iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Joined CBC Hanomansing Live last night to talk about the new U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court, from minute 1:32: lnkd.in/dtkPSBRk

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Talking ICC with CBC. As I said, the Court is a canary in the coalmine. Defending the institution is to defend international law and justice itself.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Congratulations to Navi Pillay on winning the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in promoting and defending international law! I have been honored to work with Navi - and even write a few speeches - over the years.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Here's hoping that the EU, UK and Canada have their Blocking Statutes ready tomorrow, to insulate the ICC from incoming U.S. sanctions...

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

🚨 Major news: the #ICC has unsealed four arrest warrants in the situation in Afghanistan over persecution as a crime against humanity, on gender grounds against girls, women and other persons non-conforming with the Taliban’s policy on gender, gender identity or expression 👇

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In Mauritius, working on financial & international crimes, but wearing my pin & thinking of the missing & disappeared children who were stolen from their families and taken to Residential Schools, and sharing what happened w my international law colleagues. #OrangeShirtDay #TruthAndReconciliation

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Very good and significant news in the display and international justice world. The #ICC Assembly of States Parties will not be held at the UN in New York, but in The Hague. There’s no way America was going to be rewarded for its behavior and no way participants could be safe.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"While the impact has been limited, these trials set the principle of individual criminal responsibility of company directors in international crimes." In Nuremberg, “we started to judge company executives and managers" justiceinfo.net/en/106304-nu...

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Led by Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler, the #ICC has spent the past year overhauling its systems, shifting its office software from Microsoft to Germany’s openDesk, and finding workarounds on banking and health insurance. ICC is insulated against US sanctions: www.ft.com/content/702d...

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

"How can you possibly be opposed to prosecuting the very worst crimes? I believe there can be only one response. To say: hands off the ICC, and all those other institutions that protect the international legal order." - Dutch PM at #UNGA www.government.nl/documents/20... #ICC

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Canada again allowed an aircraft carrying Netanyahu to enter its territory & use its airspace, in defiance of the #ICC warrant against the Israeli leader. I hope FM Anand makes clear: did she approve this? Does she believe those wanted by the #ICC are free to use our airspace?

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The language of annihilating an entire state and its people should never be accepted as "the language of war". Ever.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

American Senator Van Hollen calling European states, Canada, and other #ICC member-states to sanction Rubio and Trump for obstructing the #ICC's work, including into Netanyahu's atrocities. Reminder that the White House has been clear: it is seeking to destroy the Court to protect Bibi.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The idea that a state cannot commit genocide because it is engaged in war is misinformation used to deflect from credible genocide accusations. It's wrong. See: the Holocaust with WWII, Srebrenica with the Bosnian war, and the Rwandan Genocide with the Rwandan Civil War.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Last week's conference at McGill Law on "Canada and the International Use of Force Regime: Preserving, Reforming, and Rebuilding the Rules-Based Order" was terrific. An honour to co-convene it. Great convos, panels, & audience. Tons of insights & plans to push Canada to promote international law!

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I’ve been told this too, from UN sources - the US will sanction the #ICC as an institution this week, & that they have considered designating the Court as a terrorist or terrorist supporting body. All for Netanyahu (and Putin). States that believe in the rule of law must denounce this lunacy.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Dominik Hasek just commented and endorsed my Tweet about Ovechkin... Being a massive hockey fan and big accountability for war crimes guy, this is a cool moment for me.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

No one for peace and love is for Putin. No one for peace and love shills for a man accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court -- for stealing Ukrainian children. This is sports-washing horseshit. The NHL, Ovechkin, and the Washington Capitals know it.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

To those who don't believe that the powerful - including presidents - can't end up facing justice at the ICC.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

NHL star Alex Ovechkin is once against shilling for Vladimir Putin, showing up in a political ad for the Russian leader, despite an outstanding #ICC warrant for Putin's arrest over war crimes in Ukraine. Let's hope sports journalist have the courage to ask how he can justify such terrible behaviour

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

"The bus was clearly identified as an MSF vehicle, with a large MSF sticker visible on its roof. Once again, Israeli forces have shown a blatant disregard for the safety of humanitarian and medical personnel. Nowhere is safe in Gaza." - MSF 👇

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

🚨 What is the future of international law and Canada's role in upholding it? If you're in Montreal on 18 Sept, join us for a great event: Canada and the International Use of Force Regime: Preserving, Reforming, or Rebuilding the Rules-Based Order Register here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/canada-and...

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Israel's foreign minister is now working with Canada's opposition to directly undermine the Canadian government's stance against atrocities in the West Bank and Gaza -- while complaining of Ottawa's 'interference' in their domestic politics. You can't make this up.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

"The people of the camps have been promised much, by many, for over twenty years. They can bear the truth that the money does not yet exist. What they cannot bear is another promise that quietly disappears." So proud of my friend Abd Albasit Mohamed on his appearance at the #ICC today!

