Mark Kersten
@markkersten.bsky.social
Work in human rights, international criminal law, and accountability for mass atrocities - in Canada and around the world.
Professor and advocate.
www.markkersten.com
Professor and advocate.
www.markkersten.com
Looking forward to attending the #ICC the Assembly of States Parties next week.
The biggest issue will be the US sanctions. They have already disrupted proceedings.
I hope Canada & others strongly signal their opposition and proudly stand with their sanctioned citizens. #ASP24
The biggest issue will be the US sanctions. They have already disrupted proceedings.
I hope Canada & others strongly signal their opposition and proudly stand with their sanctioned citizens. #ASP24
November 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Three countries - the United States, Israel, and Argentina - vote against a UN General Assembly resolution aimed at preventing and ending this use of torture.
These resolutions used to be adopted unanimously. What does it say when these states oppose global opposition to torture?
These resolutions used to be adopted unanimously. What does it say when these states oppose global opposition to torture?
November 21, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Three countries - the United States, Israel, and Argentina - vote against a UN General Assembly resolution aimed at preventing and ending this use of torture.
These resolutions used to be adopted unanimously. What does it say when these states oppose global opposition to torture?
These resolutions used to be adopted unanimously. What does it say when these states oppose global opposition to torture?
Some scenes while trail running in beautiful British Columbia this weekend. 🤩
November 17, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Some scenes while trail running in beautiful British Columbia this weekend. 🤩
👀 👀 👀
Canada is not among the 59 Member States of the #ICC joining Mexico’s initiative to express deep concern over the imposition of sanctions against the Court and its staff.
Why @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social @mark-carney.bsky.social?
Canada is not among the 59 Member States of the #ICC joining Mexico’s initiative to express deep concern over the imposition of sanctions against the Court and its staff.
Why @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social @mark-carney.bsky.social?
November 14, 2025 at 1:30 AM
👀 👀 👀
Canada is not among the 59 Member States of the #ICC joining Mexico’s initiative to express deep concern over the imposition of sanctions against the Court and its staff.
Why @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social @mark-carney.bsky.social?
Canada is not among the 59 Member States of the #ICC joining Mexico’s initiative to express deep concern over the imposition of sanctions against the Court and its staff.
Why @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social @mark-carney.bsky.social?
"Impunity must end and accountability must be upheld. Protection and justice for the Sudanese people is not only a legal obligation but also an urgent moral imperative."
Joint Statement Condemning Atrocities and Violations of IHL in Sudan: www.canada.ca/en/global-af... #KeepEyesonSudan
Joint Statement Condemning Atrocities and Violations of IHL in Sudan: www.canada.ca/en/global-af... #KeepEyesonSudan
November 11, 2025 at 6:11 PM
"Impunity must end and accountability must be upheld. Protection and justice for the Sudanese people is not only a legal obligation but also an urgent moral imperative."
Joint Statement Condemning Atrocities and Violations of IHL in Sudan: www.canada.ca/en/global-af... #KeepEyesonSudan
Joint Statement Condemning Atrocities and Violations of IHL in Sudan: www.canada.ca/en/global-af... #KeepEyesonSudan
"Israel blocked aid into the Gaza Strip, preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into the region from 2 March until 18 May 2025... In these circumstances, the Court recalls Israel’s obligation not to use starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare." www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...
October 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
"Israel blocked aid into the Gaza Strip, preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into the region from 2 March until 18 May 2025... In these circumstances, the Court recalls Israel’s obligation not to use starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare." www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...
Together, bit by bit, & day by day, we can make human rights a reality for all - not some; everywhere - not just some places; and always - not just when it is convenient.
Thank you @alexneve.bsky.social for this critical conversation on universalizing the promise of human rights @goufv.bsky.social!
Thank you @alexneve.bsky.social for this critical conversation on universalizing the promise of human rights @goufv.bsky.social!
October 10, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Together, bit by bit, & day by day, we can make human rights a reality for all - not some; everywhere - not just some places; and always - not just when it is convenient.
