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HomeOffice of Global Criminal Justice...Global Criminal Justice Regional Engagement

# 											Regional Engagement									

Office of Global Criminal Justice

On This Page:

Global Overview

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Africa

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Asia

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Europe

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Middle East

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Western Hemisphere

## Global Overview

The Office of Global Criminal Justice works around the world to promote justice—broadly defined—for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. We are a policy office that advises the Secretary of State, other State Department offices and bureaus, U.S. embassies and posts, the U.S. inter-agency, and other elements of the United States government on the range of transitional justice tools available to prevent, address, and redress the commission of atrocity crimes. We deploy a programming budget to capacitate this work, collaborating closely with international institutions and non-governmental organizations committed to employing a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach. We also contribute to the establishment and endeavors of international and domestic commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, and tribunals to investigate, document, and prosecute atrocities in every region of the globe. The sections below highlight some—but not all—of the areas where we work and where we have ongoing projects underway with our foreign assistance funds. To protect their security, we generally do not publicly identify our implementing partners or the scope of their work.

### Examples of Places Where We Work

On This Page:

Global Overview

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Africa

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Asia

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Europe

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Middle East

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Western Hemisphere

In This Section:

Central African Republic

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The Gambia

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Ethiopia

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Liberia

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South Sudan

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Sudan

##  Africa 

  Africa   Central African Republic |The Gambia|Ethiopia|Liberia|South Sudan|Sudan

### Central African Republic (CAR)

The Central African Republic is engaged in a multi-layered justice and accountability process for atrocity crimes. There are ongoing trials involving violence in CAR at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the CAR Special Criminal Court (SCC), an innovative hybrid court in the domestic judicial system to combat impunity. GCJ is working to support cases before the ICC and the SCC and to advance accountability and justice more broadly. For the last several years, the U.S. Congress has earmarked funds to support the SCC, recognizing its important role in the accountability landscape.

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                -  January 31, 2023  								Remarks for International Religious Freedom Summit 2023 “Documenting International Religious Freedom”															 
                -  December 6, 2022  								Statement of the United States at the 21st Session of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court															 

  Africa  Central African Republic| The Gambia |Ethiopia|Liberia|South Sudan|Sudan

### The Gambia

The Gambia has made impressive strides in addressing the legacy of human rights violations and abuses of the Yahya Jammeh regime, and GCJ supports the Gambian Government, victims, and civil society in their efforts to implement the important recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC). This includes promoting accountability for those most responsible for abuses, including through new legislation and plans to establish a hybrid court. Through its programming, GCJ is assisting the Gambian Ministry of Justice to expand its capabilities to handle complex system crimes and case preparation; developing and facilitating Gambian government outreach to the public on the investigation of crimes recommended for prosecution by the TRRC; and working with civil society organizations, women, and youth to ensure they have the capacity to meaningfully participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the TRRC and advance various forms of accountability.

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                    -  November 20, 2023  								Congratulations to the People of Gambia on Transitional Justice Legislation															 
                    -  December 6, 2022  								Statement of the United States at the 21st Session of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court															 

  Africa  Central African Republic|The Gambia| Ethiopia |Liberia|South Sudan|Sudan

### Ethiopia

The United States has consistently called for comprehensive, inclusive, and transparent transitional justice in Ethiopia since the first days of the recent conflict in northern Ethiopia, which involved the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Through bilateral and multilateral engagements, GCJ is working to promote credible, genuine, victim-centered, and comprehensive transitional justice processes, in line with international standards, as called for in the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

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                -  October 31, 2023  								Ethiopia: One Year after the Pretoria Agreement															 

  Africa  Central African Republic|The Gambia|Ethiopia| Liberia |South Sudan|Sudan

### Liberia

Despite recommendations from the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, no individuals responsible for atrocities in Liberia’s consecutive civil wars have been held accountable in Liberia. Instead, cases have proceeded in courts around the world under extraterritorial principles of jurisdiction. GCJ advocates for justice for Liberian victims, including through supporting universal jurisdiction cases, civil society organizations, and Liberian justice actors who support progress on justice and accountability for civil war era crimes.

