On 17 June 2025, Project Officer Dr Pauline Martini participated in the “Expert Consultation and Project Launch: Guidelines on the Documentation and Investigation of Environmental International Crimes” in Geneva, Switzerland.
This initiative, led by the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, Trial International, Source International, JusticeRapidResponse and Physicians for Human Rights, responds to an urgent call from civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders. It aims to develop practitioner-focused guidelines on documenting and investigating environmental international crimes, which will promote robust and reliable practices and serve as a practical tool to strengthen strategic litigation and case-building.
The Expert Consultation, held in parallel with 59th session of the United Nations Right Council, sought to identify key challenges, extract lessons learned, and highlight best practices in the documentation, investigation, litigation, and prosecution of such crimes. It convened legal practitioners, scientists, human rights defenders, civil society representatives, academics, national grassroots organisations, and international stakeholders from around the world including from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, the Colombia Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Ukraine Prosecutor General’s Office.
Dr Martini participated in Roundtables II and III of the Expert Consultation, which focused on the litigation and investigation of environmental international crimes. (pm)