Monthly Lecture: "International Criminal Court: Its History, Purpose, Objectives and Relevance"

Chairperson: Mr. Awadh Ali Said

Speaker: Mr. Muhammad Yussuf

Subject: "International Criminal Court: Its History, Purpose, Objectives and Relevance"

Date & Time: Sunday 29 November 2015; at 4:00 pm.

Venue: ZIRPP Office; Third Floor, behind Majestic Cinema (above ZANLINK)

Abstract:  The International Criminal Court (ICC), governed by the Rome Statute, is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. 

The ICC is an independent international organisation, and is not part of the United Nations system. Its seat is at The Hague in the Netherlands. Although the Court’s expenses are funded primarily by States Parties, it also receives voluntary contributions from governments, international organisations, individuals, corporations and other entities.

The international community has long aspired to the creation of a permanent international court, and, in the 20th century, it reached consensus on definitions of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Nuremberg and Tokyo trials addressed war crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity committed during the Second World War. 

In the 1990s after the end of the Cold War, tribunals like the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda were the result of consensus that impunity is unacceptable.

However, because they were established to try crimes committed only within a specific time-frame and during a specific conflict, there was general agreement that an independent, permanent criminal court was needed. On 17 July 1998, the international community reached an historic milestone when 120 States adopted the Rome Statute, the legal basis for establishing the permanent International Criminal Court. The Rome Statute entered into force on 1 July 2002 after ratification by 60 countries.

Consequently, the Speaker will talk about the ICC, its history, purpose, objectives and it's relevance today more than at any other time in the history of international law.

Tea, Coffee and Snacks will be served freely.

Please forward this message to anybody who may be interested. Those who would like to attend should send their email addresses and telephone numbers to: zirpp@googlegroups.com.

Please confirm your participation.

All are welcome.

Muhammad Yussuf

Executive Director

Zanzibar Institute for Research and Public Policy

P.O. Box 4523, Zanzibar, Tanzania; 

Tel: +255 242 223-8474;

Fax: +255 242 223-8475; 

Cellular: 0777 707820;

Email: zirpp@googlegroups.com;

Weblog: www.zirpo.wordpress.com;

Website: www.zirpp.info