ICC Prosecutor and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights pledge to further strengthen collaboration
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mrs. Fatou Bensouda and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, HRH Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Al-Hussein in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mrs. Fatou Bensouda, recently met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein in Geneva, Switzerland.
At the meeting, Prosecutor Bensouda congratulated High Commissioner Zeid on his recent appointment as the sixth United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and together they discussed ways to further strengthen collaboration between their respective Offices. “Fostering respect for human rights and accountability for mass crimes are critical and complementary goals,” said Prosecutor Bensouda. “As with his predecessor, Mrs. Navi Pillay, High Commissioner Zeid is an esteemed champion of human rights and the rule of law. I look forward to working closely with him and to explore additional avenues for synergies that can be pursued with full respect for our respective independent mandates,” she added.
“The ICC plays an essential role in contributing to accountability for serious human right violations and other international crimes,” Commissioner Zeid said. “We see its involvement in certain situations as a vital element not only for the purposes of accountability but also as a disincentive to others to commit such crimes and violations.”
The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC conducts independent and impartial investigations and prosecution of the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Office of the Prosecutor is currently conducting eight investigations in Uganda; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Darfur, Sudan; Central African Republic; Kenya; Libya; Cote d’Ivoire and Mali. The Office is also conducting preliminary examinations relating to the situations in Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia Guinea, Honduras, Iraq, Nigeria, Ukraine and the situation referred by the Union of the Comoros.
As the principal United Nations office mandated to promote and protect human rights for all, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) leads global human rights efforts, speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations worldwide. OHCHR provide a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today’s human rights challenges, and acts as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information, and advocacy activities in the United Nations system.
Since Governments have the primary responsibility to protect human rights, the OHCHR provides assistance to Government, such as expertise and technical trainings in the areas of administration of justice, legislative reform, and electoral process, to help implement international human rights standards on the ground. It also supports National Human Rights institutions and engages with civil society actors.
Serbian Cinematography Day
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia and the Organization for promotion of Serbian art and culture in the Netherlands “Mreza” will organized a “Serbian Cinematography Day”, to be held in cinema “Rialto” in Amsterdam, on Sunday, 26th of October 2014.
After the opening of the event by the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Netherlands Mr. Petar Vico, two movies will be shown: Cinema Komunisto (Mila Turajlic) and When Day Breaks (Goran Paskaljevic).
Three released from ICC custody
Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Narcisse Arido and Fidèle Babala Wandu released from ICC custody
Central African Republic Case: The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido
Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Narcisse Arido and Fidèle Babala Wandu were released from the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) following a decision by Pre-Trial Chamber II granting them interim release. The suspects shall appear before the Court when requested by the Judges.
Aimé Kilolo Musamba was released in Belgium, Fidèle Babala Wandu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Narcisse Arido in France. The release of Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, the fourth suspect who was granted interim release in this case, will be implemented as soon as the ICC Registry finalises all the necessary arrangements.
Look at ME!
Every day millions of people all over the world share photos of themselves. Making selfies is a hype originating from the digital media, Internet and social media. But is this need for self-imaging indeed unique to our time? Or is there a similarity with portrait painting and other forms of self-imaging from other times? The Tropenmuseum has explored its rich historical collection of photographs and discovered astonishing similarities with more recent self-portraits. Look at me! is a visual journey of discovery along portraits of people who determined for themselves how they want to be seen. That is timeless!
Self imaging in three periods
The Look at me! exhibition comprises 80 photos. Images by Woodbury & Page and other 19th-century photo studios never exhibited before; famous studio portraits by James Barnor, Seydou Keïta and Malick Sidibé; and contemporary self-portraits by artists like Iké Udé, Ni Haifeng and Hélène Amouzou. The portrait photos can be divided into three periods: 19th-century colonial Indonesia; the independence period in the 1950s and 1960s in West Africa; and the multicultural West of today. Three periods in which culture and society changed greatly and people had to rethink who they were and wanted to be.
Astonishing parallels
For the first time portraits from different periods have been brought together in this way. One by one the seemingly innocent studio portraits prove to be carefully staged, layered expressions of cultural identity. Astonishing parallels can be discovered between the portraits from the different periods. For example, on reflection, the use of clothes, attributes and role-playing show correlations. Contemporary and historical images thus enhance each other.
Macedonia Diplomats Meet & Greet
By Anjali Singh, Editor Assistant
On Tuesday, 14 October, the Macedonian Embassy in The Hague hosted the monthly Diplomats Meet and Greet promoted by Diplomat Magazine at Carlton Ambassador Hotel. H.E. Igor Popov acted as the gracious host for the evening.
