#ASP13

Reflecting on the Ongoing Structural and Jurisprudential Developments

of Victims Rights at the ICC
Monday, 15 December 2014
13.15 - 14.30
Conference Room 8, UN Headquarters, New York
ICC Assembly of States Parties side-event
co-hosted by Costa Rica and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Victim participation is a new feature in international criminal law and its contours are still in the
process of being determined.
In addition to contributing to strengthening the Court's legitimacy, the recognition of victims' rights
pays tribute to the centrality of victims' experience and their potential to contribute to the justice
process.
Over the years, FIDH has noted with concern a series of common mistakes made in relation to the
purpose and exercise of victims rights in judicial proceedings. Yet, we have repeatedly seen
conclusions arrived in relation to the detriments of victim participation for ICC proceedings. We
noted that observations are not always based on a direct and first-hand experience of how victim
participation operates in practice, in particular in the field. They appear, rather, to be based on
misconceptions or even myths.
This side event is about deconstructing these myths and reflecting on the ongoing ICC
developments at a structural and jurisprudential level, based on concrete examples and cases at the
ICC.

Moderator
Katherine Gallagher, FIDH Vice-President
Introductory remarks
H.E. Juan Carlos Mendoza Garcia, Ambassador of Costa Rica
Speakers
Herman van Hebel, Registrar of the ICC
Fergal Gaynor, Victims Legal Representative, Kenyatta Case
James Mawira, Case Manager in Kenyan Case 1
David Donat Cattin, Parliamentarians for Global Action, Secretary General
Concluding remarks
Sidiki Kaba, President of the ASP