This novel partnership links academic researchers and NGO partners across Canada to work on an interdisciplinary research program that has both international and Canadian dimensions. The program is comprised of three main axes of research that pertain to different and complementary routes that victims of international crimes can take in Canada, in other states and before international institutions, to seek criminal, civil, and administrative or other remedies.
The first and main axis of research is concerned with criminal remedies, in Canada, other states and before the ICC. The six clusters of research activity within this axis address the main challenges facing the ICC and national systems, including: complementarity and cooperation; sexual and gender-based violence; participation of victims; the optimal scope of criminal justice; the social-legal context of criminal responses; and strategic litigation.
The second axis is concerned with civil remedies that could or should be accessible to victims of international crimes. These include immunities; creating a voice for victims; and holding corporations liable for their implication in such crimes.
The third axis focuses on administrative and other remedies in Canada and internationally for victims of international crimes. It addresses: Canada’s engagement with international bodies; exclusion from refugee status and deportation of suspected war criminals; and access to refugee status for victims of international crimes.
All partners are integrally involved in the inter-related set of knowledge mobilization activities that includes innovative research outputs; work with NGO partners on access to justice initiatives in Canada and in priority countries in close collaboration with legal clinics; contributing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Legal Tools Project; expert workshops; training and educational events; dissemination of research through traditional and social media; input on law and policy to inter-governmental meetings, international organizations, and the Government of Canada; strategic litigation or interventions in courts in Canada, other states and the ICC; a summer school; and an international criminal law moot court competition: all providing a high-quality training experience for students.
