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

Blog & Press Releases

War crimes round-up: Swiss court upholds war crimes conviction against Liberian rebel, ‘historic’ crimes treaty adopted

Geneva Solutions’s monthly “war criminal hunt” in collaboration with the Geneva-based NGO Civitas Maxima. “Today’s announcement in the Alieu Kosiah case closes the month with a historic development in international justice, becoming the first-ever conviction for crimes against humanity in Switzerland. This ruling is a tribute to the bravery and resilience of several Liberian victims…

First Conviction in Switzerland for Crimes Against Humanity 

First Conviction in Switzerland for Crimes Against Humanity Bellinzona, Switzerland – Seven plaintiffs write a page of Swiss and Liberian history as Alieu Kosiah is convicted for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Today, June 1, 2023, after 4 weeks of hearings between January and February 2023 – the Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Federal Criminal…

War crimes round-up: Gambian former minister charged in Switzerland, trial against Kosovo ex-president begins

Geneva Solutions’s monthly “war criminal hunt” in collaboration with the Geneva-based NGO Civitas Maxima. “This month, the international community lost one of its legends, Benjamin Ferencz. As the last surviving member of the team of prosecutors at the Nuremberg trials, Ferencz would have been pleased with this month’s round-up – particularly the landmark case of…

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