If Americans remember My Lai, they likely know that something awful happened there. On this 50th anniversary, it is worth recalling the grotesque details, in the hope of preventing a future My Lai.
Former Congolese rebel warlord, Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Francois Lenoir/Reuters
Under the Rome Statute, court ordered reparations are available to victims after the accused is found guilty. In the case of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, this involves over 5,000 victims.
Ex-Bosnian Serb wartime general Ratko Mladic appears in court in The Hague.
Reuters
Former commander of the Bosnian Serb army Ratko Mladic has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Survivors of the atrocities have today welcomed the long-awaited news.
General Ratko Mladić – convicted of war crimes and genocide.
Surian Soosay
Forensic science of the dead helps to convict the living responsible.
Smoke from an airstrike rises in the background as a man flees during fighting between Iraqi special forces and IS militants in Mosul, Iraq, on May 17, 2017.
AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo
Since civil war broke out in the Central African Republic four years ago, citizens continue to live in fear. They say that peace will only come when the war criminals are brought to justice.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Nadia Rubaii, Binghamton University, State University of New York and Max Pensky, Binghamton University, State University of New York
Some worry the US is losing its global moral authority under the Trump administration. But a close look at history reveals US leadership is not as strong as it seems.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir returned to Khartoum, after evading possible arrest in South Africa in 2015.
EPA/Marwan Ali
The ICC has been criticised for not acting against South Africa after it failed to arrest Sudan’s president in 2015. But, the court actually acted sensibly given the challenges it faces.
The rules of engagement regulate the conduct of Australian troops in conflict areas.
AAP/Dave Hunt
Unlike most domestic criminal law, the laws governing the behaviour of Australian armed forces apply to criminal conduct alleged to have taken place overseas.
The push for accountability in Syria exposes the challenges of international criminal justice.
The timing of Chelsea Manning’s commutation further undermines any chance of similar approaches to the situations of Julian Assange or Edward Snowden.
Reuters/Pierre Albouy
The announcement of Chelsea Manning’s commutation raises questions regarding the future of other high-profile leakers, like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden.
A child sleeps while waiting to be evacuated from war-torn eastern Aleppo.
Reuters/Abdalrhman Ismail
The United Nations has failed to protect the Syrian people from the conflict that has torn their lives apart – so now is the time for a “coalition of the obligated” to step in.
Omar al-Bashir (centre, blue suit) at the infamous 2015 African Union summit in Johannesburg.
EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Arguably Africa’s most powerful diplomatic player, South Africa is now backing out of the world’s most important mechanism for bringing war criminals to justice.
The International Criminal Court at The Hague.
Reuters/Jerry Lampen
Historically, Australia’s broader policy approach to war crimes and war criminals has lacked a clear and coherent foundation.
Under proposed changes, the war crime of murder would not apply to collateral civilian deaths resulting from an otherwise lawful attack.
EPA/Zouhir Al Shimale
Under proposed changes, the war crime offence of murder, in a non-international armed conflict, would not apply to collateral civilian deaths resulting from an otherwise lawful attack.