ICC representatives participate in ICC information event in Kinshasa

ICC-20050915-108

 Representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) took part in a Court information event in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, organised by the Congolese Coalition for the ICC on 13 and 14 September at the Protestant University of Congo, which was attended by some 50 NGO representatives. In their final statement, the coalition members reasserted their will to support and promote the work of the Court. 

The event was opened by the Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC, Mr Serge Brammertz, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden, Mr Magnus Wernstebt.

During the first day, representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor gave presentations on the criteria used in their analyses and on their investigation methodology. 

The following day the focus was on the Registry; participants were informed about the defence, victims’ participation and reparations, and about the protection of victims and witnesses.  Participants were also informed about the work of the ICC’s field office, which recently opened in Kinshasa, and about the awareness-raising work it intends to carry out. 

Following the event, NGOs expressed their commitment to making the Rome Statute accessible to all, and to working with the Court in prosecuting perpetrators of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC and in helping victims and witnesses to have access to the Court.

In 2004, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) referred the situation taking place on its territory since the entry into force of the Rome Statute, the founding text of the ICC, on 1 July 2002, to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC. On 23 June 2004, the Prosecutor opened investigations into the serious crimes allegedly committed, following an in-depth study of the jurisdictional and admissibility requirements of the Rome Statute.

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For further information, please contact the Field Public Information and Outreach Officer of the ICC Paul Madidi on Tel. +243 81 899 46 21