Coalition for the International Criminal Court
www.iccnow.orgFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GLOBAL COALITION FOR THE ICC LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE AND BLOG
Blog, "In Situ: See Justice through the Eyes of Civil Society," Offers Grassroots Perspectives on ICC's First Trial
26 January 2009. Today, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, a network of
civil society organizations in 150 countries, launched its new website at
www.iccnow.org or
www.togetherforjustice.org . The new site provides user-friendly navigation from the Coalition's homepage to some 1,000 pages of content and expertise on the ICC in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
The site features the latest news developments from the Coalition's membership of more than 2,500 organizations working in partnership to ensure that the ICC is fair, effective and independent.
ICCnow.org also includes a calendar of ICC-related events, and a new blog entitled "In Situ: See justice through the eyes of civil society." To join the discussion on our blog, see
www.iccnow.org/blog or
www.togetherforjustice.org/blog.
In Situ is Latin for "in the natural place." As our blog name, we use this term to reference the International Criminal Court's attempt to hold trial proceedings in the Democratic Republic of Congo—in addition to those in The Hague where the Court is based—for its trial in the
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo case. However, due to security concerns, in situ trial proceedings for Mr. Lubanga were not possible. These proceedings would have helped directly engage and involve communities affected by the crimes for which Mr. Lubanga was charged. The Coalition's blog is an attempt—in both name and substance—to help bridge the gap between populations affected by the crimes under the Court's investigation and the ICC's daily activities at its headquarters in The Hague.
The first edition of In Situ will focus on the trial of Mr. Lubanga who stands accused of recruiting, enlisting and actively conscripting child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We will aim to bring you the hopes, perspectives and fears of the local population as the Court's historic first trial gets underway.
Bloggers include Roger Muchuba, co-director of the DRC National Coalition for the ICC and executive secretary of Bukavu, DRC-based "Inheritors of Justice;" Descartes Mponge, South Kivu focal point for the DRC national coalition for the ICC; Desire-Israel Kazadi, a Kinshasa-based journalist;' and Lorraine Smith of the International Bar Association, among others.
Remember to Rescue the Invisible Children - Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Turner Field.