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.
Latest Trial Monitoring
[11/02/2022] Day 17: The verdict
[11/02/2022] Day 17: The verdict The floor was given to Kunti Kamara. He stated that he had nothing more to add. He reaffirmed his innocence and indicated that he was only a…
Blog & Press Releases
Attempt to silence victims’ quests for justice: Agnes Reeves Taylor sues Civitas Maxima and Global Justice and Research Project in Liberia
Attempt to silence victims’ quests for justice: Agnes Reeves Taylor sues Civitas Maxima and Global Justice and Research Project in Liberia Ms. Agnes Reeves Taylor, ex-wife of Charles Taylor, was charged in the United Kingdom (UK) with seven counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture in relation to her involvement with…
War crimes round-up: prosecuting Russia’s ‘aggression’ crimes, reparations for ‘colonial crimes’ against Chagos Islanders
Geneva Solutions’s monthly “war criminal hunt”, in collaboration with the Geneva-based NGO Civitas Maxima. Geneva Solutions’s monthly “war criminal hunt”, in collaboration with the Geneva-based NGO Civitas Maxima. The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA), announced for this summer in the Hague, is another step towards accountability. It follows the…
Awaiting appeal judgement, current appeal proceedings, and appeal hearings announcement: Alieu Kosiah, Gibril Massaquoi, and Kunti Kamara cases.
Awaiting appeal judgement, current appeal proceedings, and appeal hearings announcement: Alieu Kosiah, Gibril Massaquoi, and Kunti Kamara cases. Bellinzona, Switzerland – The appeal proceedings of the case of Alieu Kosiah, a former United Liberation Movement of Liberia (ULIMO) commander, took place before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court (FCC) from January 11 to February 3, 2023. Mr. Kosiah, who…
Latest News
- En Ukraine, juger les crimes de guerre sera difficile – La Tribune de Genève
- Liberian warlord’s trial concludes in Switzerland – Reuters
- Hassan Bility, un justicier libérien contre les siens – Le Temps
- Plaintiff Alleges Attacks and Intimidation in Retaliation for Testimony in Kosiah Trial – Premium Times Ng
- Jugé pour crime contre l’humanité, l’ex-chef de guerre nie en bloc – 20 Minutes
- Rape victim testifies in Swiss court as Liberian war criminal appeals conviction – Reuters
- Ex-Rebel Gibril Massaquoi tried in court of appeal – AfricaNews
- Crimes contre l’humanité : un ex-chef de guerre libérien jugé en appel en Suisse – Sud Ouest
- Ex-Liberian strongman seeks to overturn Swiss war crimes ruling – Al Jazeera
- Liberian war crimes appeal trial opens in Switzerland – Swissinfo.ch
- En appel, Alieu Kosiah devra aussi répondre de crimes contre l’humanité. Une première pour la justice suisse – Le Temps
- Finnish appeals court begins Liberia war crime hearing – Al Jazeera