The International Criminal Court celebrates the Day of International Criminal Justice in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Outreach Unit of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in conjunction with the Réseau d’Animation pour la Paix et l’Information du Développement [Network for the Promotion of Peace and Development Information] (RAPID), a group of journalists from Ituri, eastern DRC, held an information session for journalists on the Day of International Criminal Justice, Saturday 17 July 2010. In addition to journalists from Bunia, the District’s capital, journalists from neighbouring towns such as Mambassa and Kasenyi were present. Representatives of human rights NGOs also took part. A total of some twenty participants attended.
Since the ICC’s jurisdiction is complementary to that of national courts, familiarity with those courts is vital in the fight against impunity for international crimes. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is the military courts that currently have jurisdiction over international crimes. Judge Innocent Mayembe, President of the Bunia Garrison Court and Ndes Anzim, Public Prosecutor at the Bunia Tribunal de Grande Instance, spoke to the journalists on three topics: “The History of International Criminal Justice”, “The Structure of the Military Court System” and “The Structure of the Civil Court System”.
The ICC’s representative also informed participants about the latest developments in the various ongoing cases, with particular emphasis on the case against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. In relation to this case, numerous questions were asked about the time limits for the appeals judges to rule on appeals and on the future course of the proceedings. Lastly, the Coordinator of the national Coalition for the ICC (CCPI) introduced his organisation.
For further information, please contact the Outreach Unit in Bunia by e-mail at the following address: [email protected] or by telephone at: + 243 (0) 99 80 11 416.
Source: Outreach