On Wednesday March 25, 2015, a cooperation Framework Agreement was signed between Justice Rapid Response and the Government of Mali, represented by the Minister of Justice. This agreement will enable Justice Rapid Response to provide investigative assistance to the Republic of Mali in its efforts to investigate and prosecute international crimes, in particular crimes committed in the North of the country since January 2012.
This agreement was signed after a consultation mission by a team of experts deployed by Justice Rapid Response visited Mali in the summer of 2014. The recommendations of the experts, which were accepted by the Malian authorities, proposed a series of short-term deployments of investigation and prosecution experts to assist and mentor national counterparts. Such targeted technical assistance, which falls under JRR_Complementarity Program _Information Sheet_Mar 2015, is meant to provide immediate support, as other more long-term reform and capacity-building efforts are underway. As a result, the Republic of Mali will be better equipped to meet its international obligations, and to contribute to fighting impunity for the worst crimes known to humanity. This partnership will be a direct implementation of the Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/28/L.9 which “Urges the international community to continue to provide assistance to Mali to ensure its stability with a view to promoting respect for all human rights and the determined struggle against impunity, which paves the way for national reconciliation, peace and social cohesion.”
The agreement was signed by His Excellency, Mr. Mahamadou Diarra, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Mali and Justice Rapid Response’s Director of Operations, Carole Frampton-de Tscharner. Present at the ceremony were also the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mali in Geneva, H.E. Ambassador Aya Thiam Diallo, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland which currently chairs Justice Rapid Response’s Executive Board, Mr. Renne Klinge and OHCHR’s Representative in Mali, Mr. Guillaume Ngefa-Atondoko Andali.
JRR is an intergovernmental initiative that was created by a coalition of States from both the global North and South to address a capacity gap in enabling professional, quality, timely investigations of international crimes and serious human rights violations. Over five years of operational life, JRR has established itself as an effective resource for members of the international community by creating a specialized stand-by roster of human rights and international criminal justice experts from around the world and a mechanism to make them available for rapid deployment. Currently composed of close to 500 experts from over 95 countries, 60 disciplines, and speaking 75 languages (as mother tongue), JRR’s roster also has 40% global South representation and over 50% women. To date, JRR has already deployed investigators on 50 missions to help bring justice to the victims of mass atrocities.
JRR_Complementarity Program _Information Sheet_Mar 2015
