On May 27, 2025, the criminal division of the Jura-Bernois Seeland Regional Court in Switzerland found Mr. Alan White, a U.S. national, guilty of acts of defamation committed in July 2021 against the Director of Civitas Maxima, Alain Werner. The same Court issued a 38-page written judgment analyzing in detail the Court’s argumentation. We have since updated our article to make the English translation of the judgment available.
Motivation détaillée du Tribunal suisse qui a reconnu le Directeur de Civitas Maxima victime de diffamation
On May 27, 2025, the criminal division of the Jura-Bernois Seeland Regional Court in Switzerland found Mr. Alan White, a U.S. national, guilty of acts of defamation committed in July 2021 against the Director of Civitas Maxima, Alain Werner. The same Court issued a 38-page written judgment analyzing in detail the Court’s argumentation. Alan White has appealed this judgment, and the appeal proceedings are ongoing.
« No Safe Haven » : pas de refuge pour les tortionnaires en Suisse
On October 31, the Legal Affairs Committee of the National Council (CAJ-N) decided to continue its work on the preliminary draft of the federal law on the inclusion of torture in the Swiss Criminal Code, paving the way for its consideration by Parliament. This specific criminalization of torture responds to a concrete imperative: to enable Switzerland to prosecute torturers who seek refuge on its territory.
Improving prosecution of enforced disappearances: challenges and solutions
On June 16 Civitas Maxima attended the “Strategies and prospects in prosecuting enforced disappearances: harmonizing the law and coordinating actors” seminar. This expert seminar aimed at better understanding the causes of enforced disappearances’ poor record of criminal convictions and formulating strategies to put in place to remedy this situation.
Justice delayed: Establishing a War Crimes Court in Liberia
While the Director of the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia has said that the first indictments will be issued in 2027, the office has yet to publicly tackle the thorny questions of how the court will be structured, designed, and resourced.
Impunity for past human rights violations and transitional justice: Joint Stakeholder Report for the Universal Periodic Review of Liberia
On 7th of April, a group of Liberian and international NGOs, including Civitas Maxima, submitted a joint stakeholder report to the Human Rights Council, assessing the progress made by Liberia since the country’s last review in November 2020 and providing concrete recommendations for the years to come.
Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2025: Universal jurisdiction as a pillar in the fight against impunity
TRIAL International, in collaboration with Civitas Maxima, the Center for Justice and Accountability, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights, and REDRESS, published the 2025 edition of the Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review, which compiles developments in 95 extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction cases prosecuted in 16 countries.
Rendre la justice concrète et accessible : Civitas Maxima au Liberia pour rencontrer les victimes de Kunti Kamara
In Lofa County, Liberia, victims of Kunti Kamara gathered to hear the verdict that recognized their suffering and courage. a team from Civitas Maxima and GJRP, accompanied by Sabrina Delattre, counsel for the civil parties, traveled to meet them, explain the ruling, answer their questions, and honor their resilience—ensuring that justice is not just pronounced but truly felt by those most affected.
Confronting Camara in court: witnesses testify at pre-sentence evidentiary hearing in Philadelphia
On 23 January 2025, a pre-sentence evidentiary hearing was held in Philadelphia in the case against Laye Sekou Camara, aka K-1. The hearing followed Camara’s guilty plea that waived his right to a trial before a jury. Held long before the sentencing hearing, scheduled for 19 May, it was unusual but importantly gave an opportunity to 9 Liberian witnesses to testify.
One year after 7th October: the limited impact of international justice
The tragic events that have unfolded since October 7, 2023, in Israel and Palestine have triggered a historically unprecedented wave of global judicial activity. Although some tangible results have been achieved over the past year, the overall impact remains very limited.
