Pictured here (from left to right): ICCBA Vice-President (Defence) Mr Chief Charles Taku, ICC First Vice-President Judge Joyce Aluoch, ICCBA President Mr David Hooper Q.C., ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, and ICCBA Vice-President (Victims) Mr Ghislain M. Mabanga © ICC-CPI
On 20 July 2016, Mr David Hooper Q.C., the President of the recently constituted International Criminal Court Bar Association (“ICCBA”), together with Mr Ghislain M. Mabanga, ICCBA Vice-President (Victims) and Mr Chief Charles Taku, Vice-President (Defence), paid first official visits to the three Principals of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”).
“We have been greatly encouraged in our meetings with the President, Prosecutor and Registrar and by their clear recognition of the positive role we can play in the future development of the ICC. The ICC has been all the poorer in not having had an association to provide an independent and effective voice for defence and victims counsel. I am sure that now we have such an association we can and will step up to play our part”, said Mr Hooper.
ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, alongside Vice-President Judge Joyce Aluoch, welcomed the establishment of the ICCBA, noting the importance of an independent body which gives a unified voice to counsel before the ICC.
In a separate meeting, the Prosecutor of the Court, Mrs Fatou Bensouda congratulated the representatives of the ICCBA for the establishment of the Association, emphasizing that an independent peer-led association of counsel, which, inter alia, reinforces the highest standards of the legal profession is a helpful development. She welcomed cooperation between her Office and the ICCBA.
In his meeting with the first elected leadership of the ICCBA, the Registrar of the Court, Herman von Hebel, also highlighted the importance of the ICCBA’s establishment and expressed his willingness to cooperate closely with the Association on all issues of mutual interest and concern.
The ICCBA was established in The Hague, at the seat of the Court, on 1 July 2016, as the first bar association for counsel and their assistants eligible to practise before the Court.
It is an independent association and not part of the Court, with the goal of advancing the general interests of counsel appearing before the Court, reinforcing the full independence of counsel, and strengthening equality of arms at the ICC.
For additional photos, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/icc-cpi/albums/72157654937958628
