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.

Focus on International Justice
our new column

Each month, Civitas Maxima will publish an overview of what happened in the world of international criminal law around the world, with a focus on stories that did not make the headlines.

Latest Trial Monitoring

Subscribe to our mailing list

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

Blog & Press Releases

International crimes never die (but their perpetrators age)

International crimes never die (but their perpetrators age) OPINION. International crimes have no statute of limitations, but what can be done when their perpetrators, sometimes tried decades after the fact, have become senile, mentally ill, and can no longer understand prosecution? asks Civitas Maxima’s lawyer Alain Werner. The most striking difference between the prosecution of…

Kunti Kamara: conviction for complicity in crimes against humanity confirmed on appeal

Kunti Kamara: conviction for complicity in crimes against humanity confirmed on appeal Paris, France: Today, the Paris “Cour d’assises”, composed of three judges and nine jury members, confirmed the 2022 guilty verdict and found Kunti Kamara, former Liberian ULIMO rebel commander, guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity, and commission of simple and aggravated acts of torture…

Compensation for victims of mass crimes after all?

Compensation for victims of mass crimes after all? There’s a lot going on this month in the field of international law, including Switzerland, with the referral to the Federal Criminal Court of the former Vice-President of Syria, Rifaat al-Assad, for trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Rifaat al-Assad is accused of…

Latest News