2022
Message of Condolence from the IIIM
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 […]
USIP Podcast: Syria’s Brutal Civil War and the Elusive Quest for Justice
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 […]
The Head of the IIIM spoke at a conference convened by France’s Cour de Cassation
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 […]
Delivering Justice for Syria: Assessing the Progress of the IIIM
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 […]
France’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador M. Jérôme Bonnafont, meets with the head of the IIIM Catherine Marchi-Uhel
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 […]
The Head of the IIIM speaks about the contribution of Syrian Civil Society and victim/survivor groups to justice and accountability.
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
The Head of the IIIM participates in a virtual panel as part of the Free Yezidi Foundation’s eight-year commemoration of the Yezidi Genocide
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 […]
Deputy Head speaks at launch of the Anchoring Accountability for Mass Atrocities report – IIIM
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 […]
French National Assembly authorises international judicial cooperation agreement between French Government and IIIM
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 […]
IIIM-Syria welcomes German Court’s Crimes Against Humanity Verdict
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 […]
Al Jazeera Op-ed about barriers to universal jurisdiction
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.
2021
Conversation with Catherine Marchi-Uhel at a conference on international justice in Dakar
Catherine Marchi-Uhel, the Head of the IIIM, attended an international justice conference on October 26 2021, in Dakar. In conversation with Philipp Ambach, the ICC’s Chief of the Victims Participation and Reparations, the discussion covered the work of the IIIM, its applicability to the context of West Africa, and current features in the international justice […]
Le Monde op-ed by Catherine Marchi-Uhel on the ruling by France’s Cour de cassation
In her Le Monde Op-Ed, Head of IIIM Catherine Marchi-Uhel argues that France needs to lift the obstacles that keep victims of crimes against humanity at the doors of French justice. To read the article in its entirety, click here. The article is in the French language.
Agreement between IIIM and Swedish Government to improve possibilities of investigating serious offences committed in the Syria conflict
To facilitate efforts by Swedish law enforcement authorities to investigate crimes committed by Da’esh terrorists, the Swedish Government entered into a cooperation agreement with the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism. To read the article in its entirety, click here.
Sweden enters into a cooperation agreement with the IIIM
The Cooperation Agreement aims at facilitating efforts by Swedish law enforcement authorities to investigate crimes committed by Da’esh/ISIL terrorists. Click here to read more. This article is in the Swedish language.
Leveraging data for accountability: co-creating the future of human rights investigations
In this Human Rights Council side event, and in his capacity of overseeing the Information and Systems Management (ISMS), Keith Hiatt talks about how the IIIM makes use of computer advances to maximise use of the information it collects.
Catherine Marchi-Uhel on the UN Podcast
Ten years after the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, the political process continues to be frozen in Syria. In this setting, bringing justice to the victims becomes synonymous with the alleviation of suffering. It is for this reason that the United Nations General Assembly decided in 2016 to create a mechanism, the IIIM, to […]
Ten years on, will there ever be justice for Syria?
Janine di Giovani writes for Foreign Policy magazine about the IIIM and accountability for crimes committed in Syria. Read the article here.
Le Monde in an in-depth feature on justice and accountability
This article examines the situation in Syria on the tenth anniversary of the Syrian Civil War. What are the chances for survival for justice and accountability in this environment? And how can the IIIM contribute? To read the article, click here. The article is in the French language.
AI emerges as crucial tool for groups seeking justice for Syria war crimes
Head of IIIM and team talk to the Wall Street Journal about how machine learning and the processes developed at the Mechanism support their work. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Catherine Marchi-Uhel talks to BBC World Tonight on the Verdict from Koblenz
In this podcast, Head of IIIM Catherine Marchi-Uhel expounds on the investigations currently undertaken by the IIIM, their methodology, and way forward. Click here to listen to the podcast in its entirety.
2020
The Guernica Accountability Podcast
Toby Cadman speaks to Michelle Jarvis, Deputy Head of the UN IIIM and discusses her career in international criminal justice and now with the IIIM on Syria in Geneva developing new strategies with Syrian civil society to tackle gender crimes and sexual violence in conflict.
Challenges and New Opportunities for a New Generation of Accountability Mechanisms
Catherine Marchi-Uhel speaks as part of this webinar presented by the IBA War Crimes Committee
From Guernica to Aleppo
Guernica Co-founder, Toby Cadman, speaks to Catherine Marchi-Uhel, the Head of the IIIM-Syria.
2019
Reuters: U.N. investigators hot on trail of Syrian war criminals
GENEVA (Reuters) - International investigators are moving ever closer to finding justice for victims of atrocities in Syria’s eight-year war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, the head of a U.N. war crimes body said.
Justice Info: A Strong Signal to those Committing Crimes in Syria
More and more European countries, including Germany, France, Sweden and Austria, are prosecuting people for war crimes in Syria. One of the tools at their disposal is the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism created in December 2016 by the United Nations General Assembly
2018
Radio interview with France Inter
A la rencontre d’une femme étonnante ce soir. Elle dirige la cellule de l’Onu chargée des crimes de guerre en Syrie. Et elle l’assure, “c’est long, mais ça portera ses fruits” https://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/un-jour-dans-le-monde/un-jour-dans-le-monde-18-octobre-2018
France 24: Head of UN entity probing war crimes in Syria speaks to FRANCE 24
https://www.france24.com/en/20180419-interview-catherine-marchi-uhel-syria-civil-war-un-iiim-serious-crimes-prosecution-justice
Handa Center Annual Lecture on International Justice: The IIIM’s Role in Promoting Accountability
Catherine Marchi-Uhel, the Head of the IIIM speaks about the unique nature of the IIIM’s mandate and the main features of the vision the IIIM developed to bridge the gap between human rights fact-finding and criminal justice processes.
