22-24 March 2016
The ICC-Africa relationship is often regarded with mixed, if not opposing, views. Against this background, what factors, both historical and political, as well as contemporary issues must be considered when assessing the ICC-Africa relationship? This discussion will address the often heard accusations that the ICC is a neo-colonial, anti-African institution and the argument that the AU is a “dictators’ club”. Finally, participants will debate about the significance of the decisions taken at the 26th ordinary summit of the African Union in January 2016.
Moderator
• Mark Kersten, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto; Research Director, Wayamo Foundation
Introductory remarks
• Richard Goldstone Former Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia
Panellists
• Elizabeth Evenson Senior Counsel, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch, New York
• James A. Goldston Executive Director, Open Society Justice Initiative, New York
• Charles C. Jalloh Associate Professor at Florida International University College of Law
• Tim Murithi Head of the Justice and Reconciliation in Africa Programme, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Cape Town
• Bill Pace Convenor, Coalition for the ICC (CICC), New York
The Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) held the first of its bi-annual symposia events at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, from 22-24 March 2016.
The event, co-organised by the Africa Group and the Wayamo Foundation, brought together experts on international criminal justice, human rights activists, academics and practitioners from the field of international law to discuss a range of issues around the theme, of “African Justice mechanisms and their interplay with the International Criminal Court”.
