Civitas Maxima is founded on the conviction that victims of international crimes must hold the keys to their own quest for justice.
OurVision
A world where all forgotten victims of international crimes have access to fair and impartial justice mechanisms, and perpetrators are held accountable.
Our Mission
Civitas Maxima facilitates the documentation of international crimes, and pursues the redress of such crimes on behalf of victims who do not have access to justice, by:
(i) collaborating with and building the capacity of local grass-roots partners to document crimes in the state where those crimes were committed;
(ii) coordinating a network of investigators and lawyers to help victims gain access to justice and hold perpetrators accountable before foreign domestic or international courts and tribunals, however, whenever and wherever possible;
(iii) generating awareness and informed debate around victims’ cases, with a view to empowering local communities to pursue their own quests for justice.
Our Name
Civitas Maxima – Together against international crimes.
Due to their scale and intensity, international crimes not only violate individual victims’ rights but also touch the humanity in all of us. In this context, the Latin term civitas maxima – which can be translated as ‘greatest citizenry’ – represents a call to do together, as citizens of the world, what we can to ensure justice for international crimes.
Based on the deeply held belief that there are no ‘others,’ Civitas Maxima envisages a global cooperation between victims, independent lawyers and investigators, and officials from state authorities regardless of nationality, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation, or other exclusionary factors.
Annual Report 2022
Latest Trial Monitoring
Jour 21 – cinquième jour des plaidoiries : débats consacrés aux répliques du Ministère Public de la Confédération et des avocats des parties plaignantes ainsi qu’à la duplique de Me Gianoli
Jour 21 – cinquième jour des plaidoiries : débats consacrés aux répliques du Ministère Public de la Confédération et des avocats des parties plaignantes ainsi qu’à la duplique de Me Gianoli 5…
Subscribe to our mailing list
Blog & Press Releases
War crimes round-up: Europe does not have a monopoly on extra-territorial justice
Geneva Solutions’s monthly “war criminal hunt” in collaboration with the Geneva-based NGO Civitas Maxima. At a time where the conflict in the Middle East is becoming more intense by the day, the United Nations, the international mechanism that should be the guarantor of international peace and security,, continues to demonstrate its inability to live up…
War crimes round-up: international justice faces daunting challenges on Gaza
War crimes round-up: international justice faces daunting challenges on Gaza Geneva Solutions’s monthly “war criminal hunt” in collaboration with the Geneva-based NGO Civitas Maxima. As the war in Gaza escalates and the number of civilian casualties increases by the day, those of us who work in the field of international criminal justice can only wonder…
Justice in the Central African Republic: a model to follow?
Justice in the Central African Republic: a model to follow? These past weeks, there has once again been considerable movement on the front of international justice both in Switzerland and in France. Indeed, former Algerian Minister Nezzar has been referred for trial before the Federal Criminal Court, the first criminal trial in Switzerland for alleged…
Latest News
- Un ancien militaire libérien placé en détention provisoire en France – RFI
- La justice en Centrafrique, un modèle à suivre? – Le Temps
- Liberia Marks 20 Years Since the End of Its Civil War. Will a War Crimes Court Ever Be Created? – Pass Blue
- For justice in Syria, hope comes from Geneva rather than The Hague – The Geneva Observer
- Pour obtenir justice sur la Syrie, l’espoir vient de Genève plutôt que de La Haye – Le Temps
- Universal jurisdiction gains ground in Switzerland – Swiss info
- Liberia: Warlord Alieu Kosiah is Sentenced To 20 Years In prison For Crimes Against Humanity On Appeal – FPA
- Swiss court upholds ex-Liberian warlord’s 20-year-sentence – The African Report
- Alieu Kosiah, un ex-chef de guerre libérien reconnu coupable en Suisse de crimes contre l’humanité – RFI