Event Date: Thursday 12th August - 2010 - Thursday 12th August - 2010
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 ICJ – Kenya |
Ensuring the safety and integrity of witnesses is crucial for the effective prosecution of serious crimes, including organised crimes, terrorism, and crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, many countries in Africa do not have adequate policy and capacity to provide the required levels of protection and support in this regard. This is a serious concern as witnesses in Africa are often subject to severe threats, including from state officials.
Some countries have recognised the importance of witness protection. For instance, South Africa was the first African country to develop comprehensive witness protection law and capacity in the late 1990s. More recently, Kenya has taken the important step to enact witness protection legislation that provides for the establishment of a dedicated, and hopefully independent, witness protection agency. However, numerous challenges remain, and progress in most other African countries remains limited. Moreover, the paucity of policy relevant research on witness protection in Africa means that awareness of the challenge remains low.
In recognition of the above, in 2009 the International Crime in Africa Programme (ICAP) at the ISS undertook extensive research on witness protection in Africa, with a specific focus on South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Sierra Leone, as well as the witness protection programmes of the ICC and relevant international criminal tribunals. The findings, which are documented in a book entitled “The Justice Sector Afterthought: Witness Protection in Africa”, highlight the urgent need for enhanced witness protection capacity in Africa. The findings expose a critically important gap in contemporary justice sector reform and the prosecution of serious crimes on the continent.
Against this backdrop, ICAP and the Kenyan Chapter of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya) are organising a seminar to assess the state of witness protection in Africa, with a specific focus on recent developments in Kenya. This seminar will be facilitated by experts in the field and will focus on international, regional and domestic witness protection, including challenges and best practices. The seminar will also officially launch ICAP’s recent book “The Justice Sector Afterthought: Witness Protection in Africa”.
ICAP and ICJ-Kenya have the pleasure to invite you to this seminar scheduled to take place on 12 August 2010. Kindly RSVP by 29 July 2010 to Jemima Njeri Kariri, email: jnjeri@issafrica.org.
Yours Sincerely,
Anton du Plessis
Programme Head, International Crime in Africa Programme, Institute for Security Studies
Event Venue: Panafric Hotel
Nairobi
Enquiries: Jemima Njeri Kariri, email: jnjeri@issafrica.org
