6 November 2014

The United Nations Department of Public Information is hosting a panel discussion on records from the London-based United Nations War Crimes Commission of 1943-1948. The records have just been made public after 65 years following efforts led by Dr Dan Plesch and Shanti Sattler of the Centre of International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS, University of London.

Some 30,000 sets of pre-trial indictments against accused World War II criminals in Europe and Asia are now with the Holocaust Museum in Washington and Dr Plesch. Cases include race based crimes, crimes of sexual violence, conspiracy and crimes against humanity. Thousands of low level soldiers were indicted in contrast to the modern, Nuremberg – based practice of only pursuing the top leadership.

The event ‘United Nations War Crimes Commission Records: Past, Present and Future’ will take place on 11 November 2014 in New York. The panel will bring together experts to discuss the content of these archival documents, their impact on the development of international law and the International Criminal Court, as well as their potential use by and value to activists students and academics. Dr Plesch will also be speaking at Hunter College on ‘The Search for International Criminal Justice: War Crimes from World War II to Tony Blair’ on 11 November.

A SOAS event, ‘Reinforcing International Criminal Justice: Building on the Work of the 1943-48 UN War Crimes Commission’, organised with the support of the International Bar Association, will take place on 19 November at Senate House. Dr Plesch and Shanti Sattler, will be joined by the Executive Director of the International Bar Association, Dr Mark Ellis and SOAS Law School’s Professor Kevin Heller and Dr Lutz Oette who will discuss applying these cases to modern practice on sexual violence, collective responsibility, fair trials other problems faced by the International Criminal Court

Dr Plesch said: “The thousands of cases we can now access can reinforce international political will and practice in facing the crimes now being perpetrated in the Middle East and elsewhere. These charges were developed by an international body meeting at the London Royal Courts of Justice under Nazi missile attack, the challenges we face today pale in comparison.”