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                    -  June 29, 2023  								Remarks at the Federalist Society 2023 National Security Symposium 															 
                    -  December 14, 2022  								Ambassador Van Schaack’s Open Letter to the People of Liberia															 

  Africa  Central African Republic|The Gambia|Ethiopia|Liberia| South Sudan |Sudan

### South Sudan

Notwithstanding political instability, GCJ has maintained strong engagement in South Sudan to ensure support for accountability and robust human rights documentation for future transitional justice efforts. This includes a capacity building project with justice actors; working diplomatically for the continuity of peacekeeping and international monitoring mechanisms, such as the UN Commission on Human Rights for South Sudan; and shoring up political support for the transitional justice provisions of the 2018 revised peace agreement.

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  Africa  Central African Republic|The Gambia|Ethiopia|Liberia|South Sudan| Sudan 

### Sudan

For over twenty years, GCJ has worked to advance justice for victims of genocide and other atrocities committed in Darfur under the regime of Omar al-Bashir. GCJ continues to pursue accountability for victims of atrocity crimes committed across Sudan following the outbreak of hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). GCJ’s efforts include supporting the International Criminal Court’s investigations and prosecutions with respect to the violence of the early 2000’s as well as the current conflict in Darfur. GCJ also advances human rights documentation through independent international and Sudanese-led efforts.

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                    -  September 21, 2023  								Justice Issues at UNGA															 
                    -  September 11, 2023  								Ambassador Van Schaack’s Video Remarks on the Situation in Sudan (Arabic)															 
                    -  September 11, 2023  								Ambassador Van Schaack’s Video Remarks on the Situation in Sudan (English)															 
                    -  August 29, 2023  								Anticipating Justice and Accountability Around the World															 

On This Page:

Global Overview

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Africa

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Asia

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Europe

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Middle East

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Western Hemisphere

In This Section:

Afghanistan

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Burma

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China (Xinjiang)

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Sri Lanka

##  Asia 

  Asia   Afghanistan |Burma|China (Xinjiang)|Sri Lanka

### Afghanistan

GCJ works to advance justice and accountability for Afghan victims and survivors of harm at the hands of the Taliban and other non-state actors through our civil society and multilateral engagements. GCJ’s programming aims to promote accountability for victims and survivors with a focus on gender justice and accountability.

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                -  January 31, 2023  								Remarks for International Religious Freedom Summit 2023 “Documenting International Religious Freedom”															 

  Asia  Afghanistan| Burma |China (Xinjiang)|Sri Lanka

### Burma

The United States supports various efforts to pursue justice and accountability for the genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Burma’s military against Rohingya and for other ongoing human rights violations and abuses throughout the country. This includes support for Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.

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                    -  September 13, 2023  								Statement for the Record from Ambassador Beth Van Schaack															 
                    -  August 29, 2023  								Anticipating Justice and Accountability Around the World															 
                    -  January 31, 2023  								Remarks for International Religious Freedom Summit 2023 “Documenting International Religious Freedom”															 

  Asia  Afghanistan|Burma| China (Xinjiang) |Sri Lanka

### China (Xinjiang)

GCJ works to promote awareness of and accountability for the People’s Republic of China’s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.

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                -  September 21, 2023  								Justice Issues at UNGA															 
                -  September 19, 2023  								Opening Remarks for Uyghur Side Event															 
                -  August 29, 2023  								Anticipating Justice and Accountability Around the World															 
                -  January 31, 2023  								Remarks for International Religious Freedom Summit 2023 “Documenting International Religious Freedom”															 

  Asia  Afghanistan|Burma|China (Xinjiang)| Sri Lanka 

### Sri Lanka

Accountability for past atrocities and credible transitional justice processes are necessary conditions for reconciliation and guarantees of non-recurrence in Sri Lanka. GCJ advises on best practices for transitional justice mechanisms; supports international mandates and mechanisms for accountability in Sri Lanka, including those established by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and strives to encourage and assist civil society engagement in its these efforts.

