Photography, courtesy of L’Academie francaise. L’Académie française has welcomed its newest “immortal” member, the Quebecer Dany Laferrière.   By Roy Lie A Tjam. On Thursday 28^th May 2015, the novelist Dany Laferrière was received in a solemn ceremony under the Dome of L’Académie française by Mr. Amin Maalouf, becoming the first Canadian of Haitian origin to be admitted to the prestigious hemicycle of L’Academie française. It was a great personal honour to have attended the session under the Dome of L’Académie française, an exclusive gathering in the presence of many international dignitaries. As one of Caribbean origin, it was indeed momentous to witness a son of the Caribbean with the calibre of Dany Laferrière being inducted into such a prestigious institution.   For a full photo-album on this memorable occasion, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157652673829803     L’Académie Française was established by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635 during the reign of Louis XIII. The mandate of this exclusive institution is to maintain the purity and integrity of the French language. The members of L’Académie française are known as the Immortals, referring to the immortality of the language rather than the individual. Laferrière will occupy chair no. F2 in the 40-seat body. L’Académie française is an institution which holds true to its customs. Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Dany Laferrière delivered his oration of acceptance and subsequently paid homage to his predecessor of chair F2, Mr. Hector Bianciotti. In line with tradition, Mr. Amin Maalouf who presided over the ceremony then responded to Dany Laferrière’s acceptance speech.     Sublimely outfitted, Dany sported a magnificent green coat created by Quebec designer Jean-Claude Poitras which required 650 hours of work to complete – including 500hrs dedicated solely to embroidery. At his side hung a sword fashioned in Haiti by sculptor Patrick Vilaire, Dany the man: Dany Laferrière, né Windsor Klébert Laferrière after his father, was born in Port-au-Prince in Haïti 62 years ago. His father was the mayor of Port au-Prince and a staunch opponent of President Duvalier. Laferrière Sr. eventually fled into exile, an act which adversely affected his family. Upon his father’s departure, the then-five year old Dany and his siblings grew up under the care of their grandmother in the southern city of Petit-Goâve. It was his grandmother Da, a well-educated woman, who inculcated in Dany his love of literature and poetry. In L’Odeur du café (1991) he pays a fond tribute to her. Seven of his books have been translated into English, and some also have been translated into Spanish, Korean, and Swedish. He is one of the few writers of his generation to be as well known in English as he is in French.     What more could be said of Dany Laferrière? He is elegant, reserved, approachable and courteous. Always himself and always modest, he is thoughtful, sincere and playful. He will be comfortable among his peers at the Academy where he occupies the second seat, that of the illustrious Montesquieu but also that of the giant, the mulatto from Haiti: Alexandre Dumas (son) grandson of a black slave woman, Dumas.   In 1976, after the assassination of his journalist friend Gasner Raymond, Dany Laferrière did as his father did before him and went into exile. For almost a decade he did odd jobs and worked as a journalist in Montreal, while writing at night to exorcise his pain. In 1985, Dany published his first novel: “How to make love to a Negro without getting tired.” It was an immediate success, translated into eleven languages. To date, Dany has written 23 books, the first of which will be made into a film. Another, “The Enigma of the Return” (2009), received the Prix Médicis. Membership of L’Académie française is considered the highest honour in French literature, as it is the oldest institution to bring French writers together to support and preserve the French language. Dany Laferrière joins the ranks of literary greats such Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Montesquieu, Dumas and Lafontaine. Dany Laferrièe is also the second black person to be admitted to L’Académie française, the first being Senegalese President and writer Mr. Leopold Sédar Senghor. The following French distinctions have been bestowed upon Dany Laferrière: Commandeur de la Légion d’honneur Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres Commandeur de l’ordre de la Pléiade   Various dignitaries attended Dany Laferriere’s induction, including French President François Hollande, Fleur Pellerin, Ministre de la Culture, and Annick Girardin, Secrétaire d’état à la Francophonie & Développement. They were joined by Philippe Couillard, Premier Ministre of Québec, Hélène David, Ministre de la Culture Québec, H.E. Dithny Joan Raton, Ministre de Culture République d’Haïti, and Madame Joëlle Milquet, Ministre de la Culture de la Confédération Francophone de Belgique. Also in attendance were Monsieur Pierre Karl Pélandeau, Chef de l’opposition du Québec, H. E. Ambassador Lawrence Canonn of Canada to France, S.E Madame Vanessa Matignon, Ambassadeur de la République d’Haïti to France, Madame Michaèle Jean, Secrétaire Générale de L’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Françoise David, Michèle Pierre-Louis, Lorraine Mangonès, The Minister of Patrimoine Canadien et des Langues officielles, Shelly Glover. Moreover, many distinguished writers from Haiti, Québec, Guadeloupe, France and Africa were present for the ceremony. Haiti and Canada are rightly proud of Dany, a Canadian citizen born in Haiti in 1953 whose achievements were so aptly celebrated on 28^th May. His induction into French literature’s greatest institution is a reason to rejoice. “I was born in Haïti but born a writer in Québec,” declared Dany Laferrière.    

