Universal Jurisdiction

International law recognizes that certain crimes are so serious that the duty to prosecute them transcends all borders, giving rise to “Universal Jurisdiction” over grave crimes in violation of international law, such as crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and torture. Universal Jurisdiction can take different forms, depending on the domestic implementing legislation. As of September 1, 2012, according to Amnesty International, a total of 147 States have provided Universal Jurisdiction over one or more crimes under international law.

We will attempt to persuade prosecutors and/or governments to prosecute cases against those perpetrators responsible for genocide and war crimes against the Kurds. We will help them prosecute such cases.

People’s Tribunal

People’s tribunals (PT) are forums of justice set up by social justice movements and organizations to adjudicate cases often against states and state-backed corporations. Rather than courts and other judicial apparatus set up by states, organizers instead convene jurors from around the world to adjudicate. The judgments rendered through people’s tribunals are non-binding, as their decisions are not backed by forces of the state. However, these tribunals render significant power.

We may possibly set up a People’s Tribunal to determine the necessary reparations for those Kurds who were victims and/or survivors of the Kurdish genocides.

Civil Remedies

The United States allows civil damage suits for human rights violations committed abroad. Under the Alien Tort Claims Act, non-U.S. victims can seek compensation and punitive damages against a person present in the U.S. for a violation of the “law of nations.” The U.S. Courts have applied this Act to torture, extrajudicial killings, “disappearances,” war crimes, arbitrary detention, and rape, and granted significant monetary awards. The Torture Victim Protection Act allows U.S. citizens, as well as foreigners, to sue for torture or summary executions, also when the defendant is physically present in the U.S.

We will pursue defendants who live in the United States responsible for such crimes against the Kurds as a result of the genocides and crimes against humanity perpetrated against them.