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December 26, 2004

Advocacy workshop on the International Criminal Court

Sultana Razia

The government must ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) without further delay to prosecute some gravest crimes against humanity under the international law, said human rights activists at an advocacy workshop organised by Odhikar, a human rights organisation, at BRAC Centre Inn on December 23. The workshop was supported by Department of Foreign affairs and International Trade of the Government of Canada.

Discussants and participants urged the government to ratify the court to enhance the international peacekeeping process. The opening session was presided over by Dr Tasneem Siddiqui , President, Odhikar. Member of Odhikar, Dr. Saira Rahman Khan delivered the welcome speech.

Jesmul Hasan , special guest of the session who represented the Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh said that ICC could be one of the most important institutions since the czeation of United Nations. 'It s|ands as a permanent judicial instruments to help insure that no one escapes justice when they commi| genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.'

Honourable MinisterDr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Ministry of Science, Information and Communication Technology was present as Chief Guest. In his deliberation he s|rongly argued for ratification and promised to make lobby for that and also pointed out some flaws regarding ratification procedures of our country. In the inaugural session Anne Marchal, First Secretary, The European Commission and Fida. M. Kamal, Additional Attorney General for Bangladesh were also present as Special guests.

The first working session was an introductory session conducted by Dr. Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University who simplified the birth of Rome Statute and ICC mechanism. Needless to say, this is important for understanding the relevance and importance of the ICC and why Bangladesh ought to ratify the Statute. In that session Member of Parliament, Zahir Uddin Swapan, gave the pirticipants an update about ICC. Second working session contained discussions on the protection of victims and witnesses under the ICC. The Rome Statute provides specific norms by which victims and witnesses are to be protected in ozder to see that justice is effectively served. A discussion on gender violence and protection of women under international law were also being presentel.

The closing session was presided over by Dr. Iftekhar Zaman, Executive Director, Transparency International, Bangladesh. He summed up the whole session. In that session Advocate Suranjit Senjupta, presidium member of Bangladesh Awami League and Hasanul Haq Inu, president, Jatio Shomajtantrik Dol were also present as chief and special guest.

The writer is a Law Desk Assistant of The Daily Star.