Experts' Roundtable Discussions on the International Criminal Court (ICC)
The IBA Experts’ Roundtable Discussions on the ICC are engaging and thought provoking discussions designed to explore topical issues and challenges confronted by the ICC. The format is that of an informal cross-fire discussion, as if the panelists and the moderator were engaging in conversation, followed by ample time for questions from the public.Held on a regular basis the IBA Experts’ Roundtable on the ICC are attended by a diverse audience which includes diplomats, judges and senior officers from International Courts and Tribunals based in The Hague, NGO leaders, and members of the global legal community.
Witnesses under threat? Roundtable discussion on the ICC’s efforts and challenges in managing and protecting witnesses
15 July 2013
On 15 July 2013, the IBA ICC Programme hosted Witnesses under threat? a roundtable discussion on the ICC’s efforts and challenges in managing and protecting witnesses. The event, held at The Hague Institute for Global Justice, marked the launch of the Programme’s latest report, Witnesses before the International Criminal Court, which encourages reflection on the Court’s reliance on witnesses, assesses its challenges and accomplishments in supporting, protecting and managing witnesses, and provides recommendations for the way forward.
Raising the Bar: Assessing the relationship between lawyers and the ICC after ten years, and charting the way forward
20 November 2012
On 20 November 2012, the IBA ICC Programme held a panel discussion to launch its report Counsel Matters at the ICC: The role of lawyers in establishing international criminal courts and safeguarding their legacy, during the 1th Assembly of States Parties (ASP) Meeting, in The Hague.
Great Expectations: exploring individual and mutual responsibilities of states and the ICC
30 November 2010, The Peace Palace, The Hague
The IBA ICC Programme hosted a roundtable discussion on Great Expectations: exploring individual and mutual responsibilities of states and the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 30 November 2010 at the Peace Palace in The Hague. The discussion examined the relationship between States and the ICC, and in particular issues related to cooperation between states and the Court; efficiency and length of proceedings before the ICC; and the oversight role of ASP in relation to judicial independence of the Court’s organs.The expert panellists discussed reasons for procedural delays, exchange of information and best practices between states and between international tribunals; as well as lack of cooperation and possible remedies to it. The event was moderated by James Goldston, Executive Director of the Open Society Justice Initiative. The President of the ICC, Judge Sang-Hyun Song, delivered the opening remarks.
The panelists included the Assembly of States Parties Facilitator on Cooperation and Ambassador of Ireland, H.E. Mary Whelan; Second Vice-President of the International Criminal Court, Judge Hans-Peter Kaul; International Cooperation Adviser at hte ICC Office of the Prosecutor, Olivia Swaak-Goldman ; and Professor Göran Sluiter of the University of Amsterdam.
Reflections on the 2010 Review Conference: legacy, impact and sustainability of the Rome Statute System
19 January 2010
On 19 January 2010 the IBA ICC Monitoring and Outreach Programme organised a roundtable discussion on ‘Reflections on the 2010 Review Conference: legacy, impact, and sustainability of the Rome Statute System’. The event featured: Judge Philippe Kirsch, Ambassador Jorge Lomonaco, Ambassador Stephen Rapp and Professor William Schabas. Prior to the Roundtable Discussion, The IBA was able to secure exclusive interviews with the US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes, Stephen Rapp [read interview] and the former ICC President, Philippe Kirsch [read interview] on the first ever ICC Review Conference. The roundtable was moderated by Arvinder Sambei.
Discussion focused on the Review Conference for the Rome Statute of the ICC, which took place in Kampala, Uganda, from May 31 to 11 June 2010. The panel analysed the adoption of amendments to the Statute and evaluated the progress of international justice to date. The panel explored the slow progress made by the ICC as well as deep-rooted political problems faced by the Court. Panelists also stressed the issue of how to reinforce national legal systems to make the ICC perform as a court of last resort, and how to provide an incentive for states to try their cases within their own national system.
Making the ICC a global reality through cooperation: perspectives, challenges and strategies
12 November 2008
On 12 November 2008, the IBA Roundtable Discussion on ‘Making the ICC a global reality through cooperation: perspectives, challenges and strategies’. The event featured a high profile panel of experts including the ICC Registrar; the Head of the Jurisdiction, Cooperation and Complementarity Section of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor; the Director of the International Justice Program for Human Rights Watch; and the Focal Point for Cooperation appointed by the Assembly of States Parties. A keynote address was delivered by Judge Theodor Meron, President of the Appeals Chamber for the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The discussion was moderated by Heikelina Verrijn Stuart, and attended by a diverse audience of more than one hundred people.
Held under Chatham House rules, the discussion focused on the duty of cooperation imposed by the Rome Statute, the need to enact ICC implementing legislation, best practices and lessons learned on cooperation and technical assistance between States Parties. In addition, timing of enforcement of court’s decision and arrest warrants were said to be the main challenges, together with effective judicial cooperation and standardised cooperation procedures.
Right to Defence & Equality of Arms before the International Criminal Court
27 November 2007
The IBA roundtable discussion of November 2007 represented the first opportunity issues on the role of the defence and defence counsel before the ICC were publicly discussed. This was a successful event, attended by more than 120 participants, including diplomats, judges, senior ICC officials, representatives of other international tribunals and international non-governmental organisations, lawyers and law professors.
The debate explored whether equality of arms is achievable before the ICC. In answering this question, the issue of the resources allowed to defence teams at the ICC was discussed as well as the issue of competence of defence counsel and the role of the prosecution in respect to defence rights. Experts participating the discussion included: ICC Registrar, Bruno Cathala; Former Lead Counsel of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo before the ICC, Jean Flamme; Principal Counsel of the ICC Office of the Public Counsel for Defence, Xavier-Jean Keïta; Former Deputy Prosecutor at the ICTY, David Tolbert. The discussion was moderated by Todd Benjamin, Journalist at CNN Networks.
The popularity and success of this event launched the now annual experts’ roundtable discussions. A summary of the debate on defence counsel issues was provided in the IBA Outreach Report of September 2008.
Click here for IBA Outreach Report [September 2008]