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On This Page:

Global Overview

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Africa

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Asia

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Europe

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Middle East

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Western Hemisphere

In This Section:

Armenia and Azerbaijan

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Belarus

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Georgia

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Ukraine

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Western Balkans

##  Europe 

  Europe   Armenia and Azerbaijan |Belarus|Georgia|Ukraine|Western Balkans

### Armenia and Azerbaijan

The United States is committed to facilitating a durable and dignified peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. GCJ seeks to promote accountability and facilitate transitional justice in the region, which will be crucial for ensuring a broad and enduring peace.

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  Europe  Armenia and Azerbaijan| Belarus |Georgia|Ukraine|Balkans

### Belarus

After the fraudulent presidential election in August 2020, the Lukashenka regime initiated a violent crackdown on civil society, independent media, and peaceful protestors, resulting in over 1,200 political prisoners and 40,000 arrests. Human rights organizations have documented reports of torture, mistreatment, and deaths at the hands of Belarusian authorities. Belarus has also assisted Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, acting as a launching pad for Russia’s military incursions. Post-invasion, Belarusian authorities have detained over 1,500 anti-war demonstrators. While some detainees were released, this most recent crackdown echoes the regime’s post-2020 repression. GCJ and the State Department are committed to promoting accountability for international crimes in Belarus, including through advancing efforts devoted to documentation, investigations, and prosecutions undertaken by NGOs, the OHCHR Fact Finding Mission, relevant international and national courts (including through universal jurisdiction), and the International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB).

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  Europe  Armenia and Azerbaijan|Belarus| Georgia |Ukraine|Western Balkans

### Georgia

In 2008, Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Georgia and today occupies 20 percent of its territory. The United States remains unwavering in its support for the people of Georgia as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity and seek a peaceful solution to the conflict. GCJ is working to ensure that there is accountability for atrocities stemming from Russia’s 2008 invasion.

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  Europe  Armenia and Azerbaijan|Balkans|Belarus| Ukraine 

### Ukraine

The brutal war of choice that Vladimir Putin is waging against Ukraine has caused immense suffering but has also given rise to unprecedented international coordination to ensure that those responsible for atrocities in Ukraine are held accountable, whether through domestic judicial processes or international mechanisms and institutions. Supporting comprehensive justice for Ukraine and those affected by the international crimes committed as part of Russia’s war will remain a top priority for the United States.

In March 2022, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken announced the U.S. government assessment that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine. In February 2023, Vice President Harris announced the Secretary of State’s determination that members of Russia’s forces and other Russian officials have committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

Justice and accountability are central pillars of the United States’ policy on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. GCJ, working with the U.S. interagency and international partners, remains dedicated to enabling and strengthening five pathways to justice for Ukraine. The main engine of justice will be Ukraine’s domestic authorities and institutions. GCJ supports

Ukraine’s institutions as they work to document, investigate, and prosecute war crimes, including support to Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG) through the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine (ACA), a joint US-UK-EU initiative to provide coordinated, timely, multidisciplinary expert assistance. To complement efforts at the national level, the United States also supports investigations by international institutions, including but not limited to the investigations by the International Criminal Court and the International Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine; emergent efforts to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine; and investigations and prosecutions in national courts outside of Ukraine that have jurisdiction. The United States will also continue to support international mechanisms relevant to delivering comprehensive justice, such as the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of Russia in Ukraine and the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. GCJ—in coordination with the U.S. interagency, Ukraine, other international partners, international institutions, and Ukrainian and international civil society—will also continue to support transitional justice; assistance for victims; and efforts to collect, preserve, analyze, and disseminate information that can be used in national and international transitional justice initiatives as well as pathways to criminal accountability.

