DR Congo: The Outreach Unit implements its programme for legal practitioners in Kinshasa

Source: International Criminal Court (ICC)

Date: 09 Nov 2009

ICC-CPI-20091109-PR474

Following a meeting with lawyers from the Kinshasa Gombe and Kinshasa Matete bar associations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 21 September 2009, the Outreach Unit of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently held two sessions, on 29 and 30 October 2009, for civil and military judges on the theme "Judicial practice before the International Criminal Court: what lessons can national courts learn?"

The aim of these sessions was to provide information tailored to Congolese judges, mainly on the principle of complementarity, according to which the ICC's mission is not to replace national courts and tribunals, but only to intervene if national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. Given its status as a complementary court, the Court therefore encourages national judges to perform their role effectively.

Seventy-five Congolese judges attended three presentations over two days on the themes "Introduction to the International Criminal Court", "Introduction to the criminal procedure of the International Criminal Court" and "Complementarity of the Court and international judicial cooperation". The sessions were divided into theoretical and practical parts allowing all the judges to participate actively. There was also the opportunity for civil and military judges to share experience on issues concerning international crimes. The Outreach Unit brought in two Congolese experts renowned for their knowledge of and participation in the Court's judicial activities to provide information and run workshops: Mr Franck Mulenda, a Congolese lawyer registered on the Court's list of counsel, and Colonel Toussaint Muntazini, a senior Congolese military judge.

As the next stage of its programme, the Outreach Unit will strengthen dialogue, with three target groups in particular: lawyers, judges and law lecturers from Congolese universities. It plans to hold training and consultation sessions for Congolese judges and lawyers at least once a quarter in Kinshasa and the eastern part of the DRC, particularly in the Kivu provinces, and also in Orientale province, Kisangani and Ituri district in 2010.

This year's outreach programme for legal practitioners will end with a meeting in Kinshasa in early December for university lecturers from faculties of law, international relations and politics.

For further information, please contact the Outreach Unit in Kinshasa by e-mail at: InfoKinshasa@icc-cpi.int, or by telephone on: + 243 (0) 99 80 11 416.