On 26 and 27 October 2015, the International Criminal Court (ICC) hosted at the seat of the Court in The Hague a workshop on cooperation and financial investigations. The workshop was an opportunity for participants, which included experts from 13 countries and 6 international organisations, to discuss operational measures and find solutions for cooperation challenges when working with the ICC to conduct financial investigations.
On 26 October, the workshop was launched with introductory remarks by ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel, ICC Deputy Prosecutor James Stewart, Senior Adviser of the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United Nations Jörn Oliver Eiermann, and Director of International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR)/Basel Institute Gretta Fenner.
Discussions were then lead by ICC staff from the Office of the Prosecutor and Registry on the Court’s mandate, legal framework and procedure in tracing, seizing, freezing and forfeiting assets of an ICC suspect or accused. Participants then explored avenues for cooperation in these actions, whether through States Parties, intergovernmental organizations, financial intelligence units or other actors.
On 27 October, participants discussed three specific scenarios in depth, in which the ICC would request cooperation at different stages of ICC proceedings. The scenarios involved different levels of information required depending on whether the request was in regard to tracing, seizing, freezing or forfeiting the assets. This exercise helped to clarify and pinpoint solutions to practical challenges faced when cooperating. The workshop concluded by identifying two main action points: first, for the ICC to continue explaining to States Parties the specificities of its mandate in relation to financial investigations, and second, for the ICC and States Parties to develop regular bilateral contacts with the aim of finding ways to improve cooperation in the field of financial investigations.
This workshop was made possible by the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United Nations, the International Centre for Asset Recovery, and the European Commission. The ICC thanks these organisations as well as all workshop participants, and looks forward to improved cooperation going forward.
The Cultural Department of Guangdong Province, China Information Office, and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, presented one of the most outstanding spectacles of the year at Diligentia Theatre.
For a photo album on the show by Hester Dijkstra, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157658144062663The performance showcased the dancers of Guangdong to an almost full theatre, regaling us with magnificent music and dances and the way tea is part of every Chinese person’s life.From September 21 to October 9, the city of Den Haag hosted the First China Cultural Festival. That Pot of Tea in Chaoshan is a collective dance that shows the traditional daily life in Chaoshan, an area of Guangdong province.It was not a story about the tea ceremony, as the name suggests, but above all assimilating the old life and customs of Chaoshan people to the profound implication of the tea. The dance invites the audience to taste the sweetness and bitterness of our life through the tea.Always reflecting about our existence in the pot of tea, the first part of the show was dedicated to life: “No matter how big or tiny happiness that life has brought us, how anguished or desperate our fates are, life always gives us endless aftertaste.” Several other chapters of the first act were titled “Memories at the well” and “Female embroiderers”. The second part was dedicated to the hometown and how the pot of tea represents affection and our souvenirs of the homeland: “Wherever we are, we will be surrounded by affection when we hold the tea in hands. We will raise limitless courage and wisdom to go forward with the scent that always comes into our dreams.” Second act pieces included: “Songs of overseas Chaoshan people”, “Fragrance of ladies with flowers” and “Sending Gods away”.All in all, a brilliant performance, great dancers, and a magnificent production. What a prime way to promote Guangdong!
Picture by Peter Potman, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minbuza).5 October 2015, Kingdom of the Netherlands: Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have marked 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Although the contacts between Laos and The Netherlands are quite old, they have been and remain limited diplomatically, economically as well as the people-to-people exchanges. However one should know that the very first European to meet a Laotian monarch, King Souligna Vongsa of Lan Xang (then the name of Laos) was the Dutchman Gerrit van Wuysthoff from the United East Indies Company (VOC) in 1641. The major fields of collaboration between Laos and The Netherlands occur at EU level since 2003 when The Netherlands cut off development aid to the Asian country; in any case such aid was limited to sustainable forestry and human rights. The Royal Dutch embassy in Thailand is co-accredited to Laos whereas the mission of Laos responsible for The Netherlands is based in Brussels. However there is a Dutch honorary consul in Vientiane, Ms Megan Ritchie. Yet Laos has no consulate in The Netherlands. For more information:Embassy of Laos to the Benelux countries, the EU and the Nordic countries (HE Ambassador BOUNTEUM Khamkheuang): www.ambalao.beRoyal Dutch Embassy to Thailand: http://thailand.nlambassade.org/organizationDutch Honorary Consul in Vientiane: http://thailand.nlambassade.org/organization/honorair-consulaten-thailand/honorair-consulaat-in-vientiane.html   Â
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
H.E. Ittiporn Boonpracong, Ambassador for the Kingdom of Thailand to the Netherlands welcomed fellow Ambassadors, a Thai parliamentarian and friends to the Thai Residence for “An Evening with Dr. Surin Pitsuwan to share experiences on Sustainable Development” on Tuesday 20 October 2015.