Read more on UkraineCollapse additional content on Ukraine

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                -  November 14, 2023  								U.S. Assistance to International Investigation of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine															 
                -  August 29, 2023  								Anticipating Justice and Accountability Around the World															 
                -  July 26, 2023  								Opening Remarks at the Helsinki Committee Hearing															 
                -  May 31, 2023  								Ambassador Van Schaack’s Opening Statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee															 
                -  March 27, 2023  								Ambassador Van Schaack’s Remarks on the U.S. Proposal to Prosecute Russian Crimes of Aggression															 
                -  February 18, 2023  							Remarks by Vice President Harris at the Munich Security Conference															 
                -  February 18, 2023  								Crimes Against Humanity in Ukraine															 
                -  March 23, 2022  								War Crimes by Russia’s Forces in Ukraine															 
                -  							All Global Criminal Justice Remarks and Releases on Ukraine													 

  Europe  Armenia and Azerbaijan|Belarus|Georgia|Ukraine| Western Balkans 

### Western Balkans(Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia)

The conflicts associated with the break-up of the former Yugoslavia exert ongoing effects in the region and beyond. Two criminal tribunals deal with atrocity crimes stemming from these conflicts: the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), although the IRMCT recently concluded its last case involving defendants from the former Yugoslavia. The United States has provided consistent support to these tribunals on an array of critical functions.

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                    -  June 5, 2023  								International Tribunal Expands Sentences for Two Defendants for Committing Atrocity Crimes in the Former Yugoslavia															 

On This Page:

Global Overview

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Africa

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Asia

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Europe

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Middle East

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Western Hemisphere

In This Section:

Iraq

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Israel, Gaza, and West Bank

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Syria

##  Middle East 

  Middle East   Iraq |Israel, Gaza, and West Bank|Syria

### Iraq

Accountability for atrocities carried out in Iraq is a key pillar of U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq. In 2016 and 2017, the U.S. Secretary of State determined that ISIS was responsible for genocide against Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims in areas ISIS controlled, and crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing against those groups and in some cases against Sunni Muslims, Kurds, and other minorities. To promote justice for victims of these crimes, GCJ supports the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD), and other documentation and investigation initiatives. In addition, GCJ regularly works with vulnerable communities in Iraq, including members of religious and ethnic communities, and has advocated for Iraq to codify the core international crimes—genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes—to enable domestic prosecutions.

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                    -  December 4, 2023  							Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD)													 
                    -  August 29, 2023  								Anticipating Justice and Accountability Around the World															 
                    -  August 1, 2023  								Ambassador Beth Van Schaack’s Video Remarks for Commemoration of Yezidi Genocide															 
                    -  December 10, 2022  								Remarks at Human Rights Day Event Presenting the Global Treasure Award to Amal Clooney															 

  Middle East  Iraq| Israel, Gaza, and West Bank |Syria

### Israel, Gaza, and West Bank

Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of Israeli men, women, and children; hostage-taking, including of U.S. citizens; and sexual and gender-based violence. Israel’s military response has resulted in the deaths of Palestinian men, women, and children in Gaza and the mass displacement of most of Gaza’s residents. Gazans have also experienced severe shortages of food, water, medicine and other humanitarian essentials. The U.S. government continues to underscore the importance of the parties’ compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law, and urges all parties to hold actors accountable for actions that threaten stability in the West Bank and breach international law. We continue to urge Israel to facilitate the movement of more humanitarian aid throughout Gaza, to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians, and to thoroughly investigate credible allegations of law of war violations.

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                -  September 21, 2023  								Justice Issues at UNGA															 

  Middle East  Iraq|Israel, Gaza, and West Bank| Syria 

### Syria

Accountability for the Assad regime’s war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well atrocities carried out by other armed groups such as ISIS, remains a foreign policy priority for the United States. To ensure justice for victims of abuses and violations, GCJ is financially supporting the International Independent Investigative Mechanism for Syria (IIIM) established by the General Assembly. In addition, GCJ works with victim-led and independent organizations documenting and investigating these abuses and violations, including in support of prosecutions by courts exercising universal jurisdiction.