Thank you @alexneve.bsky.social for this critical conversation on universalizing the promise of human rights @goufv.bsky.social!
Thank you @alexneve.bsky.social for this critical conversation on universalizing the promise of human rights @goufv.bsky.social!
Whether in Ukraine, Canada, Gaza, Myanmar, or elsewhere, a key strategy of denialists is to claim that calling out genocide "dilutes" or "weakens" the term.
The claim is wrong in law & fact, and always & purposefully ignores legal obligations to *prevent* genocide.
Case in point:
The claim is wrong in law & fact, and always & purposefully ignores legal obligations to *prevent* genocide.
Case in point:
October 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Whether in Ukraine, Canada, Gaza, Myanmar, or elsewhere, a key strategy of denialists is to claim that calling out genocide "dilutes" or "weakens" the term.
The claim is wrong in law & fact, and always & purposefully ignores legal obligations to *prevent* genocide.
Case in point:
The claim is wrong in law & fact, and always & purposefully ignores legal obligations to *prevent* genocide.
Case in point:
On #TruthAndReconciliationDay, I encourage folks to read the Final Report of the Special Interlocutor for Missing Children & Unmarked Graves & Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools osi-bis.ca/report/final... It was the honour of my professional life to work on it.
September 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
On #TruthAndReconciliationDay, I encourage folks to read the Final Report of the Special Interlocutor for Missing Children & Unmarked Graves & Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools osi-bis.ca/report/final... It was the honour of my professional life to work on it.
There is justice in the pursuit of justice.
September 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM
There is justice in the pursuit of justice.
To secure the promise of universal human rights we must look back, to the human rights promises that were made & see how, if kept, it is those same promises that are the key to realizing a better future - for all.
Powerful call to action from @alexneve.bsky.social last night at his Massey Lecture:
Powerful call to action from @alexneve.bsky.social last night at his Massey Lecture:
September 26, 2025 at 2:45 PM
To secure the promise of universal human rights we must look back, to the human rights promises that were made & see how, if kept, it is those same promises that are the key to realizing a better future - for all.
Powerful call to action from @alexneve.bsky.social last night at his Massey Lecture:
Powerful call to action from @alexneve.bsky.social last night at his Massey Lecture:
“We did not stop the genocide in Rwanda. We did not stop the genocide in Srebrenica. We must stop the genocide in Gaza.” - President of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar with a stirring speech at #UNGA 🔥
September 23, 2025 at 7:04 PM
“We did not stop the genocide in Rwanda. We did not stop the genocide in Srebrenica. We must stop the genocide in Gaza.” - President of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar with a stirring speech at #UNGA 🔥
"The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestine state from ever being established... In this context, Canada recognizes the state of Palestine."
Carney tells UN Canada recognizes the state of Palestine: youtube.com/watch?v=YYQR... #UNGA
Carney tells UN Canada recognizes the state of Palestine: youtube.com/watch?v=YYQR... #UNGA
September 22, 2025 at 11:14 PM
"The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestine state from ever being established... In this context, Canada recognizes the state of Palestine."
Carney tells UN Canada recognizes the state of Palestine: youtube.com/watch?v=YYQR... #UNGA
Carney tells UN Canada recognizes the state of Palestine: youtube.com/watch?v=YYQR... #UNGA
Just did a spot for CBC Kids on Canada's recognition of Palestine.
My message was simple: all kids deserve to believe in a brighter future. So, what Canada & others do now boils down to whether they believe Palestinian children are also allowed to be hopeful for a better future.
My message was simple: all kids deserve to believe in a brighter future. So, what Canada & others do now boils down to whether they believe Palestinian children are also allowed to be hopeful for a better future.
September 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Just did a spot for CBC Kids on Canada's recognition of Palestine.
My message was simple: all kids deserve to believe in a brighter future. So, what Canada & others do now boils down to whether they believe Palestinian children are also allowed to be hopeful for a better future.
My message was simple: all kids deserve to believe in a brighter future. So, what Canada & others do now boils down to whether they believe Palestinian children are also allowed to be hopeful for a better future.
