The Arab and Egyptian Coalitions for an International Criminal Court participate in conference on “the Darfour crisis and the ICC”

Cairo, 13^th January 2008

The Arab Coalition for an International Criminal Court and the Egyptian Coalition for an International Criminal Court  organised a conference under the title “the Darfour Crisis and the International Criminal Court.” , on Saturday 19^th January 2008.

The conference presented a number of research papers authored by experts in international human rights law and international criminal law. International criminal law expert and assistant in the ICC’s prosecutor’s office Jennifer Schense participated in the conference. She also participated in a number of legal, diplomatic and media engagements.

The conference aimed at presenting the concept and evolution of international criminal litigation and the Rome Statute which established the ICC. It presented the ICC’s jurisdiction and how cases are raised before it and will examine the court’s complementary jurisdiction and the extent to which this affects regional sovereignty.

The conference also casted light on the Darfour crisis and its historical dimensions, the stanc of the Sudanese government and the United Nations Security Council towards the crisis, the ICC’s adoption of the Darfour case and the extent of the Sudanese government’s cooperation with the Court. The conference also suggested ways out of the crisis in Darfour and examined the role of neighbouring countries and regional and international organisations in reaching a solution to it.

This conference forms part of a series of events the Arab Coalition will be organising in 2008 in conjunction with coalitions in Arab countries including the Egyptian Coalition for an International Criminal Court and the Lebanese, Bahraini and Yemeni Coalitions which seek to encourage Arab states membership of the ICC and raise juristic awareness of the ICC and its role in ensuring that international criminal justice takes root.

Background to the Arab Coalition for the International Criminal Court

A special meeting took place between Arab non-governmental organisations on the fringes of the first conference on Arab Justice organised by the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) and held in Beirut from the 14^th – 16^th June 1999. The meeting was organised to study means of forming coalitions of Arab non-governmental organisations for the establishment of the ICC and was a response to the plenary session held during the conference. The plenary session concluded that it was necessary to establish Arab organisations to promote the idea of the ICC and address the relevant authorities in Arab countries, encouraging them to sign and ratify the Rome Statute which established the ICC.

Participants decided to establish the Arab Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations for the Establishment of the ICC. A steering committee was also created whose duties were defined in the light of several key points the most important of which are the putting in place of a plan of action for the Coalition, the production of publications and the organisation of the workshops necessary to present a complete picture to Arab public opinion of the importance of the ICC’s establishment.

The Coalition’s aims and strategies

-         To call on Arab governments to ratify the ICC’s founding statute

-         To coordinate the efforts of Arab non-governmental organisations with the aim of creating public opinion favourable to the establishment of the ICC

-         To inform civil society institutions and political parties of the importance of the ICC and its role

-         To call on Arab jurists to discuss the establishment of the ICC and study the extent to which it will be of benefit to the Arab region

-         To provide media support and supply non-Coalition members with information on the ICC

To access statements issued by Coalition members visit: www.acicc.org/ar/members.asp

Background to the Egyptian Coalition for the International Criminal Court

ACIJLP took part in a conference held in Egypt in early 1998 to discuss the question of the ICC and its influence on national jurisdiction, and was seized of the importance of international criminal justice which constitutes one of the most significant gaps in international law.

ACIJLP also took part in the proceedings of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court held from the 15^th – 17^th July 1998 in Rome. During the Conference’s various proceedings the issue of the ICC’s founding statute. Immediately after its participation in the Conference ACIJLP addressed its efforts to promoting a legal culture of international criminal justice, particularly concerning the ICC and its role and encouraging ratification of the founding statute agreed on in the Rome Diplomatic Conference.

As a result of the importance of coordinating efforts between the various civil society organisations it was decided that ACIJLP would call on all Egyptian human rights organisations to examine the possibility of joint action as non-governmental organisations in order to play a part in the role assumed by international organisations in strengthening the idea of the establishment of the ICC. It was from this premise that the creation of the Egyptian Coalition for the International Criminal Court was announced on 1^st June 1999. The Coalition’s members agreed on the necessity of as large a number as possible of Egyptian organisations joining in order to strengthen group activity aimed at bringing about the establishment of the Court.

NGO members of the Egyptian Coalition

• The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession

• The Land Center for Human Rights

• The Group for Democratic Development

• The Center for Legal Studies and Information

• The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

• The Human Rights Center for the Assistance of Prisoners

• The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

• The Kalima Center for Development and Human Rights

• The Association for Legal Aid

• The Human Rights Group for the Assistance of Prisoners

• The Center for Egyptian Womens’ Legal Assistance

• The Egyptian Institute for the Development of the Family

• The Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies

• The Kalima Center for Human Rights

• The Shomou Association for the Protection of the Disabled

• The Hisham Mobarak Law Center

• The Arab Organisation for Criminal Reform

• The Egyptian Organization for the Spread and Development of Legal Awareness

• The Center for Alternative Development Studies

• Egyptian organisations have thus combined efforts for the ICC.

A number of activities have been organised including workshops, conferences and training sessions. Details of these activities can be found at: www.acicc.org/ar/members.asp

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