministerial Day of the conference, Ms. Marchi-Uhel highlighted the welcome rise in jurisdictions […]

In this new Just Security article, IIIM Deputy Head, Michelle Jarvis, delves into a crucial aspect of justice often overlooked: the recognition of gender as a discriminatory driver of violence and atrocity. Referencing recent precedents and frameworks like the IIIM’s Gender Strategy, Ms. Jarvis, makes the case for why this approach matters. Failing to employ a gender lens risks misunderstanding the impact of crimes on communities and undermines the accurate assessment needed […]

As part of the joint Wayamo – AGJA conference, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, IIIM Head, joined a panel discussion to address the recent geopolitical, legal, and international changes occurring in the field of transitional justice, along with the challenges faced in evidence collection of mass atrocities, and the prosecution of international crimes. The panel included Nema Milaninia, […]

On May 12, 2023, Michelle Jarvis, the IIIM Deputy Head and Christine Chinkin from the London School of Economics delivered public keynote lectures in Berlin as part of a closed workshop on “Combating Conflict-Related Sexual Violence – Comparative Insights on International and National Capacities.”  Read Ms. Jarvis speech as delivered here. For her lecture, Ms. […]

Briefing the General Assembly today, the Head of the Mechanism established to advance justice in Syria reported on that body’s continuing efforts over the past year, detailing its work with jurisdictions and investigations, but noting in light of increasing demand for its services that predictable financing through the regular budget and voluntary contributions by Member […]

New York, April 25th – The Head of the IIIM, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, gave an oral presentation of our 9th annual report to the UN General Assembly. The presentation updated on the progress of the IIIM’s work and achievements as a justice facilitator over the past year.   During the presentation, Ms. Marchi-Uhel, highlighted the tangible […]

Following the devastation caused by the earthquake in Southern Türkiye and Northern Syria the IIIM issued a message of condolence and solidarity. The IIIM extends its sincerest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and our heartfelt sympathies to those who have been injured or suffered as a result of the recent earthquake […]

Following a panel discussion, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, IIIM Head, was interviewed on the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) podcast, ‘The Event Extra’. She discussed the lessons learnt and progress made since the IIIM was established as well as the challenges facing those seeking justice and accountability. Ms. Marchi-Uhel also shared the importance of two-way engagement with […]

On Monday 24 October, the Head of the IIIM spoke at a conference in Paris convened by France’s Cour de Cassation. The event, marking 20 years since the Rome Statute entered into force, included a session on ‘Building a common international criminal justice culture’ where Ms. Marchi-Uhel spoke on the digital and technological innovations that were […]

On Monday, 17 October, the Head of the IIIM, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, participated in an event at the US Institute for Peace (USIP) in Washington. The panel discussion focused on the progress the IIIM has made so far, it’s engagement with civil society documentation efforts and how it supports investigations and prosecutions. Other topics included the UN […]

Monday, October 3, Geneva – France’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador M. Jérôme Bonnafont, met with the head of the IIIM, Catherine Marchi-Uhel for the submission of the instrument of approval of the convention between France and the IIIM. This paves the way for enhanced judicial cooperation to judge, including in France, the […]

Catherine Marchi-Uhel, the Head of the IIIM, participated in a Save the Children high level event on advancing justice for children. The panel discussed strengthening accountability for violations and crimes affecting children in conflict. Ms. Marchi-Uhel also updated on the IIIM’s development of a Children and Youth Strategy. Watch the discussion here:

During an interview on the Justice Visions podcast, the Head of the IIIM, Catherine Marchi-Uhel spoke of the critical contribution Syrian civil society organisations, including victim/survivor groups and family associations, made in advancing justice and accountability. Podcast link here

August 3, 2022 – The Head of the IIIM, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, participated in a virtual panel on Justice and Accountability organised by the Free Yezidi Foundation for the eight year commemoration of the Yezidi Genocide. During her remarks, Ms. Marchi-Uhel shared how specific areas of the IIIM’s work and products, in relation to the core […]

IIIM Deputy Head Michelle Jarvis took part in the launch of the Anchoring Accountability for Mass Atrocities report, released by the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC). The report attempts to better understand the challenges arising for UN accountability mandates and how they can be best supported moving forward. It looks in […]

The French National Assembly has passed a bill presented earlier by Government to authorise the approval of the international judicial cooperation agreement between the French Government and the IIIM. Amongst other things, the agreement would allow information to be transmitted from French courts to the IIIM, which had not been possible under current law. To […]

Geneva, 13 January 2022 – The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism – Syria (IIIM) welcomes the landmark judgement against Anwar R, at the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz, Germany. The former high-ranking Syrian official was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in torture, murder and sexual violence in […]

This op-ed examines the possibility of carrying out investigations into the war crimes that have been committed in Syria internationally, and how investigations at the national level have been more feasible yet remain marred by several barriers. To access this op-ed, click here.