The International Criminal Court continues its information and outreach campaign in the interior of the Central African Republic

This week, the Outreach Unit went to the town of Sibut (Kémo Prefecture) to meet with the local authorities, representatives of the various religious groups, women’s groups and representatives of the voluntary sector.

Two awareness sessions were organised on Wednesday 24 February at the premises of the Ministry of Social Affairs in Sibut. A total of 125 people took part in these activities. The purpose of these initial meetings was to explain the general principles governing the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the authorities and the main representatives of civil society in Sibut and to provide them with information on the progress of the proceedings in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo. For around one third of participants, this was the first time they had heard of the ICC. Many of the questions asked by the public thus concerned the mandate and functioning of the Court, and in particular the question of its independence. The opportunity provided to victims under the Rome Statute to participate in proceedings and to seek reparation also aroused a good deal of interest among the various entities that had come together for the occasion.

In a few weeks’ time, the Court’s representatives will return to Sibut to organise an information and outreach session open to the general public.

For further information, please contact Fabienne Chassagneux, Field Outreach Co-ordinator in Bangui, on + 236 75 76 36 09 or at the following e-mail address: [email protected]