Le Bureau du Procureur

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OTPWeeklyBriefing

NEWS Issue#113 22to29February 2012 ICCJudgeswilldeliverjudgmentintheLubangacaseon14

ICCJudgeswilldeliver judgmentintheLubanga caseon14March

March
29 February Trial Chamber I will deliver its decision on the innocence or guilt of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo in a public hearingon14Marchat10.00a.m. The trial against Mr Lubanga Dyilo isthe first trialbefore the ICC. It started on 26 January 2009 and the closing statements werepresentedon25and26August2011.

Intheeventofaconviction,theChamberwilllaterconsidertheappropriatesentence to be imposed. Irrespective of whether the accused is acquitted or convicted, the Court is required to establish the principles to beappliedin relation to reparations, anditmaymakeordersasregardsawardsofreparationstovictims. Evenbeforethefinaldecision,thisfirsttrialoftheCourthashelpedtotriggerdebatesonchildrecruitmentincountriessuch asColombiaandSriLanka,andthereleaseofchildsoldiersinNepal.TheSpecialrepresentativeoftheUNSecretaryGeneral onchildreninarmedconflicts,RadhikaCoomaraswamy,factoredinsuchpotentialanduseditasatooltocampaignaround theworld,andsecureevenmorereleases.Thisisanexampleofhowtousethelawtopreventcrimes. TheLubangajudgmentwillalsobeanopportunitytofocusonhowStatesandotherrelevantactorscancontributetojustice throughnationaleducationcurricula.ThisinterestoftheOfficeoftheProsecutorwasexpressedinitsprosecutorialstrategy for20092012:educationasoneofthefundamentalmeanstomaximizetheimpactoftheworkoftheCourtandtocontribute to the prevention of future crimes. The Office is helping by connecting countries and actors interested and by providing informationrelatedwithitsownactivities.

PTCIIIexpandedits authorisationforthe investigationinCte dIvoiretoincludecrimes allegedlycommitted between19September 2002and28November 2010

PreTrialChamberIIIexpandedthetemporalscopeofthesituationinCtedIvoire
22FebruaryInlightoffurtherinformationprovidedbytheProsecution,PTCIIIdecidedtoexpanditsauthorisationforthe investigationinCtedIvoire,originallylimitedtoallegedcrimescommittedsince28November2010andfuturecrimes,to includecrimesallegedlycommittedbetween19September2002and28November2010.TheChambertooktheviewthatthe violent events in Cte dIvoire in this period, although reaching varying levels of intensity at different locations and at differenttimes,aretobetreatedasasinglesituation.Itconcludedthatinthecourseoftheseevents,actsofmurderandrape thatcouldamounttowarcrimesorcrimesagainsthumanitywerecommitted.

OTPActivities
OVERVIEW
7situationsunderinvestigation 14casesinrelationto24persons 9outstandingarrestwarrants 8preliminaryexaminationsin4differentcontinents Phases 2casesbeforePreTrialChambers 6casesbeforeTrialChambers

I.PreliminaryExaminations

PreliminaryexaminationsrefertotheanalyticalprocessbywhichtheOTPassesseswhetherthereisareasonablebasistoproceedwithan investigationinagivensituation. In accordance with Article 15 of the Statute, the OTP proactively gathers and evaluates information from multiple sources, including communicationsfromindividualsandpartiesconcerned(phase1initialreview).Followingasequentialprocess,andirrespectiveofthe mechanism by which the jurisdiction of the Court is triggered, the Office then applies the same legal criteria laid out in Article 53 of the Statute, namely temporal/territorial/personal jurisdiction (phase 2a), subjectmatter jurisdiction (phase 2b), admissibility, including complementarityandgravity(phase3)andtheinterestsofjustice(phase4). Currently, the OTP is conducting preliminary examinations into eight situations: Palestine (phase 2a), Afghanistan, Honduras, Korea and Nigeria(phase2b),Colombia,GeorgiaandGuinea(Phase3).

II.InvestigationsandProsecutions

1.SituationintheDemocraticRepublicoftheCongo(DRC)Referred:April2004InvestigationOpened:June2004
Trials TheProsecutorvThomasLubangaDyilochargedwithwarcrimesagainstchildrencommittedintheIturiregion20022003 Status:Trialfinishedon26August2011,judgmenttobedeliveredon14March2012 TheProsecutorvGermainKatangaandMathieuNgudjoloChuichargedwithwarcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanitycommittedduringthe attackofthevillageofBogorointheIturiregionon24February2003 Status:Defencecasepresentationconcluded,closingoralstatementssettostarton15May2012 ConfirmationofChargesHearing TheProsecutorvCallixteMbarushimanachargedwithwarcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanity,includingmassivesexualviolence, committedintheNorthandSouthKivus20092010 Status:PreTrialChamberIdeclinestoconfirmthecharges(16December2011);leavetoappealwasgrantedon1stMarch(moreinformation nextweek) WarrantPending TheProsecutorvBoscoNtagandachargedwithwarcrimesagainstchildrencommittedintheIturiregion20022003 Issued:22August2006

2.SituationinUgandaReferred:January2004Investigationopened:July2004
WarrantsPending TheProsecutorvJosephKonyetal.chargedwithwarcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanitycommittedduringLRAsinsurgencyactivitiesin NorthernUganda20022004 Issued: 8 July 2005. On 11 July 2007, PreTrial Chamber I ordered to terminate the proceedings against Raska Lukwiya. On 8 November 2007,theOTPsubmittedinformationtothePTConthereporteddeathofVincentOtti.

