ICC holds Sub-Regional Seminar of Counsel and the Legal Profession in Arusha, Tanzania, 8-12 February 2016
Building on the experience of the First Sub-Regional Seminar of Counsel and the Legal Profession held in Dakar, Senegal in 2014, today, 8 February 2016, the Court opened its Second Sub-Regional Seminar of this kind, this time in Arusha, Tanzania. The event aims to provide a platform for increased dialogue and cooperation with legal professionals in the region. The Seminar will also provide an update on the activities of the Court and will enable discussions on the establishment of an ICC Bar Association.
Participants in the Second Sub-Regional Seminar include representatives of Tanzania and other high-ranking officials from several countries (magistrates, prosecutors and other practitioners in the justice system), representatives of the diplomatic corps, the academic community, civil society, ICC staff, magistrates of the Tanzanian courts and of the Extraordinary African Chambers, members of the Tanzanian Bar, independent experts as well as students.
The opening address was delivered by the Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Justice of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe, followed by the ICC's Registrar, Mr Herman von Hebel. The Honourable Minister expressed Tanzania's enduring support of the ICC and encouraged all participants to use this Seminar as a platform to strengthen their cooperation with the Court and facilitate its work.
The Registrar of the ICC acknowledged Tanzania's long history as a supporter of international justice by hosting the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and after its closing in December 2015, by continuing to host a branch of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals. Mr. Herman von Hebel also addressed issues relating to cooperation and complementarity and their impact on international justice.
In her speech regarding the role and experience of national, regional and international courts, the First Vice-President of the ICC, Judge Joyce Aluoch further emphasised the importance of Counsel, and the legal profession more generally, in ICC's success. A meaningful defence and representation of victims in Court are an integral part of the administration of justice – for defendants and victims alike.
The remaining three days (10-12 February) will be dedicated to training sessions for Counsel, aiming at further strengthening their competence on legal and practical issues. The training is organised by the International Criminal Court in partnership with the Avocats sans Frontière, and is funded by the European Commission.
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].
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