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

These guys just love naming absolutely everything they can after Italian explorers.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

🇺🇸 (this is real) One country - the United States - voted against a UN General Assembly Resolution adopting an African proposal for a new world map, which shows countries’ true size relative to one another.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Ukraine President Zelensky says that he will work with Israel's PM Netanyahu - wanted by the #ICC on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity - "to bring about more security." Just a few months ago, Ukraine condemned Israel for taking multiple shipments of grain stolen by Russia.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Good morning, America 🇺🇸 Canadians are giving serious consideration to changing the name of "President" to Dictator and "administration" to regime. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Absolutely right 👇 The IDF's decision not to pursue a criminal investigation into the killing of World Central Kitchen staff, including a Canadian is *unacceptable*. So, now what? Canada can step in. It has the laws and abilities to open its own criminal investigation. Do it.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

France *condemns* all forms of threats and coercive measures against the ICC. Spain *deplores* new sanctions from Trump administration. Germany *reaffirms* its support for the ICC. The Netherlands *stands firmly behind the ICC*. Canada: 🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗 cc: @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Canada issues sanctions against a 🇨🇦-owned company Streit Group over its involvement in Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine 👇 Streit also faces allegations of violating the arms embargo in Sudan, but faces no sanctions over that. It's also unclear if its boss Guerman Goutorov was sanctioned.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

This rhetoric bat-shit crazy and some of it verges on the genocidal. People who incite such rabid, racist hate, should never, ever be allowed to hold an elected office. How is it even legal? In sane places, inciting such hate and violence is a crime.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

It may not be surprising, but it's nevertheless sad to see a Canadian newspaper trumpet Washington's call to demolish the #ICC, and siding with impunity for Putin, Netanyahu, and the Taliban. This is now part of the right's firmament, along with anti-trans politics and Residential School denialism.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

And these ding dongs want the world to follow their example 😅 US government map of Africa mislabels every country at global conference reuters.com/world/africa...

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

"Canada helped build the court through a coalition of the willing. It must now resist predatory coercion and assemble another coalition to preserve and reform it." Canada Must Protect the International Criminal Court www.policymagazine.ca/canada-must-... #ICC

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Hopefully that means an end to saying it's up to others whether they violate international law, opposing wars of aggression, not allowing #ICC suspects to fly through our airspace, & rallying around the Court - all of which happen to be in line with respecting our sovereignty.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

The small group that voted against an extension of the UN human rights chief’s mandate includes the 🇺🇸 , 🇷🇺 , 🇰🇵 , 🇮🇱 , 🇦🇷 and 🇲🇱. France was not amused, stating: “The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore… And the world no longer listens to it.”

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

France says what we are thinking out loud 👀 👀 👀

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

This whole “Mamdani should focus on NY" line ignores that NYC hosts the UN & that New Yorkers surely care if wanted war criminals roam their streets. Politicians at *every* level should be calling for the arrest of wanted war criminals. The only city that should welcome Netanyahu is The Hague.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

"Canadians are asking whether Canada’s foreign policy on the ICC is made in Ottawa, or now dictated from Washington... Now is the time for Canada to be boldly defending judges, courts, and the rules that help to prosecute war criminals and human rights abusers." - @heathermcpherson.bsky.social 👇

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

"I feel sorry for Americans. If you can't be friends with Canada, then you almost certainly do not have a friend anywhere in the world. And that is a very lonely place to be." Good message from BC Premier Eby:

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

The question is not whether Canada will leave the #ICC, Minister @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social, but rather: what will Canada do to defend the Court from the unwarranted, mafia-style attacks waged against it by the United States?

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

An UK diplomatic account in Israel (on Twitter) was suspended after this thread on a joint statement signed on by Canada and condemning the torturous conditions faced by Palestinians in Israeli "administrative detention"👇

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Canada can do the same to protect the #ICC and its staff 👇 We have the legislation to effectively nullify the effect of sanctions on 🇨🇦 ICC Judge, Kimberly Prost. Foreign Minister @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social and PM @mark-carney.bsky.social have refused to do so. Prost was sanctioned a year ago.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Canada is not a member of the UN Security Council in part bc of its lackluster approach to international law, but it did play a central role in creating the ICC. So, where is its defence of the Court? Is Ottawa’s policy on the ICC really made in Washington, @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social?

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Canada is standing aside as the US seeks to destroy the #ICC, a court 🇨🇦 helped create, & ruin the lives of those who have dedicated their life to combating the worst atrocities. Forget elbows up; where is our spine @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social? We must urgently defend the ICC.

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

What Jason Kenney calls "brilliant" is a horribly inaccurate account of the abolition of slavery 👇 The video he's applauding speaks admiringly of the compensation of enslavers, omitting that enslaved ppl received nothing. And what "Canadian version" does he allude to??

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Mark Kersten @markkersten.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Staggering just how deeply the Memorial to Resistance of the Nazis in Berlin resonates today. Fascism must be resisted, in all of its forms.

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