Short film "Building Justice" from Skylight Pictures and MacArthur Foundation

Following the Lubanga trial online

As the trial of Thomas Lubanga resumes at the ICC, don't miss the coverage of the many groups following the proceedings: day-by-day updates from the Open Society Justice Initiative can be found at Lubangatrail.org. International Justice Central has updates and Citizens for Global Solutions features the Lubanga trial in their recent blog posting. Looking for background on Lubanga? AMICC has a background profile here.

ICC Outreach Report 2008

Event [Dallas] "The Reckoning" screening and discussion

The public is invited to a free screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary film, The Reckoning, at 6:30 p.m. on January 27th at the Dallas Holocaust Museum. The film, presented by the Defend Darfur Dallas (a constituent organization of the Save Darfur Coalition) tells the story of the International Criminal Court from the Nazi trials at Nuremburg to contemporary operations at The Hague. Anthony J. Colangelo, assistant professor of law at Southern Methodist University, will briefly introduce the film and then serve as discussant leader following the film. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Laura McCarthy at laura-mccarthy@sbcglobal.net, or visit the website of the Dallas Holocaust Museum.

Event [Chicago] Atrocity Crimes Litigation Year-in-Review, 2009

February 4

9:15 am - 7:15 pm

The 2009 decisions and judgments of the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the International Criminal Court, and the War Crimes Chamber of the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as developments at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Panelists include ICC Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.

Northwestern University School of Law, NW corner East Superior & North Lake Shore Dr., Rubloff Building, 8th floor (daytime event) and Hotel Sofitel, 20 East Chestnut Street (evening event). Click here for more information.

The Prosecutor vs. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo Will Resume on January 7, 2010

The Defence team of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, led by Catherine Mabille, will start the presentation of its case on Thursday, January 7, 2010. The trial will be broadcast via live stream at 4:00a.m. ET.

Over the course of several months, the Defence team will present exculpatory evidence and examine 30 witnesses. Lubanga Dyilo faces counts of war crimes consisting of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 years and using them to participate actively in hostilities in The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The trial started on 26 January, 2009, marking the first trial at the ICC.

For more information, please click here.

Human Rights Day event in Louisville, Kentucky

The United Nations Association Chapter of Louisville, KY collaborated with the Kentucky Coalition for the ICC for a Human Rights Day screening of "The Reckoning: The Battle for the international Criminal Court." Read an interview with UNA Chapter President Matt Hanka in some local coverage  here.

The Prosecutor vs. Germain Katanga & Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui - Brief Notes on the Trial

Nov. 25, Day 2: The first Court witness, the Head of the Office of he Prosecutor (OTP) Investigation Team, was called to testify. He presented information on the conditions under which the team conducted its investigations and the challenges they faced. As well, he explained the methods the team used to investigate, the selection process in obtaining evidence, and the review of potentially exonerating evidence. The Judges, the Prosecution, the Legal Representatives of Victims and the Defense teams asked questions.

Nov. 26, Day 3: The first witness from the OTP, a resident of Bogoro at the time of the attack, was called to testify. He provided information on the topography of Bogoro (ie: the ethnic groups present in the area, the number of residents, etc.) and on the Bogoro Institute itself which was occupied by soldiers from the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC).

Nov. 27, Day 4: In a closed session, the same witness shed light on incidents which happened to women and young girls. He further spoke of pillaging and the burning of houses, testifying that most houses were destroyed or raised to the grounds after the February 24, 2003 events.

Nov. 30, Day 5: The Defense teams started a cross-examination of the OTP’s witness. The witness testified there were about 200 civilian deaths. The Defense’s cross-examination was cut short as the hearing was adjourned early due to Judge Cotte having to attend a doctor’s appointment.

Dec. 1, Day 6: The Defense teams continued their cross-examination of the witness. The witness stated that soldiers and civilians in Bogoro had different weapons: only soldiers were allowed guns while civilians had bladed weapons such as machetes. He further testified on burials, languages spoken in the area, ethnic inheritance and the presence of women and children in the Institute.

Dec. 2, Day 7: The trial was suspended until January 26, 2010 given that Judge Christine Van den Wyngaert had a traffic accident the evening before.