ICC confirms charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Uganda rebel leader – Jurist.org

Report on the Confirmation of Charges Against Joseph Kony and its Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction and Summary of Findings

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber III has confirmed 39 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The decision, rendered in absentia, commits Mr. Kony to trial, marking a significant step towards accountability for atrocities that have severely undermined multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Uganda. The charges relate to acts perpetrated between July 1, 2002, and December 31, 2005. This report analyzes the charges and their direct implications for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

2.0 Confirmed Charges and Legal Basis

The Chamber found substantial grounds to believe Mr. Kony is responsible for the following crimes under the Rome Statute. The charges reflect a systematic assault on human dignity and societal stability.

2.1 Direct Perpetrator (10 Charges)

• Crimes Against Humanity: Enslavement, rape, torture, and persecution on age and gender grounds.
• War Crimes: Rape, torture, and sexual slavery.

2.2 Indirect Co-perpetrator (29 Charges)

These charges stem from crimes committed by LRA members under Mr. Kony’s command during attacks on civilian populations and facilities.

1. Crimes Against Humanity: Murder, torture, enslavement, forced marriage, rape, and persecution.
2. War Crimes: Intentionally directing attacks against civilians, murder, torture, sexual slavery, pillaging, destruction of property, and the recruitment and use of children under the age of 15 in hostilities.

3.0 Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

3.1 SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The actions of the LRA represent a fundamental attack on the principles of SDG 16. The 38-year insurgency has directly contravened key targets:

• Target 16.1 (Reduce Violence): The LRA’s campaign of murder, mutilation, and abduction created a state of perpetual conflict and insecurity, directly opposing the goal of reducing all forms of violence.
• Target 16.2 (End Abuse and Exploitation of Children): The confirmed charge of recruiting and using child soldiers is a grave violation of this target.
• Target 16.3 (Promote the Rule of Law): The ICC’s legal proceedings against Mr. Kony are a critical mechanism for upholding the rule of law and ensuring access to justice for victims, thereby strengthening institutional responses to mass atrocities.

3.2 SDG 5: Gender Equality

The charges highlight a systematic use of sexual and gender-based violence as a weapon of war, constituting a severe impediment to achieving SDG 5.

• Target 5.1 (End Discrimination): The charge of persecution on gender grounds demonstrates a deliberate policy of discrimination against women and girls.
• Target 5.2 (Eliminate Violence Against Women): The confirmed charges of rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage are direct violations of this target, seeking to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in public and private spheres.

3.3 SDG 4 & SDG 8: Quality Education & Decent Work

The LRA’s activities have had a devastating impact on education and economic stability, undermining progress towards SDG 4 and SDG 8.

• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Attacks on schools and the abduction of children for use as soldiers or for sexual slavery have destroyed safe learning environments (Target 4.a) and denied a generation access to education.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The crimes of enslavement and pillaging are direct affronts to human dignity and economic rights, specifically contravening Target 8.7, which calls for the eradication of forced labour and modern slavery.

4.0 Procedural Status and Conclusion

Joseph Kony remains at large since an ICC arrest warrant was issued in 2005. The confirmation of charges hearing proceeded in absentia in September 2025, a procedural step to determine if sufficient evidence exists for a trial. However, under the Rome Statute, a full trial cannot commence without the accused being present. The continuation of this case underscores the international community’s commitment to ending impunity. Holding perpetrators like Joseph Kony accountable is indispensable for restoring peace, delivering justice to victims, and creating the conditions necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in conflict-affected regions.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The entire article revolves around the functioning of an international justice institution, the International Criminal Court (ICC), and its efforts to hold an individual accountable for heinous crimes. It directly addresses the need for justice for victims of armed conflict, the promotion of the rule of law at the international level, and the fight against impunity for perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The article details the ICC’s legal process, from issuing an arrest warrant to confirming charges, which is a core component of building strong institutions for peace and justice.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article explicitly lists charges related to severe forms of gender-based violence. The charges against Joseph Kony include “crimes against humanity of enslavement, rape, torture, and persecution on age and gender grounds,” as well as “war crimes of rape, torture, and sexual slavery” and “forced marriage.” These crimes disproportionately affect women and girls, making SDG 5 a central theme.
3. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The article mentions that some of the crimes occurred during “attacks on schools and other facilities amid the armed conflict.” This directly undermines the goal of providing safe and inclusive learning environments for all, which is a critical aspect of ensuring quality education.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article details the charges against Kony, which include “murder,” “torture,” “mutilations,” and “intentionally directing attacks against civilians,” all of which are extreme forms of violence that this target aims to reduce.
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The article explicitly states that the court confirmed Kony was responsible for “recruiting children under 15 into the LRA, involving them in hostilities,” which is a grave violation and a form of child exploitation addressed by this target.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The article is a case study of this target in action. The ICC’s process—issuing an arrest warrant, conducting a confirmation of charges hearing, and committing Kony to trial—demonstrates the promotion of the rule of law and the provision of access to justice for victims of the LRA’s insurgency at the international level.
2. Under SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The charges of “rape,” “sexual slavery,” “forced marriage,” and “persecution on… gender grounds” are direct examples of the violence against women and girls that this target seeks to eliminate.
3. Under SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The mention of “attacks on schools” directly relates to the failure to provide safe learning environments, highlighting a critical challenge to achieving this target in conflict zones.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG Target 16.1 (Reduce violence):
   • The article implies indicators related to the prevalence of violence. The specific charges of “murder,” “torture,” and “attacks against civilians” serve as qualitative indicators of the types and severity of violence that need to be reduced. Progress would be measured by a decrease in such incidents.
2. For SDG Target 16.2 (End violence against children):
   • A direct indicator is mentioned: the “recruiting [of] children under 15 into the LRA.” The number of children recruited and used in armed conflict is a key indicator used to measure progress on this target.
3. For SDG Target 16.3 (Promote rule of law and access to justice):
   • The entire legal process described is an indicator. The ICC’s actions—issuing an arrest warrant, holding a confirmation of charges hearing in absentia, and committing the suspect to trial—are procedural indicators that demonstrate the functioning of an international justice mechanism. These actions measure progress in holding perpetrators accountable.
4. For SDG Target 5.2 (Eliminate violence against women and girls):
   • The article lists specific crimes that can be used as indicators: the incidence of “rape,” “sexual slavery,” “forced marriage,” and “persecution on… gender grounds.” Tracking and reducing the occurrence of these crimes are central to measuring progress toward this target.
5. For SDG Target 4.a (Provide safe learning environments):
   • The mention of “attacks on schools” is a direct indicator. The number of attacks on educational facilities, students, and personnel is a recognized indicator for monitoring the safety of learning environments, particularly in conflict areas.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: jurist.org