ICC senior official to visit African states

June 27, 2009 (THE HAGUE) — The First Vice-President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will visit the countries of Mali, Benin and Senegal on a tour of African states that are signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty governing the ICC.

Sudan’s president is wanted for arrest by the ICC on indictments of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur. He denies that he committed the crimes of which he is accused. The ICC has jurisdiction over the case because the UN Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the court.

The ICC official, Fatoumata Dembele Diarra, along with Deputy Registrar Didier Preira, will on Sunday begin her official visit to the African States Parties.

According to a statement about the travel from the ICC, Ms. Diarra “will use the opportunity to encourage dialogue related to the issue of complementarity, a topic for discussion initiated by ICC President Song earlier this month during his recent first visit as President of the Court to the African continent.”

Complementarity is a relatively new legal concept that suggests that the world court can try crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in the stead of national courts, if it is determined that a country’s courts are unwilling or unable to genuinely investigate or prosecute.

Vice-President Diarra intends to “emphasise the central importance of implementing the Rome Statute into domestic legislation that will enable an international justice system aimed at ending impunity for the worst crimes known to humanity.”

She will begin her visit in Mali where she will meet with President Amadou Toumani Touré, Minister of Justice Maharafa Traore and Minister of Foreign Affairs Moctar Ouane.

On 30 June she will continue to Benin and on 2 July to Senegal. In both countries she will be received by senior government representatives.

Currently, thirty African states make up the largest regional group of a total 108 States Parties to the Rome Statute, the Court’s founding treaty.

(ST)