By Jhr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M.
On September 29th 2016 the well known British human rights organisation REDRESS opened a new office in The Hague.
REDRESS was founded in the United Kingdom in 1992 by Keith Carmichael, a British survivor of torture. He was detained without charge and tortured for 857 days in the 1980’s. When he was released, he decided to establish REDRESS to work to eradicate the practice of torture, prosecute torturers and ensure that survivors of torture obtain reparation for all the harm they suffered. This remains REDRESS’ focus till today.
REDRESS is a non-governmental organisation (NGO). The Hague, as the epicentre for international justice work, is a natural fit for REDRESS, and builds on REDRESS’ long experience of collaborating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international justice institutions on issues such as victim participations and reparation in criminal trials. ‘As an internationally focussed organisation it is important for REDRESS to have a base in a city as The Hague and a country like The Netherlands that best exemplifies that outlook’, as REDRESS wrote in a press release. Juergen Schurr, Head Law and Policy at REDRESS: ‘We are delighted by the warm welcome and have been amazed by the degree of professional extensive support and encouragement we have received from the City of The Hague and its partners. It underscores to us that we have made a great decision to join to the vibrant international community in The Hague’.
REDRESS has ambitious plans to extend its collaborations with organisations worldwide to address the scourge of torture. Their presence in The Hague will help to strenghten ties with ICC, NGO partners, court officials and the diplomatic, legal and academic community in The Hague. It will also help extend their work with the European Union’s Network of Contact Points on Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes, whose Secretariat is also based in The Hague.
The City of The Hague extends a warm welcome to REDRESS !
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About the author: Jhr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M. , Justice (Judge) in the (Dutch) Court of Appeal and honorary Special Advisor International Affairs, appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen of The Hague
