Regional Engagement

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

  Asia  
Afghanistan | Burma | China (Xinjiang) |  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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

  Western Hemisphere  
Colombia |  El Salvador  | Guatemala | Venezuela

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.

  Western Hemisphere  
Colombia | El Salvador | Guatemala |  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.