On 18-22 April 2016, PGA facilitated the visit of a high-level Parliamentary Delegation from Uganda to The Hague, during which they met with representatives of the principle organs of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and fellow parliamentarians, with the goal of obtaining a better understanding of the mandate of the Court, particularly in the areas of cooperation and voluntary agreements. PGA has been working in Uganda since the year 2000 on the fight against impunity through the ratification and domestic implementation of the Rome Statute of the ICC.
The Ugandan Delegation consisted of Chair of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Hon. Stephen Tashobya, MP, and Hon. Fox Odoi, MP who were accompanied by a legal officer and parliamentary staff member.
While in The Hague, the Delegation first met with the External Relations Adviser at the Presidency of the ICC, Mr. Matias Hellman, who offered an overview on the forms of cooperation with the Court. In particular, Mr. Hellman focused on the topics of witness protection, interim releases, relocation for acquitted persons, as well as the non-compulsory nature of voluntary agreements, underscoring their importance vis-a-vis the implementation of the Court’s mandate.
Following this meeting, Hon. Tashobya and Hon. Odoi met with representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) and of the ICC Registry. These representatives expanded on earlier comments made by Mr. Hellman in addressing concerns regarding the implications of voluntary agreements, and ways in which State Parties could be made more willing to enter into voluntary agreements with the Court. The representatives from the OTP additionally provided updates on the status of current investigations and proceedings of the Court. In response, the Parliamentarians expressed their views that an African regional seminar, organized by PGA, could be useful in initiating States’ political willingness in reinforcing their cooperation with the Court in the form of voluntary agreements. The Delegation also suggested that the OTP should conduct meetings with parliamentarians directly in order to provide the means to better support the Court’s mandate on a national level.
The Delegation then attended the Trust Fund for Victim’s (TFV) meeting with NGOs, which was held consequently with the 14th Annual TFV Directors Meeting. Alongside a number of NGOs, the Parliamentarians shared their experiences and offered best practices regarding the improvement and expansion of the Trust Fund’s mandate. Hon. Tashobya gave a statement in which he expressed his country’s support for the mandate of the TFV, and extended gratitude on behalf of thousands of victims from Northern Uganda who directly benefit from the types of assistance programs established by the TFV in Uganda. Additionally, Hon. Tashobya expressed concern over the Trust Fund’s limiting of its contributions to collective reparations only, and underscored the value of instead providing individual reparations, which would offer long-term benefits in the process of victim rehabilitation.
Finally, the Delegation met to exchange views on the ratification process of the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute with the Chair of PGA’s National Group in the Netherlands, Mr. Harry van Bommel, MP. The Parliamentarians concluded with a discussion on enhancing role of parliamentarians and government officials in reaffirming, strengthening and protecting the justice mandate of the ICC with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. The Netherlands, who serve as one of the co-facilitators of the Cooperation Working Group of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, again underscored the importance of voluntary agreements with the Court.
In short, the meetings allowed for increased engagement between Ugandan MPs and the ICC. Court representatives welcomed Hon. Tashobya’s and Hon. Fox’s reiteration of their strong support for the ICC and dedication to improving the rule of law and ending impunity in both their country and the greater region.
