Media Advisory: 6 February 2014

Confirmation of charges hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda: Practical information

ICC-CPI-20140206-MA151

Situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Case: The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda

From 10-14 February 2014, the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda will be held before Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It will start on 10 February at 09:30 (The Hague local time).

The confirmation of charges hearing is not a trial. It is a Pre-Trial hearing held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged. If charges are confirmed, the Pre-Trial Chamber commits the case for trial before a Trial Chamber, which conducts the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.

The ICC has issued two warrants of arrest for Bosco Ntaganda. As the former alleged Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Forces Patriotiques pour la Libération du Congo [Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo] (FPLC), Mr Ntaganda is suspected of 13 counts of war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1 September 2002 and the end of September 2003. On 22 March 2013, Bosco Ntaganda surrendered himself voluntarily and is now in the ICC’s custody.

For more information on this case, please click here.

Relevant documents

Webstreaming of the hearing

The proceedings can be followed with a 30-minute delay on the ICC website at:

Attending the hearing

  • Journalists wishing to cover the hearing are kindly invited to request attendance via email to: [email protected]. All journalists must present a valid press card at the public entrance of the Court, located at Regulusweg (The Hague).
  • Members of the diplomatic corps, NGOs and other members of the public wishing to attend the hearing are kindly invited to request attendance via email to: [email protected]. Attendees must present a valid passport or valid ID with a photo at the public entrance of the Court, located at Regulusweg (The Hague).
Please note that individuals who do not confirm their attendance in advance cannot be guaranteed access to the hearing.

AV materials

Filming or taking pictures are strictly prohibited inside the Court building. However pictures of the hearing will be posted on the Court’s Flickr account.

The integral version of the opening statements and closing arguments will be available for download on an FTP server in video (MPEG-4) and audio (MPEG-3) format and for viewing on the official ICC YouTube Channel.

A video and audio summary of the opening statements and another one of the closing arguments will be available for download on an FTP server in video (MPEG-4) and audio (MPEG-3) format and for viewing on the official ICC YouTube Channel.

An audio-visual programme In the courtroom in French and Swahili summarizing the entire confirmation of charges proceedings will be available the week following the hearing for download on an FTP server in video (MPEG-4) and audio (MPEG-3) format and for viewing on the official ICC YouTube Channel.  

For information on audio-visual material, please email: [email protected] .

Media Centre

For media representatives wishing to use the Court’s media facilities during the confirmation hearing, the Media Centre will open from 08:30 until one hour and a half after the end of the hearing.

The area can sit up to 64 people and includes plasma TV screens; a Wi-Fi internet service; cards (plug + play) for those without Wi-Fi capability in their PC or laptop; 6 computers with internet access; 7 telephones that may be used free of charge for internal calls. For external calls, journalists are advised to purchase 0800 pre-paid phone cards beforehand. Such cards are available at newsagents and train stations. Please note that phone cards cannot be obtained in the vicinity of, or at, the ICC.

Parking facilities

 

Parking facilities are available for media representatives at the Regulusweg and Wegastraat car-parks.

SNG trucks

SNG trucks are not allowed to park alongside the ICC building, but should go to the car park located at the intersection of Regulusweg and Wegastraat.

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: [email protected].

You can also follow the Court’s activities on YouTube and Twitter.