On the picture ICC Judges in the historic Courtroom 600 of Nuremberg, Germany during a retreat held on 19 – 20 June 2015 ©ICC-CPI.   ICC Judges agree on measures to improve efficiency of criminal process.   The Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have held a private retreat to consider ways of improving the efficiency of the Court’s judicial work.  Following intensive discussions, the Judges agreed on concrete measures aimed at harmonizing working methods and implementing best practices. “I am delighted that we achieved so much progress in discussing questions of common concern in a collegial manner”, said ICC President, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi. “Expediting proceedings is a top priority for the Court, and the retreat was a great success as it allowed Judges to agree on measures to harmonize practices and improve efficiency.” The retreat was held on Friday 19 June and Saturday 20 June 2015 in the historic Courtroom 600 of Nuremberg, Germany, with the generous support of the International Nuremberg Principles Academy and the City of Nuremberg. A large part of the retreat program was based on the extensive work conducted over the last two and a half years in the context of the Lessons Learned Working Group of the ICC Judges, particularly in relation to issues arising from pre-trial and trial proceedings. The Judges also held a working session devoted to the Court’s relationship with external stakeholders with the participation of Mr Adama Dieng, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and former Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. A summary of the results of the retreat will be provided to States Parties in the near future.  

By Mete Erdurcan.     In the second part of its ‘Premier Perspectives’ series, The Hague institute for Global Justice hosted Dr. H.C. Ruud Lubbers, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, on Thursday the 4^th of June for a Q&A session. Dr. Lubbers remains the longest serving Prime Minister of the Netherlands, having held office from the 4^th of November 1982 to the 22^nd of August 1994, a momentous period which witnessed the fall of the Soviet Union and the re-unification of Germany. In recognition of his services to the Netherlands he was granted the honorary title of ‘Minister of State’ on the 31^st of January 1995. Following his term as Prime Minister, Dr. Lubbers was appointed UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) by then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.  

    The former Prime Minister chose the topic ‘Global Justice in 2015’ for his Premier Perspectives appearance, making reference to his time in the 1960s as chair of what would later become ‘Young Management’. When asked by current chair Ms. Marijke van Kan as to his views on the social role of young employers, his answer was straightforward: “to deal with our common future”. According to the former Prime Minister, the role of (young) employers is paramount to achieving successful and sustainable development worldwide, an important objective which may be strived for in part by bearing social responsibility for a large number of employees. He formulated this as “Corporate Social Responsibility”, and indicated that it is a “generous force for change”. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Dr. Lubbers has been a powerful advocate for sustainable growth and a united (saving) energy policy. Amongst his many achievements in this realm, the instigation of the Earth Charter (2000) and the Energy Charter Treaty (1990-4) stand out in particular. When asked what his views were on the potential outcome of the Paris UN Climate Change Conference, he replied that he hoped that an agreement would be reached. On the issue of recent political events, his response was measured and balanced, contending that we should “confront (President) Putin by being strong and united” but nonetheless “offer full partnership in transition to full sustainable economy”. Under the supervision of the President of The Hague Institute Dr. Abiodun Williams a Q&A session was held, in which the former Prime Minister offered his thoughts on a wide variety of questions ranging from energy issues to international development. To listen to the session, please click on the link below: https://soundcloud.com/hagueinstitute/premier-perspectives-ruud-lubbers  

On the picture H.E. Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the International Criminal Court.   Photography and text by Montserrat Zamora.   On June 1st, the Opening Ceremony of the V Ibero-American Week of International Justice took place at the Peace Palace.