Predictably awful combo in this take from the Conservatives:
✅ Misinformation - most Western states recognize Palestine, incl now France, the UK, Australia, Spain, Ireland, etc
✅ Collective punishment by conflating Hamas with Palestinians
✅ Denial of Palestinian human right to self-determination
✅ Misinformation - most Western states recognize Palestine, incl now France, the UK, Australia, Spain, Ireland, etc
✅ Collective punishment by conflating Hamas with Palestinians
✅ Denial of Palestinian human right to self-determination
September 22, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Predictably awful combo in this take from the Conservatives:
✅ Misinformation - most Western states recognize Palestine, incl now France, the UK, Australia, Spain, Ireland, etc
✅ Collective punishment by conflating Hamas with Palestinians
✅ Denial of Palestinian human right to self-determination
✅ Misinformation - most Western states recognize Palestine, incl now France, the UK, Australia, Spain, Ireland, etc
✅ Collective punishment by conflating Hamas with Palestinians
✅ Denial of Palestinian human right to self-determination
It is important & I am very happy that those who peddled the logic of collective punishment by claiming that recognition of Palestine “rewards” Hamas lost their effort to deny Palestinians their basic human right to self-determination.
Recognition is not a reward. It is a right.
Recognition is not a reward. It is a right.
September 21, 2025 at 1:43 PM
It is important & I am very happy that those who peddled the logic of collective punishment by claiming that recognition of Palestine “rewards” Hamas lost their effort to deny Palestinians their basic human right to self-determination.
Recognition is not a reward. It is a right.
Recognition is not a reward. It is a right.
September 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
While they come under constant attack, I stand, always, with advocates of the rights of others, like my friend, colleague, and UN Commission of Inquiry head Navi Pillay.
We need an indiscriminate and truly universal approach to human rights and dignity. ✌🏼 ⚖️
We need an indiscriminate and truly universal approach to human rights and dignity. ✌🏼 ⚖️
September 16, 2025 at 11:15 PM
While they come under constant attack, I stand, always, with advocates of the rights of others, like my friend, colleague, and UN Commission of Inquiry head Navi Pillay.
We need an indiscriminate and truly universal approach to human rights and dignity. ✌🏼 ⚖️
We need an indiscriminate and truly universal approach to human rights and dignity. ✌🏼 ⚖️
ht Bernice King.
September 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
ht Bernice King.
Not sure if this was intentional, to make a point to Herzog, but… food is off the table.
September 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Not sure if this was intentional, to make a point to Herzog, but… food is off the table.
Could not agree more w @alonso-gd.bsky.social 👇
A genocide does not have to fit the Holocaust paradigm to be a genocide.
Those who say otherwise have long done so not out of respect or to protect the memory of the Holocaust but to deny genocide elsewhere, including in Canada and Gaza.
A genocide does not have to fit the Holocaust paradigm to be a genocide.
Those who say otherwise have long done so not out of respect or to protect the memory of the Holocaust but to deny genocide elsewhere, including in Canada and Gaza.
September 3, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Could not agree more w @alonso-gd.bsky.social 👇
A genocide does not have to fit the Holocaust paradigm to be a genocide.
Those who say otherwise have long done so not out of respect or to protect the memory of the Holocaust but to deny genocide elsewhere, including in Canada and Gaza.
A genocide does not have to fit the Holocaust paradigm to be a genocide.
Those who say otherwise have long done so not out of respect or to protect the memory of the Holocaust but to deny genocide elsewhere, including in Canada and Gaza.
Standing both literally and figuratively with ICC staff and Canadian jurists under attack from the Trump regime.
Here is Kimberly Prost and I in New York, upon her election to the ICC’s bench in 2017 👊🏼
Here is Kimberly Prost and I in New York, upon her election to the ICC’s bench in 2017 👊🏼
September 2, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Standing both literally and figuratively with ICC staff and Canadian jurists under attack from the Trump regime.
Here is Kimberly Prost and I in New York, upon her election to the ICC’s bench in 2017 👊🏼
Here is Kimberly Prost and I in New York, upon her election to the ICC’s bench in 2017 👊🏼