7 December 2018, The Hague

Justice for Syria: Universal jurisdiction as a main emerging tool to complement the International Criminal Court

The Hague
7 December 2018, 1:15 pm

Seventeenth Session of the Assembly of States Parties, 5 - 12 December 2018, World Forum, The Hague, Netherlands

Side Event, 13:15 - 14:45, Oceania 2

Initiated and supported by the crucial work of civil society organisations, universal jurisdiction has been revitalised. After what had been perceived as a backlash to universal jurisdiction 20 years after the arrest of Agosto Pinochet, investigations and prosecutions are being conducted by domestic investigation and prosecutorial authorities in Europe regarding the individual criminal responsibility of state and non-state actors for their involvement in the commission of international crimes in Syria and Iraq. After working on such crimes for over five years, national investigators and prosecutors – some working in the realm of specialised units – have acquired experience and expertise in the field. With no United Nations (UN) Security Council referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in sight, the UN General Assembly created the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM) – a new player in the field of international criminal justice. The side event seeks to give an insight into on-going accountability efforts enabled the principle of universal jurisdiction from the perspective of a survivor and litigating lawyer. Moreover, legal experts will elaborate from a prosecutorial perspective on universal jurisdiction as an emerging tool and the importance of transnational cooperation. What can be gained from enhanced mutual legal cooperation among national prosecution authorities of European Union Member States?

Moderator:

Dr. Stefan Barriga, Minister, Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Liechtenstein in Brussels, Belgium

Panel:

N.N., Syrian Activist, former Detainee, Complainant in Germany

Ms Aurélia Devos, Head of the Unit for Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes at the Prosecution Office France

Ms Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria

Dr Patrick Kroker, Legal Advisor & Project Lead Syria, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights

- Lunch will be served as from 13:00 -

No registration necessary.

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