Capacity Building Workshops For The Members Of The Special Criminal Court In The Central African Republic

The Special Criminal Court (SCC) of the Central African Republic was created on 3 June 2015 by Organic Law No. 15.003. Pursuant to Article 3, the SCC has jurisdiction to “try serious violations of human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law committed on the territory of the Central African Republic since 1 January 2003, as defined by the Central African Republic Penal Code, and under the international obligations entered into by the Central African Republic in the field of international law, in particular the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.’’ 

The Court in Bangui, established in 2015, operates alongside the national courts and the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Court is addressing many complex and serious crimes in a dangerous environment, and operates with limited financial and human resources. 

Project Overview
Capacity Building Workshops For The Members Of The Special Criminal Court In The Central African Republic (2016-2017)

In order to support the establishment and full operationalisation of the Special Criminal Court of the Central African Republic, the Wayamo Foundation and the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) held international symposia and workshops to raise awareness about its significance and importance, and the need to build domestic capacities.

In July 2017, the Wayamo Foundation and the AGJA convened a two-day training workshop (10-11 July), marking the first time that the new staff members had all been brought together. Over the course of the two days, the participants -who included the judges, prosecutor, deputy prosecutor, and national and international personnel- were given the opportunity to learn from the experiences and lessons of colleagues from other international organisations and courts, including the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) in the Senegalese Courts, which had successfully prosecuted Hissène Habré in 2016.

SCC Prosecutor, Toussaint Muntazini concluded by saying, “This is the first time that we all met together over six days of training and informal activities. It allowed us to build a team and develop a team spirit. The work during these past six days has been extremely intense and very instructive. We benefited from the experience of those who have worked in jurisdictions that preceded the SCC and, personally, I feel much stronger in the belief that many people want the SCC to succeed and are ready to support the Court in this immense and difficult task ahead.”

Objectives

Build the capacity of the members of the Special Criminal Court

The Wayamo Foundation organises and convenes capacity-building training sessions for the members of the Court, to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to investigate and prosecute violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed since 2003 in the Central African Republic.

Identify challenges and design new and purpose-tailored training programmes

Together with the SCC and regional and international experts, the Wayamo Foundation identifies challenges and difficulties that the SCC will be facing. Training programmes are then designed and tailored to the needs of the Court.

Engage with civil society and the media

Through activities, such as public conferences, and high-level debates and symposia, the public is informed of the significance and importance of the Special Criminal Court. A population that is well-informed has the potential to contribute to greater understanding of justice for international crimes and to sustained pressure for justice.
Trainers & Experts
Wayamo training sessions are provided by a handpicked mix of international, local and regional experts drawn from international organisations, ranging from the Extraordinary African Chambers in the Senegalese Courts, the International Criminal Court (ICC), the United Nations, to hybrid and ad hoc tribunals, and national jurisdictions.
Target Groups

Members of the Special Criminal Court (SCC) of the Central African Republic

Wayamo trains members of the Court to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to investigate and prosecute violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed since 2003 in the Central African Republic.

Civil society and the wider public

Wayamo hosts public conferences and symposia, to inform the public on the significance and importance of the Special Criminal Court.
Activities
Recent Updates
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MultiMedia
Videos Related to this Project

Videos

11 Videos
Description
Description

Bettina Ambach (Director, Wayamo Foundation) talks to Toussaint Muntazini and Jacob Damili Sanny (Special Prosecutor and Indictment Chamber Judge respectively of the Special Criminal Court in Bangui, Central African Republic)

Photo Gallery
From 7-8 July 2017, the Wayamo Foundation and the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) organised a public symposium entitled, “Changing the Narrative – From Withdrawal to Constructive Engagement”. See the full album
From 7-8 July 2017, the Wayamo Foundation and the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) organised a public symposium entitled, “Changing the Narrative – From Withdrawal to Constructive Engagement”. See the full album
Running from 10-11 July, Wayamo organised a two-day training workshop for members of the Special Crimes Court (SCC) of the Central African Republic (CAR). The event represented the first time that all of the staff appointed to this new court have been brought together. Participants included the chief and deputy prosecutor, as well as honourable justices. See the full training album
Running from 10-11 July, Wayamo organised a two-day training workshop for members of the Special Crimes Court (SCC) of the Central African Republic (CAR). The event represented the first time that all of the staff appointed to this new court have been brought together. Participants included the chief and deputy prosecutor, as well as honourable justices. See the full training album
On 22 September 2016, the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) hosted a multi-stakeholder conference in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). See the full album
On 22 September 2016, the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) hosted a multi-stakeholder conference in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). See the full album
Wayamo organised a side event on 16 November 2016 entitled: "Strengthening the Central African Republic’s Justice System and Operationalising the Special Criminal Court". See the full album
Wayamo organised a side event on 16 November 2016 entitled: "Strengthening the Central African Republic’s Justice System and Operationalising the Special Criminal Court". See the full album
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Results & Reports

2016 Bangui Conference report

On 22 September 2016, the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) hosted a multi-stakeholder conference in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). Entitled “Special Criminal Court for Central African Republic — Context, Challenges and Perspectives” the conference offered an opportunity to reflect on how the soon-to-be-established Special Criminal Court (SCC) would operate and what challenges its mixed international and national court staff would face.
Click here to download the PDF Report

2016 Brussels Conference report

On 16 November 2016, the Wayamo Foundation, the International Nuremberg Principles Academy and the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) cohosted a roundtable in Brussels, Belgium. Entitled “Strengthening the Central African Republic’s justice system and operationalising the Special Criminal Court”, the event afforded an opportunity to discuss recent developments in the region and challenges facing the national justice system, and the proposed Special Criminal Court (SCC) in particular.
Click here to download the PDF Report

2017 Dakar Conference report

From 7-8 July 2017, Senegal’s capital of Dakar was the scene of a public symposium entitled, “Changing the Narrative - From Withdrawal to Constructive Engagement”. Convened by the Wayamo Foundation and the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA), the symposium brought together a number of leading stakeholders, experts, scholars, and practitioners in order to discuss a range of topics, including the current status of the relationship between African states and the International Criminal Court (ICC), possible reforms to improve the Court and interpreting the African Union’s (AU) ICC Withdrawal Strategy as a package of reforms, the role of hybrid mechanisms in prosecuting international crimes, combating impunity at a regional level, the coming into force of the crime of aggression, and the thorny issue of sequencing peace and justice.
Click here to download the PDF Report
Funders

wayamo foundation

About

Wayamo is an independent, non-profit organisation established to strengthen the rule of law, promote justice for international and transnational crimes and foster transparency through judicial capacity building, mediation and informed journalism. Read more

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