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The ACIJLP organizes the first Arab training session on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The session will be held at the Helnan Hotel, Cairo, from 24-27 May 2001. The session aims at creating a legal public opinion on the importance of the ICC, which occupies a great deal of attention in the international legal and criminal jurisprudence, but has not received the proper attention at the Arab level yet. The session will discuss the important role to be played by the ICC and the grave crimes that fall within its jurisdiction. These include the crime of genocide, the crime against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. This session is of a special importance given the state of affairs in the Arab region, which necessitates the introduction of an international permanent and independent mechanism that can deter the perpetrators of crimes, and entrench international criminal justice. The session will discuss the comments made on the ICC Statute, the relation between the ICC and the UN Security Council, the complementary roles played by national judges and the ICC, and the legislative commitment by the state parties to the ICC. The discussion will also deal with definition of war crimes, aggression, and the crime against humanity as mentioned in the ICC Statute. It will also cover the United States stance towards the ICC, as well as the stance of Arab states, and other relevant issues. Fifty Arab jurists, including diplomats, judges, lawyers, and law professors will participate in the session. This is in addition to Arab and international experts in the field of international justice, such as Dr. Cherif Bassioni (Egypt and USA), President of Human Rights Institute, the School of Law, University of DePaul, Chicago, and head of the Rome drafting committee; Dr. Mohamed Aziz Shukri (Syria), head of the Syrian delegation to the UN, and to the ICC Preparatory Committee; Jean-Pierre Getti, (France), Charge of Mission, International Federation for Human Rights; Claudio Coratella (Italy), President of the Italian Association for Young Lawyers; Richard Dicker (USA), Associate Council of the Human Rights Watch; Irune Aguirrezabal (Spain), Coordinator of the NGOs European Coalition for an ICC; Dr. William Schabas (Ireland), the Irish Center for Human Rights; Mervat Rishmawi (Palestine), Legal Advisor at Amnesty International; Khalid Mohyee Aldin (Egypt), Lecturer at the International Institute of Judges at Georgia University; John L. Washburn (USA), the American NGO Coalition for an ICC; and Rodrigo Jimenez (Costa Rica), President of Disabled Peoples International and member of the Victims Caucus of the ICC. The opening ceremony of will take place from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday 24th of May 2001 at the Helnan Hotel, Cairo. |
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