Second Joint African Union – International Criminal Court Seminar Concludes in Ethiopia

(LegalLaw247.com, October 18, 2012 ) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -- On 17 and 18 October 2012, 50 people representing 21 African States gathered in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) for a joint seminar hosted by the African Union (AU) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to establish greater cooperation and mutual understanding. This was the second joint AU/ICC seminar of a technical nature held at AU headquarters, the first one being held on 18 and 19 July 2011.

In light of the ICC’s 10th anniversary this year, the meeting focused on the lessons learned from the first ICC proceedings, particularly from its first trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. The seminar also helped participants enhance their understanding of the various stages of ICC proceedings, from the preliminary examinations stage to the judgment and appeals.

Seminar participants included representatives of the African Union Commission and the Permanent Missions of the African Union Member States, as well as ICC Officials. The event was held with the support of the International Organisation of La Francophonie as well as the Governments of Austria and The Netherlands.

The ICC is the first permanent, treaty-based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.


--------

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int.



The International Criminal Court (ICC)
Fadi El Abdallah
+31 (0)70 515-9152
fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int

Source: EmailWire.Com