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                    -  September 21, 2023  								Justice Issues at UNGA															 
                    -  December 10, 2022  								Remarks at Human Rights Day Event Presenting the Global Treasure Award to Amal Clooney															 

On This Page:

Global Overview

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Africa

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Asia

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Europe

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Middle East

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Western Hemisphere

In This Section:

Colombia

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El Salvador

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Guatemala

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Venezuela

##  Western Hemisphere 

  Western Hemisphere   Colombia |El Salvador|Guatemala|Venezuela

### Colombia

GCJ is continuing its long-standing work to assist Colombians in their pursuit of justice and accountability through our policy and programming supporting the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), sanctions against justice spoilers, and ongoing engagement with Colombian survivors and victims of conflict.

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                -  May 30, 2023  								Remarks by Ambassador Beth Van Schaack at the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Colombia															 
                -  December 6, 2022  								Statement of the United States at the 21st Session of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court															 

  Western Hemisphere  Colombia| El Salvador |Guatemala|Venezuela

### El Salvador

GCJ supports El Salvador’s efforts to seek justice and accountability for atrocities committed during the 12-year civil war. The United States facilitated the UN-backed truth commission established pursuant to the 1992 Peace Accords by providing funding as well as declassified documents. However, efforts in El Salvador to investigate and prosecute those responsible for atrocities were stymied until the Supreme Court issued its historic decision that El Salvador’s amnesty laws contravened El Salvador’s human rights obligations. Subsequently, GCJ worked to advance initiatives to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes, including the case filed against eighteen former army commanders and a former defense minister for the massacre in El Mozote. The United States has also supported the national commission, CONABUSQUEDA, established to search for the missing and the disappeared. In recent years, GCJ contributed to inter-agency efforts, as requested by Congress, to identify relevant information on the El Mozote massacre for accountability processes. The United States is coordinating with other countries to hold perpetrators accountable in exercises in extraterritorial jurisdiction, such as through the extradition of Colonel Inocente Montano to Spain, where he was convicted for civil war-era atrocities.

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  Western Hemisphere  Colombia|El Salvador| Guatemala |Venezuela

### Guatemala

GCJ promotes justice and accountability for atrocities committed during Guatemala’s 36-year internal armed conflict in order to fulfill the transitional justice promises within the 1996 Peace Accords. To enable a complete historical record, the United States government provided declassified documents to the UN-backed Historical Clarification Commission established by the Peace Accords as well as the “Recovery of Historical Memory Project,” a Catholic Church-sponsored commission. Over the past decades, the United States has also supported other significant transitional justice efforts undertaken in Guatemala, including public memorialization through the National Police Historical Archive and independent domestic investigations and prosecutions of former military and political officials charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The domestic trial of former President Efraín Ríos Montt for genocide represented one of the first such prosecutions at the domestic level and the culmination of decades of meticulous documentation and evidence-gathering by victims, forensic anthropologists, and prosecutors. These transitional justice measures have served an important function in building peace and democracy in Guatemala by revealing the extent of state repression and violence and providing truth and dignity to victims of the conflict. Transitional justice measures offer a means to address the nexus between impunity for mass atrocities of the past and impunity for official corruption today.

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  Western Hemisphere  Colombia|El Salvador|Guatemala| Venezuela 

### Venezuela

Promoting justice and accountability for Venezuelan victims and survivors is a GCJ priority. We continue to engage with stakeholders on transitional justice issues in Venezuela, including with civil society and international justice mechanisms, particularly the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. GCJ also supported the fact-finding efforts of the Organization of American States (OAS) to document abuses against Venezuelans and welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation in Venezuela.

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                    -  June 16, 2022  							Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Beth Van Schaack on Strengthening the ICC													 

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