ISS Seminar: The International Criminal Court: Working for Africa

Date: 2009-06-03 to Invalid date

ISS Seminar: The International Criminal Court: Working for Africa
Pretoria, 3 June 2009

 

Hosted by the International Crime in Africa Programme

 

Africa played a leading role in the development of the International Criminal Court (ICC), including the initiation of three of the Court’s four current investigations. Yet recent developments indicate a growing resistance on the part of African leaders and commentators to the Court. The dominant view is that Africa is not treated as an equal participant in the application of international criminal justice, including by the ICC. As these debates gain momentum, the principles underpinning the Court’s work – that individuals responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are brought to justice and that the interests of victims be given priority – are easily forgotten. This seminar will consider these issues, with a focus on what Africa has to gain from the ICC.

 

• Justice Kate O’Regan, Judge of the Constitutional Court of SA will chair the seminar

• Judge Sang-hyun Song, President of the International Criminal Court will discuss Africa’s support for the ICC, the need to respect the Court’s judicial status, and the core aspects of the ICC’s mandate, including the principle of complementarity

• Festus B Aboagye, Senior Research Fellow at the ISS’s Training for Peace Programme will consider the synergies and tensions between the work of the ICC and the African peace and security architecture, and how Africa can engage with the Court in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner

 

Date: Wednesday 3 June 2009

Time: 10h00 – 12h30 (a light lunch will be provided)
Venue: ISS Conference Room, Block C, Brooklyn Court, 361 Veale Street, New Muckleneuk, Brooklyn, Tshwane (Pretoria)
(Parking in Brooklyn Mall and ABSA court)

 

RSVP: Ms Lucia Motloung, Tel: (012) 346 9500; Fax: (012) 460 0998; Email: [email protected]

Seminar Documentation