IJCentral: International Justice Central

International criminal court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has dismissed attempts by two American professors to block the trial of Kenyas post election violence suspects at the Hague as unfounded and of no relevance. Ocampo also says he has written to the Kenya government requesting for details on measures it has taken to protect potential witnesses in the trial of suspected post election violence suspects. In their suit, professors Max Hilaire and William Cohn argue that Kenya is not a failed state and they see no reason why post election violence suspects should be tried at the hague. Ocampo was speaking in an exclusive interview with KTNs Beatrice Marshall.

On 20 January 2010 two new judges, elected by the State Parties to the Rome Statute, were sworn-in.

The new judges are: Ms Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi (Argentina), and Ms Kuniko Ozaki (Japan).

The International Criminal Court has a bench of 18 judges who are nationals of States Parties to the Rome Statute. Judges are chosen from among persons of high moral character, impartiality and integrity who possess the qualifications required in their respective countries for appointment to the highest judicial offices.

Anyone hoping that the international criminal court will investigate the post election crisis may have something to worry about. Two American scholars have written to the ICCs pre-trial chamber asking that Luis Moreno Ocampos application to prosecute be halted, arguing that the threshhold for the ICC to take over Kenyas case may not have been reached. John-Allan Namu reports on what could be a disturbing development for victims of the 2008 post- election violence.

Two American Professors have moved to the International Criminal Court at the Hague seeking stop Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo from taking over the post election violence case. The two are questioning the mandate of the ICC to try Kenyan case. The government has dismissed the application.

A Conversation with Luis Moreno Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Since the Court’s creation in 2002, it has carried forth investigations all around the world issuing warrants against some of the worst perpetrators of crimes against humanity in territories like Darfur, Gaza and Eastern Congo. With 110 member states the Court has grown significantly since its beginnings. Luis Moreno Ocampo, its Head Prosecutor, will be sharing with us the challenges the Court has faced in its short existence.

How crucial is it that a heinous crime be investigated on an international level? The International Criminal Court,or ICC for short,is tasked with tracking down systematic human rights violations. Independently—and around the world.The first ICC trial began in February 2009. The accused: Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. How are chief prosecutor Ocampo and his staff approaching the case,and how are they gathering evidence? And just how powerful is the International Criminal Court? In the al-Bashir case,the court’s authority appears to be quite limited. Despite the arrest warrant issued against him,the Sudanese president is still free to roam the African continent. But chief prosecutor Ocampo has no doubt that al-Bashir will one day stand trial in the Hague.

Francisca Sumay works at the International Criminal Court. She finds the job reassuring: In her view,the institution will do much to prevent future crimes.Meanwhile,she hopes to visit Germany. Ever since DAAD,the German Academic Exchange Service,financed her studies,she’s had the utmost respect for the country and its people.

Thousands of people are persecuted,tortured and oppressed each day. And most of the time,perpetrators can feel secure in the knowledge that they won’t ever be held responsible for their actions - unless witnesses are brave enough to stand up and testify in a court of law.Witness,an organization founded by English musician Peter Gabriel,helps victims find their voice. His idea: arm as many people as possible with cameras to raise the world’s awareness of human rights abuses. Without NGOs like Witness and the organization’s staff - people who often risk their lives for their work - much of the evidence against war criminals would not come to light. Bukeni Waruzi spent six years collecting filmed material on child soldiers - video that was used in the case against Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Luis Moreno Ocampo, prosecutor for the International Criminal Court candidly discusses the situation in Sri Lanka with CNN staff.

http://www.hrw.org/en/asia/sri-lanka

A trial is under way at the International Criminal Court looking into a massacre that left hundreds of Hema and Lendu dead in Eastern Congo.