3.SituationinDarfur,theSudanReferred:March2005Investigationopened:June2005
Trial TheProsecutorvAbdallahBandaAbakaerNourainandSalehMohammedJerboJamuschargedwithwarcrimescommittedduringanattack againsttheHaskanitaAUpeacekeepingbaseinNorthDarfuron29September2007 Status:Chargesconfirmed,trialdatetobeset

Prosecutiontopresentadditionalevidence TheProsecutorvBaharIdrissAbuGardachargedwithwarcrimescommittedduringanattackagainsttheHaskanitaAUpeacekeepingbase inNorthDarfuron29September2007 WarrantsPending TheProsecutorvOmarAlBashirchargedwithwarcrimes,crimesagainsthumanityandgenocidecommittedaspartofthecounter insurgencycampaigninDarfur20032008(atleast) Issued:4March2009&12July2010 TheProsecutorvAliKushaybandAhmadHarunchargedwithwarcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanitycommittedduringtheattacks againstthecivilianpopulationinDarfurAugust2003March2004 Issued:27February2007

20FebruaryTheProsecutionandRegistrysubmittedtheirfifthjointmonthlyreportonZaghawalanguagetranslation.The Registrystatedthatduetothereducedbudgetfor2012,thecontractofthetwoZaghawalanguagetranslatorswhohavebeen undergoing training will not be extended beyond the end of April 2012 (nor will any other potential trainees be recruited) unlessotherwiseinstructedbytheChamber.Ifthetrialdateissetwithinayear,providedthatfundsareavailable,thetwo trainees will be invited to return for a two month preparation for trial. The Prosecution submitted that the contract of the ZaghawaLanguageAssistantwhojointedtheOfficeinJanuary2012wasrenewedforanadditionalmonth,duringwhichheis expectedtocommencetheredactionofsixProsecutionwitnessstatementswhileundergoingfurthertraining. 4.SituationintheCentralAfricanRepublic(CAR)Referred:January2005Investigationopened:May2007
Trial TheProsecutorvJeanPierreBembaGombochargedwithwarcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanity,includingamassiverapecampaign, committedinCARbetween26October200215March2003 Status:Prosecutioncasepresentationongoing

24 February Trial Chamber III decided that due to the scheduling difficulties and the postponement of the testimony of witness36,thestatusconferenceontheschedulingandpreparationofthepresentationofevidencebythedefence,originally scheduledfor28February2012,shallbepostponeduntiltheweekof12March.ItorderedtheDefencetosubmitby5March informationon,interalia:theestimatedamountoftimerequiredtoprepareitspresentationofevidence;thestagereachedin itsinvestigations;theanticipatednumberofwitnessestobecalled;andapreliminaryestimateoftheamountoftimeneeded forpresentationofitsevidence.ItalsoorderedtheDefencetoindicatewhetherprotectivemeasuresmayberequiredforits witnesses; whether it intends to call expert witnesses; and whether, on a preliminary basis, a decision has to be made asto whethertheaccusedwilltestify. 5.SituationinKenyaOTPrequesttostartinvestigation:November2009Investigationopened:March2010
Trials TheProsecutorvWilliamSamoeiRutoandJoshuaArapSangchargedwithcrimesagainsthumanitycommittedduringthepostelectoral violenceinKenyaonorabout30December2007endJanuary2008 Status: Case sent to trial on 23 January 2012, date of trial to be set (charges were not confirmed against Henri Kosgey, but the OTP will presentadditionalevidence) TheProsecutorvFrancisKirimiMuthauraandUhuruMuigaiKenyattachargedwithcrimesagainsthumanitycommittedduringthepost electoralviolenceinKenya2428January2008 Status: Casesenttotrialon23January2012,dateoftrialtobeset(chargeswerenotconfirmedagainstMohammedAli,buttheOTPwill presentadditionalevidence)

6.SituationinLibyaReferred:February2011Investigationopened:March2011
WarrantsPending TheProsecutorvSaifAlIslamGaddafiandAbdullahAlSenussichargedwithcrimesagainsthumanitycommittedduringattacksonthe civilianpopulationbytheLibyanSecurityForces15Februaryatleast28February2011 Issued:27June2011;PreTrialChamberIorderedtheterminationofthecasetheProsecutorv.MuammarGaddafi,afterProsecutionrequest(22 November2011)

7.SituationinCtedIvoireOTPrequesttostartinvestigation:June2011Investigationopened:October2011
Warrantexecuted The Prosecutor v Laurent Gbagbo charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed after the November 2010 Ivorian elections.

