Mark Kersten
@markkersten
Work in human rights, international criminal law, and accountability for mass atrocities - in Canada and around the world. Professor and advocate. Based in Vancouver. www.markkersten.com
The small group that voted against an extension of the UN human rights chief’s mandate includes the 🇺🇸 , 🇷🇺 , 🇰🇵 , 🇮🇱 , 🇦🇷 and 🇲🇱. France was not amused, stating: “The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore… And the world no longer listens to it.”
This whole “Mamdani should focus on NY" line ignores that NYC hosts the UN & that New Yorkers surely care if wanted war criminals roam their streets. Politicians at *every* level should be calling for the arrest of wanted war criminals. The only city that should welcome Netanyahu is The Hague.
"Canadians are asking whether Canada’s foreign policy on the ICC is made in Ottawa, or now dictated from Washington... Now is the time for Canada to be boldly defending judges, courts, and the rules that help to prosecute war criminals and human rights abusers." - @heathermcpherson.bsky.social 👇
"I feel sorry for Americans. If you can't be friends with Canada, then you almost certainly do not have a friend anywhere in the world. And that is a very lonely place to be." Good message from BC Premier Eby:
The question is not whether Canada will leave the #ICC, Minister @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social, but rather: what will Canada do to defend the Court from the unwarranted, mafia-style attacks waged against it by the United States?
An UK diplomatic account in Israel (on Twitter) was suspended after this thread on a joint statement signed on by Canada and condemning the torturous conditions faced by Palestinians in Israeli "administrative detention"👇
Canada can do the same to protect the #ICC and its staff 👇 We have the legislation to effectively nullify the effect of sanctions on 🇨🇦 ICC Judge, Kimberly Prost. Foreign Minister @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social and PM @mark-carney.bsky.social have refused to do so. Prost was sanctioned a year ago.
Canada is not a member of the UN Security Council in part bc of its lackluster approach to international law, but it did play a central role in creating the ICC. So, where is its defence of the Court? Is Ottawa’s policy on the ICC really made in Washington, @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social?
Canada is standing aside as the US seeks to destroy the #ICC, a court 🇨🇦 helped create, & ruin the lives of those who have dedicated their life to combating the worst atrocities. Forget elbows up; where is our spine @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social? We must urgently defend the ICC.
What Jason Kenney calls "brilliant" is a horribly inaccurate account of the abolition of slavery 👇 The video he's applauding speaks admiringly of the compensation of enslavers, omitting that enslaved ppl received nothing. And what "Canadian version" does he allude to??
Staggering just how deeply the Memorial to Resistance of the Nazis in Berlin resonates today. Fascism must be resisted, in all of its forms.
Good 👇 Seven UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed in Lebanon, and over a dozen injured. The gravesites of Canadian peacekeepers were systematically destroyed in Gaza, with no respect for their remains. Hold the perpetrators to account for war crimes.
Looking forward to presenting new research into Canada’s War Crimes Program today at #CPSA later today.1 If you’ve ever wondered: what does Canada do with atrocity perpetrators who enter or live in the country, I’ve got you covered.
Beautiful words. “Hungary: Withdrawal of the Notification of Withdrawal.” #ICC treaties.un.org/doc/Publicat...
As promised following his defeat of Viktor Orban, new President of Hungary Péter Magyar has reversed course and will keep Hungary a member of the #ICC 👇
Looking forward to heading to Ottawa in a couple of weeks to attend the Canadian Political Science Association annual conference (#CPSA). Who else is going? For those interested, I will be presenting research into the Canadian War Crimes Program.
The Conservatives' response to the horrific abuse of civilians - including Canadians - by Israeli officials isn't to condemn it; it's to blame Canada for recognizing Palestine as a state & to point to Beijing... We need all parties to stand up for human dignity.
The UN General Assembly adopts a resolution welcoming #ICJ advisory opinion on the obligations of States in respect of #ClimateChange👇 Only 8 voted against, opposing action to address the climate crisis: the US, Iran, Russia, Israel, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Liberia, and Yemen.
Ben Gvir and others behave this way bc there are no real concrete legal or political consequences for their behaviour. They call for genocide: nothing. They abuse prisoners: nothing. They implement apartheid: nothing. Canada should call for his immediate prosecution by the ICC.
This may seem like a SLAPP suit, but it's a real opportunity for law to speak to power. Defamation cases like this can act as critical conduits for truth-telling, requiring parties to submit evidence & shining even greater light on atrocities. My money's on @nickkristof.bsky.social & the NYTs.
🚨 ICC judges unseal arrest warrant against #Philippines Senator Ronald Marapon Dela Rosa. According to the Court, Dela Rosa is allegedly criminally responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder: icc-cpi.int/news/situati... #ICC #Philippines
Defying Moscow's bullying, in 2024, #Armenia became a state party to the International Criminal Court. This happened just after the awful violence & displacement of civilians from #NagornoKarabakh. In this context, it is very good to see ongoing engagement like this: www.icc-cpi.int/news/icc-pre...
"We call on Israel to uphold international law and to reverse its policy of settlement expansion. We further reiterate our opposition to any attempts to annex any part of the West Bank, and to any forcible displacement of the Palestinian people." 👇 www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/...
Tajikistan has been referred to the #ICC Assembly of States Parties for failing to cooperate with the Court and to secure the arrest and surrender of Vladimir Putin during his visit to the country in October 2025 www.icc-cpi.int/news/referra...