Speeches were presented by H.E. Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the International Criminal Court, H.E. Mr. Philippe Courvreur,  Registrar of the International Court of Justice, H.E. Mrs. Nora Stehouwer, Ambassador of the Netherlands to International Organisations, and Prof. Héctor Olasolo Alonso, Chairman of the Ibero-American Institute of The Hague for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice. Since 2011, the Ibero-American Week of International Justice has been organised each year during the first ten days of June by the Ibero-American Institute of The Hague for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice (IIH). It has immense institutional support from numerous different organizations, such as the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the Hague Municipality, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the University of The Hague for Applied Sciences, the Grotius Center for International Studies, the TMC Asser Institute, the Hague Academic Coalition, the Embassies of several Ibero-American States, the General Ibero-American Secretariat, the European Union, the Coalition for the ICC, and a number of Ibero-American Universities and organisations.  

 

  The Ibero-American Week is comprised of a number of events in Spanish and Portuguese, including a Moot Court on the International Criminal Court, an Essay Contest on International Justice, a Seminar on Ibero-American Thinking on International Justice, a Research Group on the Ibero-American Epistemological Perspective on Justice, a guided tour to the historical buildings of the City of The Hague, and several visits to Hague-based International Courts, Tribunals and Organisations. Translation into English is provided for some of the activities. The aim of the Ibero-American Week is to create a space in which academics, international and national state officials, members of civil society, students, and the general public at large, coming from the countries in the Ibero-American region and the Netherlands, may exchange their views and initiatives on International Justice. Likewise, it aims to promote a deeper knowledge and a better understanding of Hague-based International Court, Tribunals and Organisations.  

  On the occasion of its V Edition, the Filmhuis of The Hague showed on 6 and 7 June several Ibero-American movies, including films from Argentina, Guatemala and Mexico. Moreover, on 10 June an exchange between Ibero-American and Chinese academics and students on the meaning of inclusion for peace and international justice was held at the Humanity House, as part of The Hague Talks for Peace and Justice organised by the Municipality of the City of The  Hague.  

During the Opening Ceremony, Rut Codina Palacio sang a number of traditional songs from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Spain.

The Programme of the Ibero-American Week of International Justice is available here: http://olap.fder.edu.uy/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Draft-Programme-V-Iberoamerican-Week-of-International-Justice-2015-Latest-Version.pdf

   By Roy Lie A Tjam.   Filipinos around the globe celebrated Kalayaan (Liberation) on June 12, 2015.   On June 12, 1898, Filipino revolutionary forces, led by General Emilio Aguinaldo, announced publicly the Act of the Declaration of Independence in Cavite El Viejo which proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of thePhilippines from the colonial rule of Spain.     For a photo-album on Philippines National Day, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157654535952856   H.E. Mr. Jaime Victor B Ledda flanked by his spouse Mrs. Veredigna Ledda, beautifully outfitted in her Terno, hosted a reception at the World Hotel Bel Air on June 9, 2015, to commemorate this historic day. Amongst many dignitaries present at the celebration was Dr. Raul C. Pangalangan, the Philippines’ candidate for judge at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Ambassador Ledda is himself an alumni of the then-Prof, Dr. Raul C. Pangalangan. Diplomat Magazine wishes the latter all the very best in his candidacy for the position.   In his address to guests, H.E. Ambassador Jaime Ledda touched upon a number of themes including the state of the economy in his country: the Philippines are doing well. The reception was well-attended by diplomats, representatives of various ministries, Filipinos and others.