Central African Republic: International Criminal Court joins forces with women to celebrate “Women’s Week”

This week, the International Criminal Court’s Outreach Unit took part in two events organised by women’s groups to celebrate Women’s Week.

The Central African Women’s Organisation (OFCA) organised a programme of activities and seminars during the week of 6 to 13 March. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was invited to participate in these events on 10 March. Over 300 women attended. This meeting was based around a presentation on the Court’s mandate, role, functioning and activities. The progress of the proceedings in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo was also explained with the support of a film in Sango. This gave Court officials the opportunity to explain to a wide audience the decision taken on 8 March by the judges of Trial Chamber III to postpone the commencement of the trial of Mr Bemba to 5 July 2010. Many women from the OFCA asked questions about how the Court functions and about victims’ rights at the Court - rights which had never previously existed at an international criminal court. The leaders of the association extended a warm invitation to the ICC to return very soon for another meeting at the OFCA.

The ICC held another outreach session on 11 March as part of the national conference of the Union of Sisters of the UFEB (Union of Baptist Churches) held in Bangui from 10 to 13 March. A total of 328 women gathered in the Fou neighbourhood of Bangui to meet the ICC’s outreach team. This interactive event began with a host of songs on the themes of peace and justice. The audience was then given a talk in Sango about the Court. This gave the Court’s Outreach Unit a further opportunity to explain that the commencement of the trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba had been postponed to 5 July, and to answer any questions. Lastly, the women were given the floor to express their opinions on what they had just heard about the ICC. The session ended as it had begun, with music and celebration.