H.E. Ittiporn Boonpracong welcome the guest.Dr. Surin Pitswan is a former ASEAN Secretary-General and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
In a vivid introduction by the host Ambassador Ittiporn Boonpracong, highlighted Dr, Surin Pitsuwan’s impressive palmarès. The guest of honor subsequently delivered an appealing expose. With his deep warm voice, posture and calmness, the orator Pitsuwan captured and retained the attention of his audience.
Dr.Pitsuwan disclosed, Sufficient Economy Philosophy (SEP) is the brainchild of Thailand enlightened monarch H.M. King Bhumobol.The philosophy, is focused on living a moderate, self-dependent life without greed or overexploitation of natural resources.
Dr. Pitsuwan stated, SEP could serve as a model to many communities, states and countries around the world looking for an alternative way of moving forward in the process of globalization. According to Dr. Pitsuwan there is no one size fit all, each community should look at what is suitable.
Dr. Pitsuwan a savvy on the matter, elaborated on the impacts of the philosophy in promoting sustainable development among people, entrepreneurs and governments.
Dr. Surin Pitswan at the Thai Residence.
He touched on the scarcity of water, depleted water basins. Water is an essential commodity in agriculture, He furthermore stressed that farmers in the Thai highland should return to their plots and cultivate edible crops instead of growing illicit drugs that is causing havoc in Europe and elsewhere.
Sufficient Economy Philosophy is one way to eradicate poverty. It is instrumental in conserving our environment, combat crime and get out of debt.
Dr Pitsuwan urged the Ambassadors and diplomats present to report to their government back home. Ambassadors he says are in a privileged position to bring about global changes such eradication of poverty and the saving of our planet.
Earlier the same day The Hague Institute was pleased to welcome Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Chairman of Future Innovative Thailand Institute, for a discussion on The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy: Contribution to the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda.
The evening with the illustrious Dr. Surin Pitsuwan concluded with a Q&A session and the traditional Thai hospitality, a buffet.
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Her Majesty Queen Máxima will make a speech on Wednesday 4 November at the 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters at the World Forum in The Hague. The conference is a platform for sharing experiences and ideas with the ultimate objective of achieving an international approach to the prevention of violence against women and children.
After the plenary session, Queen Máxima will attend part of the ‘Effective social and economic reintegration of women survivors’ workshop. The main theme on the morning of 4 November is economic independence, the basis on which women faced with domestic violence can build a new and independent life. Other issues to be discussed at the conference include sustainable financing, cooperation in international organisations, such as the United Nations and the World Health Organisation (WHO), expanding and strengthening the international network, putting violence against women on the agenda worldwide and creating legislation.
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will also attend the conference on Wednesday. Through The Mary Foundation she works to help women and children who are victims of violence. The foundation is organising two conference workshops, and Crown Princess Mary will speak on Thursday 5 November.
In total around a thousand people from over a hundred countries will take part in the conference in The Hague. Minister of Education, Culture and Science Jet Bussemaker will open the conference on Tuesday 3 November. Also State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport Martin van Rijn will attend part of the four-day conference, which is being held from 3 to 6 November.
Previous editions of the conference were held in Alberta, Canada in 2008 and in Washington DC in 2012. The conference in The Hague is being organised by the Foundation of Women’s Shelters in the Netherlands and other partners at the request of the Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS).
From September 21 to October 9, the city of Den Haag hosted the First China Cultural Festival. That Pot of Tea in Chaoshan is a collective dance that shows the traditional daily life in Chaoshan, an area of Guangdong province.
It was not a story about the tea ceremony, as the name suggests, but above all assimilating the old life and customs of Chaoshan people to the profound implication of the tea. The dance invites the audience to taste the sweetness and bitterness of our life through the tea.
