08 Dec 2003: ISS Seminar, Pretoria: South Africa and the International Criminal Court SEMINAR: SOUTH AFRICA AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT. THE IMPACT OF THE ROME STATUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT: QUESTIONS OF EXTRADITION, AMNESTY, COOPERATION AND AMERICAN PRESSURE Monday, 8 December 2003 Â Â Presented by the CRIME AND JUSTICE PROGRAMME Â [Presentation-Max du Plessis] [Presentation-Anton Katz] Â The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court became operative on 01 July 2002, thereby affording the ICC jurisdiction over acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. South Africa is one of many nations that has actively supported the creation of the ICC. This seminar will provide an introduction to the International Criminal Court and its relationship with South Africa, and will consider some of the more pertinent and problematic aspects of this relationship. In particular, attention will be given to the question of South Africa’s role as promoter of the International Criminal Court within the African Union and SADC. Issues around extradition and mutual cooperation (particularly within the AU and SADC) will be considered, and experts will discuss the effect of amnesties granted by domestic States, for instance through truth commissions, and the manner in which they will be dealt with under the Rome Statute. Â The Seminar aspires to provide a platform for making a concrete contribution to the better understanding of the International Criminal Court and its role within the region, and to highlight the importance of South Africa’s role in the promotion and implementation of the Rome Statute Speakers: Anton Katz: Advocate of the High Court, Member of the Cape Bar and Member of the New York Bar, Adv. Katz is a sometime Consultant to the African Union on extradition law. Max du Plessis: Senior Lecturer: Howard College School of Law, University of Natal, Durban, and Advocate of the High Court and Associate Member of the Natal Bar. Du Plessis is the South African Member of the International Law Association’s International Criminal Court Committee. Â Date: 08 December 2003 Time: 10h30 – 12:30 (light lunch served afterwards) Venue: ISS, Brooklyn Court, Block C, Veale Street East, Pretoria (map) RSVP: [email protected] Tel: (012) 346 9500 or fax: (012) 460-0998 Â This seminar is made possible by the generous funding of the Ford Foundation, the US Embassy, and USAID. Â Â
