By Carol Natukunda
13th June 2019 04:28 PM
The retreat convened by ICC aimed at promoting open dialogue and in-depth discussions relating to the mandate and activities of the Court
Participants of the ICC Retreat with African States Parties to the Rome Statute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 12 June 2019. Courtesy photo The International Criminal Court (ICC) President, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji has urged organisations to play a role in preventing war crimes and crimes against humanity. “National, regional and international bodies all have a role to play in deterring genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, and in ensuring that when such crimes nevertheless occur, questions of accountability are asked and efforts are made to provide redress to the victims”, Judge Eboe-Osuji, stated. He made the remarks on Wednesday, June 12, in a retreat with the African State Parties to the Rome Statute, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The retreat convened by ICC aimed at promoting open dialogue and in-depth discussions relating to the mandate and activities of the Court in the fight against impunity for the gravest crimes, as listed under the Rome Statute, Government delegates from 22 African States Parties, the Legal Counsel of the African Union, ICC and Trust Fund for Victims officials as well as representatives of the European Union and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, attended the retreat. According to a press statement from ICC, participants shared experiences and explored avenues to strengthen engagement and cooperation within the framework of the complementarity principle enshrined in the Rome Statute. Some African leaders have previously been critical of the Court over what they claimed as selective prosecution. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has particularly referred to the ICC as “a useless tool”.
Some African leaders have previously been critical of the Court over what they claimed as selective prosecution. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has particularly referred to the ICC as “a useless tool”.