Always reflecting about our existence in the pot of tea, the first part of the show was dedicated to life: “No matter how big or tiny happiness that life has brought us, how anguished or desperate our fates are, life always gives us endless aftertaste.” Several other chapters of the first act were titled “Memories at the well” and “Female embroiderers”.Â
The second part was dedicated to the hometown and how the pot of tea represents affection and our souvenirs of the homeland: “Wherever we are, we will be surrounded by affection when we hold the tea in hands.
We will raise limitless courage and wisdom to go forward with the scent that always comes into our dreams.”
Second act pieces included: “Songs of overseas Chaoshan people”, “Fragrance of ladies with flowers” and “Sending Gods away”.
All in all, a brilliant performance, great dancers, and a magnificent production. What a prime way to promote Guangdong!
From September 21 to October 9, the city of Den Haag hosted the First China Cultural Festival. That Pot of Tea in Chaoshan is a collective dance that shows the traditional daily life in Chaoshan, an area of Guangdong province.
It was not a story about the tea ceremony, as the name suggests, but above all assimilating the old life and customs of Chaoshan people to the profound implication of the tea. The dance invites the audience to taste the sweetness and bitterness of our life through the tea.
Always reflecting about our existence in the pot of tea, the first part of the show was dedicated to life: “No matter how big or tiny happiness that life has brought us, how anguished or desperate our fates are, life always gives us endless aftertaste.” Several other chapters of the first act were titled “Memories at the well” and “Female embroiderers”.Â
The second part was dedicated to the hometown and how the pot of tea represents affection and our souvenirs of the homeland: “Wherever we are, we will be surrounded by affection when we hold the tea in hands.
We will raise limitless courage and wisdom to go forward with the scent that always comes into our dreams.”
Second act pieces included: “Songs of overseas Chaoshan people”, “Fragrance of ladies with flowers” and “Sending Gods away”.
All in all, a brilliant performance, great dancers, and a magnificent production. What a prime way to promote Guangdong!
The participating institutions were:
Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH). – West Holland Foreign Investment Agency (WFIA). – Confederation of Netherlands Industries (VNO NCW) – Innovation Quarter – Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) – International Affairs of the City of The Hague and the embassies from India with Ambassador J.S. Mukul, Australia with Ambassador Brett Mason, Sudan with Ambassador Mrs Rahma Salih, Eritrea with Ambassador Negassi Kassa Tekle, Slovakia with Ambassador Roman Buzek, Sri Lanka with Ambassador Adam Sadiq, President of the WTC The Hague, Ambassador Frans Engering, Director of NCH, Dr Jan Siemons. General Manager of the WTC The Hague, Mrs Eveline Steenbergen, Director International Affairs Gemeente Den Haag, Mrs Elisabeth Minnemann and some other diplomats and organisations.
Chairman Frans Engering. towards the end of his exposé, asked individual Ambassadors specific questions e.g. “I have noticed your country will be organizing large-scale [trade] matchmaking events in November. Can you please tell us a bit more about these events”
In conclusion Ambassadors were offered a complimentary WTC The Hague membership card and a voucher which entitles Embassies to make use of WTC conference rooms for half a day, free of charge. The event was a joint effort by WTC and Mr. Andrew van Esch of Dæsch Creative Concepts.
Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga of Rwanda briefly introduced Alice Gahunga-Durand and let the artist explain her works.
Alice was assisted by her daughter, who interpreted from French to English. She explained that the style of art stems from centuries ago and is called imigingo.
Alice uses several techniques in her creations similar to her endeavours to advocate interculturalism, the blending of cultures. By blending materials, Alice tries to modernize traditional African art.
Environmentally conscious as she is, Alice is an advocate of recycling. She creates her abstract paintings and objects by using recycled materials, such as African acrylic fabric scraps, paper towel, cardboard, plastic, metal, wood, or any other recyclable material. To Alice, beauty is hidden in everything; beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga of Rwanda briefly introduced Alice Gahunga-Durand and let the artist explain her works.
Alice was assisted by her daughter, who interpreted from French to English. She explained that the style of art stems from centuries ago and is called imigingo.
Alice uses several techniques in her creations similar to her endeavours to advocate interculturalism, the blending of cultures. By blending materials, Alice tries to modernize traditional African art.
Environmentally conscious as she is, Alice is an advocate of recycling. She creates her abstract paintings and objects by using recycled materials, such as African acrylic fabric scraps, paper towel, cardboard, plastic, metal, wood, or any other recyclable material. To Alice, beauty is hidden in everything; beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
