IJCentral is a resource, developed by Skylight Pictures, for concerned citizens around the world who want an effective International Criminal Court to prosecute perpetrators of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. As the IJCentral network builds, our collective voice will become a way to press political leaders to fulfill the mandate of the ICC.
The International Criminal Court is the world’s first permanent international criminal court, which is established and governed by the Rome Statute. It is located in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998 was a historic step, reflecting the determination of the world community to put an end to impunity and to contribute to the prevention of crimes which threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world.
The ICC has jurisdiction over the most serious crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed after 1 July 2002.
This video was produced in 2011 by the Public Information and Documentation Section of the ICC, for non-profit and educational purposes. The ICC encourages its use, reproduction and distribution for the same purposes. Sale or commercial use is strictly prohibited.
On Tuesday 28 June 2011, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, held a press conference in relation to the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I to issue warrants of arrest against Muammar Abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi.
On 27 June 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued three warrants of arrest respectively for Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi for crimes against humanity (murder and persecution) allegedly committed across Libya from 15 February 2011 until at least 28 February 2011, through the State apparatus and Security Forces.
The Chamber, composed of Judges Sanji Mmasenono Monageng (Presiding), Sylvia Steiner and Cuno Tarfusser, considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the three suspects committed the alleged crimes and that their arrests appear necessary in order to ensure their appearances before the Court; to ensure that they do not continue to obstruct and endanger the Court’s investigations; and to prevent them from using their powers to continue the commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.
The situation in Libya was referred to the ICC Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council, through the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1970 on 26 February 2011. The Security Council decided, under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, that “the Libyan authorities shall cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor pursuant to this resolution” and, while recognizing that States not party to the Rome Statute have no obligations under the Statute, the Security Council urged all States and concerned regional and other international organisations to cooperate fully with the Court and the Prosecutor.
On 3 March 2011, the ICC Prosecutor decided to open an investigation and requested, on 16 May 2011, the issuance of the arrest warrants.
On 27 June 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued three warrants of arrest respectively for Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi for crimes against humanity (murder and persecution) allegedly committed across Libya from 15 February 2011 until at least 28 February 2011, through the State apparatus and Security Forces.
The Chamber, composed of Judges Sanji Mmasenono Monageng (Presiding), Sylvia Steiner and Cuno Tarfusser, considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the three suspects committed the alleged crimes and that their arrests appear necessary in order to ensure their appearances before the Court; to ensure that they do not continue to obstruct and endanger the Court’s investigations; and to prevent them from using their powers to continue the commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.
The situation in Libya was referred to the ICC Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council, through the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1970 on 26 February 2011. The Security Council decided, under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, that “the Libyan authorities shall cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor pursuant to this resolution” and, while recognizing that States not party to the Rome Statute have no obligations under the Statute, the Security Council urged all States and concerned regional and other international organisations to cooperate fully with the Court and the Prosecutor.
On 3 March 2011, the ICC Prosecutor decided to open an investigation and requested, on 16 May 2011, the issuance of the arrest warrants.
While Gadiffi clings to power, accusations of rape used as a state tool have become widespread. Now, as hundreds of cases emerge, the International Criminal Court is to consider whether Libya’s officials have a case to answer.
Rape has long been considered a weapon of war, but its effects on women in Libya, have been compounded with disastrous effect by the extreme stigma and shame associated with rape on Muslim women. Those who dare to speak out risk becoming ostracised from their families and communities and some are left to die. “They are too scared”, says Dr Siham.“Some of them say that their husbands know what happened to them and their husbands left them… some of them were completely abandoned”. But brave women like Iman Al-Obeidi have dared to speak out and in doing so have compelled many more women to do the same. “Her name is on everyone’s lips and she has become a symbol”, says her father. What began as a trickle of reports has now been officially recognised by the International Criminal Court as hundreds more now admit to the horrors suffered at the hands of Gadaffi’s soldiers. To speak out in this way is almost unheard of in Libya, but as DR Siham states, “this revolution has changed everybody”.
Produced by SBS Datline.
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures
The Kenyan government has lost its application challenging the admissibility of the post election violence cases that are currently ongoing at the International Criminal Court. The application had been filed by Attorney General Amos Wako. Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber while throwing out the Kenya’s application said the post election violence cases were properly before court. The ruling effectively dashes hopes of the 6 post election violence suspects of having the cases against them tried through a local mechanism.
The International Criminal Court is accusing the Kenyan government of back peddling on its commitment to have suspected masterminds of the post election violence face trial. ICC’s chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo now wants the government to restate its commitment to the process and guarantee protection for witnesses, especially in light of him having been compelled to disclose all the evidence he intends to use against the suspects.
Our very own blogger Jesse Loncraine makes an appearance at the 27min mark. Go Jesse.
This programme was broadcast on BBC World News on 20 May 2011. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court answered your questions ranging from the calls for an arrest warrant for Colonal Gaddafi to his plans to carry out an investigation in Ivory Coast and everything in between.
Erna Paris’ new book is “The Sun Climbs Slow: Justice in the Age of Imperial America”, describes the new age of international law and the birth of the International Criminal Court, whose mission is prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, Paris also writes about the Bush administration’s opposition to the ICC.
(Original air date April 2008)
For a long time, making compromises on justice with powerful perpetrators of mass atrocities has been an integral part of peace negotiations ending conflicts. The immediate concern of ending the violence often resulted in amnesties for war crimes and crimes against humanity, sometimes even presenting the calls for justice as obstacles to peace.
However in recent years, there has been a marked shift away from the practice of providing immunity from prosecution to those responsible for mass atrocity. This has paralleled a growing understanding that the two goals of peace and justice, rather than being exclusive, are mutually reinforcing. Peace, when understood as enduring and long-term peace, goes beyond the immediate goal of ending a conflict and relies on justice and accountability to ensure sustainability. Where mass crimes are not addressed, when the root causes of conflict are not sought out and removed, when victims’ calls for justice are not heard, the danger of violence recurring remains high.
This ICTJ video explores the relationship between peace and justice as mutually reinforcing goals. ICTJ President David Tolbert and other ICTJ experts speak alongside former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier from Sierra Leone; and human rights activists from Kenya, Indonesia and Colombia on the role of justice in sustaining peace, ensuring non-repetition and reinstating respect for the rule of law.