Issued:23November2011(underseal) Status:initialappearanceon5December2011;confirmationofchargeshearingsetfor18June2012

III.ArrestsCooperation

9PERSONSSOUGHTBYTHECOURT

TheProsecutorv BoscoNtaganda(moreinformationhere) Currentlocation:DRC,inandaroundGoma TheProsecutorv JosephKonyetal(moreinformationhere) Currentlocation:variously,atdifferenttimes,intheborderareabetweenDRC,CARandSouthSudan TheProsecutorv SaifAlIslamGaddafiandAbdullahAlSenussi (moreinformationhere) Currentlocation:Libya TheProsecutorv AhmedHarunandAliKushayb (moreinformationhere) Currentlocation:SouthKordofan,Sudan(A.Harun) Sudan(A.Kushayb) 29 February The organization Youths of Babanoussa reportedly urged citizens to participate in a demonstration against Ahmed Harun for his failure as governor to deliver basic services to Babanoussa, as well as addressing the soaring cost of living. Harun reportedly recently addressed a parliamentary subcommittee on defense and security, arguing that the army intervention in South Kordofan was stabilizing the situation. However, the National Congress Party is under growing pressurefromitsownmembersinSouthKordofantoremoveHarunfromhisposition;theysubmittedamemotothepartys leadership,arguingthatHarunexceededtheexecutive,legalandlegislativelimitsofhisposition.Additionally,AbdelRasoul alNur, a tribal leader of the Arab Misseriya, echoed calls for Harun to be dismissed and blamed Harun for not consulting SouthKordofantribestoendtheongoingconflictandoptinginsteadforthemilitaryoption. TheProsecutorv OmarHassanAhmadAlBashir(moreinformationhere) Currentlocation:Khartoum,Sudan 28FebruaryPresidentAlBashirhasreportedlyreceivedaninvitationfromIraqicounterpartJalalTalabanitoattendtheArab League summit in late March in Baghdad, Iraq. In turn, Sudans Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mansour alAgab, invitedtheIraqigovernmenttoparticipateinaconferenceinIstanbultodiscussreliefofSudansexternaldebtsandeconomic assistancetohelpKhartoumcopewiththelossofoilrevenuesasaresultofSouthSudanssecession.AlBashirhasalsobeen invitedbytheUNsInternationalTelecommunicationUniontoattendasummitduetobeheldinDoha,Qatarfrom57March ontelecommunicationintheArabworld.

1MarchInahearingbeforetheHouseForeignAffairsCommittee,U.S.SecretaryofStateHillaryClintontoldmembersof CongressthatPresidentAlBashirwasunderminingtheComprehensivePeaceAgreementwiththeSouth:ThepeopleofSouth Sudanvotedforindependenceandeversince,despiteBashirgoingto[SouthSudanpresident]SalvaKiirsinauguration,therehasbeena steadyefforttounderminethisnewstate[]IthinkthatwhatwevegotwithBashirisaverydeterminedefforttotrytoundotheresults of the comprehensive peace agreement. Clinton added. The Secretary of State suggested that the U.S. is prepared to take measuresagainstBashirpersonallybutdidnotelaborate:WewillcertainlylookattryingtoupthepressureonKhartoumandon Bashirpersonally.

IV.OtherCooperation
22FebruaryProsecutorelectFatouBensoudamadeakeynoteaddressattheAfricanLeadershipCenterSimulationSeminars at Kings College in London, highlighting how the work of the ICC can contribute to help shape efforts to achieve transformative change in Africa By setting an example, supporting institutionbuilding, and through multileveled interface and cooperation,togetherwecantransformthepublicresponsetomassivecrimes,includingsexualviolence,innationaljurisdictionsinand outsideAfrica. 27FebruaryProsecutorelectFatouBensoudametwiththeBulgarianMinisterofJustice, Ms. Diana Kovatcheva, as well as with the Bulgarian AttorneyGeneral, Mr. Boris Velchev, at the Court. Minister Kovatcheva reiterated Bulgarias strong support to the workoftheCourtandoftheOTP,andcongratulatedtheProsecutorelectforherelection.

V.UpcomingEvents

February
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March
1 Prosecutorelect participatesin theAriadne AnnualPolicy Briefing,The Hague 8 2 3 4

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VI.OtherInformation

*ThisdocumentreflectstheviewsoftheOfficeoftheProsecutoroftheICC.Formoreinformation,contactMrs.OliviaSwaakGoldman,InternationalCooperationAdviser intheOfficeoftheProsecutor,atOlivia.SwaakGoldman@icccpi.int