The event was attended by over a hundred well-known dignitaries and guests from different fields. Amongst the guests were the Mayor of Wassenaar Mr. Jan Hoekema, the presidents from the ICC and the ICJ, ambassadors, diplomats from several countries, members of the press, businessmen and representatives from the Macedonian Community in the Netherlands.
Invitees were welcomed with traditional Macedonian wines and culinary delights from this beautiful country.
Oscar de la Renta Passed Away
Dominican Republic fashion designer Oscar de la Renta passed away on Oct. 20th, 2014. Members of the diplomatic corps are cordially invited to sign the Book of Condolences at the Dominican Embassy in The Hague at Raamweg 21-22, 2596 HL, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th of October from 9:30am till 3pm.
Note Verbale from the Dominican Embassy, click here: Condolencias.Oscar.d.l.Renta
Peace for Iraq
Concert, poetry and speeches supported by International Red Cross and United Nations. Diplomat Magazine support and celebrate the involvement of a leading group of international students from Leiden University, among them Duke Michael of Meckleburg, DM Junior Publisher.
Masterpieces of Juan Carlos Reyes
By Duke Michael of Mecklenburg.
Juan Carlos Reyes an artist from Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic had his first exhibition of his masterpieces in Europe at Kasteel de Wittenburg in Wassenaar. Present were Ambassadors of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Burundi, Angola, Switzerland, Kosovo, Chile and Dominican Republic as well. It was a successful evening and start for his tour around Europe. The Diplomat Magazine wish all the best of success.
Hungarian ICC judge candidate in The Hague
Presentation of the Hungarian ICC judge candidate in The Hague
The accountability of the perpetrators of grave crimes against humanity in Iraq and Syria was also touched upon by Professor Peter Kovács, Hungary’s candidate to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in his lecture in The Hague.
The Hungarian candidate, a former member of the Hungarian Constitutional Court held a presentation to the representatives of the ICC States Parties and the international legal community at the Embassy of Hungary on 13 October. Beside the evaluation of the Court’s jurisprudence Professor Kovács also offered his views on current international justice related issues. He also discussed the referral of terrorist acts committed by the Islamic State against religious or ethnic minorities before the ICC by the UN Security Council or States affected on the basis of the perpetrators’ nationality.
Hungary has not delegated any judge to the ICC before. The December 2014 session of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC will decide upon the 17 candidacies submitted for the 6 judicial positions to be filled at the most prestigious international criminal tribunal.
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Two parliaments ceremoniously opened
By Baron Henri Estramant.
The Re-opening of Lesotho’s Parliament on Friday, 17 October 2014 by the country’s monarch Letsie III is being hailed as a victory for the democratic stability and internal security of the kingdom after an alleged attempt of a coup d’état against Prime Minister Thomas Thabane. The PM fled the country “fearing for his life” back at the end of August 2014. PM Thabane left after the army mobilised close to government edifices without inform him.
The bicameral Parliament was re-opened after a “Speech from the Throne” was delivered by the country’s monarch, who is the ceremonial Head of State.
The Re-opening of Parliament in Maseru was attended by South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa who is credited with reconciling squabbling politicians in the mountainous kingdom. The re-opening of the parliamentary session is considered particularly important in order to preserve the rule of law in Lesotho which has gone through several coup d’états in the past.
Another Westminster-inspired system, that of New Zealand, also saw the opening of its 51st parliament on 21 October 2014. In New Zealand, the “Speech from the Throne” is delivered by the Personal Representative of the realm’s Sovereign, the “Governor-General of New Zealand”. Like in Lesotho the speech is actually an outline of the government’s intentions and plans for the new legislature.
Both the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Realm of New Zealand are among the 53-members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a separate legal entity as New Zealand’s Head of State (i.e. “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories…“) whereas Lesotho has its own constitutional monarch, His Majesty King Letsie III of the Royal House of Moshesh.
In New Zealand the daily functions of the monarch are carried out by a Governor-General serving as the Sovereign’s Personal Representative. The incumbent being HE Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Jeremiah Mateparae, 20th Governor-General since 31 August 2011.
Another Westminster-inspired system, that of New Zealand, also saw the opening of its 51st parliament on 21 October 2014. In New Zealand, the “Speech from the Throne” is delivered by the Personal Representative of the realm’s Sovereign, the “Governor-General of New Zealand”. Like in Lesotho the speech is actually an outline of the government’s intentions and plans for the new legislature.
Both the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Realm of New Zealand are among the 53-members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a separate legal entity as New Zealand’s Head of State (i.e. “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories…“) whereas Lesotho has its own constitutional monarch, His Majesty King Letsie III of the Royal House of Moshesh.
In New Zealand the daily functions of the monarch are carried out by a Governor-General serving as the Sovereign’s Personal Representative. The incumbent being HE Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Jeremiah Mateparae, 20th Governor-General since 31 August 2011.
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