In the Dock: Defence Rights at the ICC

A new documentary about the International Criminal Court (ICC) , In the Dock: Defence Rights at the ICC, was premiered at the Kurhaus Hotel in The Hague as part of the Ninth Seminar of Counsel organised by the ICC Registry.

In the Dock: Defence Rights at the ICC is a 27-minute educational film that covers a number of subjects including the presumption of innocence, fair trial guarantees and the right to counsel. The film is informed by interviews with defence counsel currently practicing before the ICC, international criminal law experts and elected officials of the ICC, including ICC President Sang-Hyun Song and the Former Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Richard Goldstone.
 

Click here to view a 15 minute version of the film
 

Liliana De Marco Coenen, Head of the IBA’s ICC Outreach Programme and Co-director of the Film stated: ‘Through the 13 experts interviewed in the film, In the Dock provides a cross section of perspectives on defence issues. Viewers are presented with the opportunity to expand their understanding of the workings of the International Criminal Court via the narratives of individuals who work there. The Film is likely to appeal to a broad audience of established legal professionals, academics, students, and those with a general interest in this complex Court.’

In addition to the challenges facing counsel and the Court, In the Dock also highlights the dedication of those who work at the ICC and the continued collaboration between the IBA and the ICC on important projects, including, the Calling African Female Lawyers Campaign which aims to encourage more African female lawyers to sign up to the ICC Lists of Counsel and Assistants to Counsel. Featured in the footage is one such lawyer who answered the call and is now fully immersed in the work of the ICC. She shares her experience.

IBA Executive Director, Mark Ellis, commented on the documentary: ‘We hope the Film  will help attorneys gain  insight on the challenges associated with practicing international criminal law.’ He added: ‘The IBA recognises that a trial’s  fairness is multi-dimensional. In the Dock brings to light  issues that need to be addressed in order to ensure that the rights of suspects and accused  are respected.