Victim participation at the national level: prospects for complementarity

This side event at the ICC's Assembly of States Parties discusses how to give effect to the principle of victims' participatory rights in national courts.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and REDRESS are hosting a side event at the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the inclusion of victims’ participatory rights in complementarity initiatives at the domestic level.

In recent years, attention has focused on closing the impunity gap through domesticating the Rome Statute and enabling national legal systems to investigate and prosecute international crimes.

At the same time, developments in international law have meant that victim participation in criminal proceedings is now recognised as essential for delivering justice.

This reflects a shift from the traditional concept of the state’s interest in punishment and deterrence to one centred on the interests of victims and their right to see that justice is done. Efforts are now needed to ensure that the principle of victim participation in domestic justice mechanisms is translated into practice.

Attendance at this side event requires prior accreditation from the Secretariat of the ICC Assembly of States Parties.

Chairs:

  • Allan Ngari, Researcher, Transnational Threats and International Crime division, ISS Pretoria
  • Gaelle Carayon, Legal Officer, REDRESS

Speakers:

  • Maître Albert Gasake, victims/survivors legal representative in ongoing case in Rwanda
  • Amanda Rawls, Africa Deputy Director at American Bar Association, Rule of Law Initiative
  • Nurin Sarkarati, staff attorney, Centre for Justice and Accountability
  • Jane Adong, legal monitor, Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice

A light lunch will be served at the end of the event to participants at CB-01 North End Hosting Area

Development partners
The government of Finland was instrumental in securing the venue and facilitating processes for this event. The ISS is also grateful for support from the following members of the ISS Partnership Forum: the governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
Related content