February 2020 - Domestic Prosecution of International Crimes Updates
By: Rachel Grand, Junior Research Associate, PILPG-NL
February began with ICC visits to Uganda, the DRC, and Bangladesh. The Sudanese government offered to hand over Al Bashir and Venezuela referred themselves to the Court. The Appeals Chamber also ruled on the admissibility and gravity of the A Hassan case.
AFRICA
Uganda and DRC | ICC registrar completes first visit to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The ICC Registrar, Peter Lewis, met with government officials and UN representatives in Uganda and the DRC. The spoke about the Court's continued appreciation for both countries’ cooperation over the years. [February 7, 2020]
Sudan | Omar al-Bashir: Sudan agrees ex-president must face ICC
During peace talks in Sudan the government agreed to hand Al-Bashir and three others over to the ICC. However, there is no guarantee when and if this will happen. [February 11, 2020]
Mali | Al Hassan Case: ICC Appeals Chamber confirms the Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision on the admissibility and the sufficient gravity of the case
The Appeals Chamber unanimously rejected the Defence’s appeal of Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision on the gravity of Al Hassan’s case. The trial begins on July 14, 2020. [February 19, 2020]
ASIA
Bangladesh | Statement of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court as delivered at the press conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh
The Director of Jurisdiction, Complementary and Cooperation Division of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, Phakiso Mochochoko, spoke in Bangladesh on the progress of the Prosecutor’s investigation into the alleged international crimes committed against the Rohingya people. [February 4, 2020]
SOUTH AMERICA
Venezuela | Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, on the referral by Venezuela regarding the situation in its own territory
Venezuela, a state party to the Rome Statute, referred the alleged crimes against humanity committed on their territory to the ICC. This is the second referral of the situation in Venezuela, both of which have overlap geographically and temporally. [February 17, 2020]