Advocates, critics, or partners? The shifting relationships between civil society and international criminal mechanisms

ADVOCATES, CRITICS OR PARTNERS? THE SHIFTING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CIVIL SOCIETY AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL MECHANISMS

Thursday, 26th January 2023

18:00 - 19:30, with drinks reception to follow 

In May 2022, the ICC Prosecutor launched an initiative to strengthen the relationship between the Office of the Prosecutor and civil society organisations, now considered as “critical partners in our common goal to achieve accountability for international crime”. Since the establishment of the ICTY and ICTR, the role of civil society in documenting crimes, collecting information, and engaging with the international criminal courts and tribunals has increased exponentially, along with their ownership of and investment in the resulting international criminal trials. The roles played by civil society have also changed and expanded over time, and relationships with the courts and their various organs have also shifted. At the ICC, reliance on local civil society actors as ‘intermediaries’, including to implement core functions of the Court’s work such as outreach to victims, has long been a source of debate.

You are invited to join a discussion in The Hague, between members of Doughty Street Chambers’ International Team and guests, on how the Prosecutor’s approach toward civil society is shifting, and what impact this might have on the Prosecution’s work, on fair trials and meaningful engagement with victims.

Doughty Street Chambers has partnered with The Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies to bring this event to you.

We hope you can join us.

The event has now reached capacity. 

If you are interested in attending this event, please fill out this form and you will be added to our wait list. 

This event is aimed at practitioners and academics in the fields of International Law and International Criminal Law, civil society representatives and those with an interest in these areas and the work of the Prosecutor. 

Please note that due to limited space, attendance is not guaranteed. We will be in touch to confirm your attendance upon registration. 

Opening remarks:

Dr. Joe Powderly, Associate Professor of Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Director of the Grotius PhD Track Programme.

Moderator: 

Kevin Jon Heller, Professor of International Law and Security at the University of Copenhagen, Professor of Law at the Australian National University, and Academic Expert, Doughty Street Chambers

Panel:

Kate Gibson, Associate Tenant, Doughty Street Chambers and Defence Counsel before the international courts

Megan Hirst, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers and Victims’ Counsel before the international courts

Wayne Jordash KC, Associate Tenant, Doughty Street Chambers and Managing Partner, Global Rights Compliance Law Firm and Foundation

Amal Nassar, Independent consultant, former civil society representative

Deputy Prosecutor Niang and his Special Co-ordinator Ms Cristina Ribeiro, ICC Office of the Prosecutor