Georgia and its European Challenges and Opportunities
Photography by Hasan S. Aloul.The Hague Institute for Global Justice and the Embassy of Georgia organized a panel discussion last November on Georgia and its European ambitions on the occasion of the official visit to the Netherlands of the Chair of the Parliament of Georgia, His Excellency David Usupashvili. The main theme: Challenges and Opportunities of Georgia’s Path towards Europe’s Institutions. Â
The visit followed the invitation of his counterpart, the Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives of the Netherlands, Her Excellency Anouchka van Miltenburg.
David Usupashvili was elected as a Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia on October 21, 2012. He was the Chairman of the Republican Party of Georgia (2005-2013); he worked for an USAID Rule of Law program (1999-2005); he was an Executive Secretary for Anti-Corruption Working Group under President of Georgia (2000-01); he was the Chairman of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (1994-97); he was the Senior Legal Adviser and Special Envoy of the President of Georgia to Parliament (1992-94); he served at the Central Election Commission of Georgia, as Member and Chief Legal Consultant (1990-94).
Conference started with Dr. Abiodun Williams, President of The Hague Institute, welcome remarks follow by a key note Presentation by H.E. David Usupashvili. Mr. Usupashvili, spoke out about the importance of the maintaining of EU monitoring group reporting constantly about the border situation with Russia to ensure stability and peace; as he stressed out this observatory group is the only technical support Georgia is receiving  from the EU and is a key issue in monitoring the actual situation. He also explain the firm decision of Georgia to keep normalizing relationship with Russia in a peaceful atmosphere as independent country who share a lot in common.
Skating rink opens at Scheveningen
Photography: Jim Hoogendorp
Cool Event opens skating rink and ice slide at Scheveningen
The 8th edition of  Cool Event Scheveningen opened by singer Nurlaila Karim and Walbroek Heino, Marketing Director of  Scheveningen Foundation.
On the occasion of the inauguration of the  600 m2 ice rink on Kurhausplein, just in front of the Kurhaus Hotel, Nurlaila Karim and Crazy Piano performer gave a preview of her new theater show “Four Tina”. The ice rink is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. Cool Event Scheveningen will also open from  December 4, the “Palace Fun Slide” a 30 meter long ice slide on the boulevard placed opposite the Pier. The heated terraces of restaurants around the square offer the perfect place to take a break and enjoy winter drinks and food.  Cool Event offers special packages for schools, clubs, holiday groups, nurseries and B (N) SO. Groups can rent skates and enjoy a hot chocolate for only € 3.00 per person. For more information: www.cooleventscheveningen.nl    ÂJustice sector receives Euro 20 million support
Rwanda and the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed an agreement on 27 October, where the latter com-mitted Euro 20 million (about Rwf17 billion) toward efforts to boost the Judiciary. The grant will support Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) and help strengthen the rule of law, promote good governance and a culture of peace, according to Finance and Economic Planning minister Claver Gatete.
“Justice sector strategies are a direct translation of the main second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2). Justice-related priorities and the purpose of the Sector is to strengthen the rule of law, while promoting accountable governance and a culture of peace,” Ambassador Gatete said during the signing ceremony in Kigali. “This will greatly contribute to socio-economic development and enhance poverty reduction as prescribed in EDPRS2 blueprint.”
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Official Visit of the ICC to Bulgaria
From left to right: ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, ICC President Judge Sang-Hyun Song, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Minister of Justice Hristo Ivanov, Prosecutor-General Sotir Tsatsarov, and Deputy Foreign Minister Katya Todorova, and ICC Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova, on  20 November 2014. ©ICC-CPI
On 20 and 21 November 2014, the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Sang-Hyun Song, ICC Prosecutor, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, and ICC Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova took part in an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr Sotir Tsatsarov.
During their visit, the ICC officials met with several high-level Bulgarian representatives, including the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr Rosen Plevneliev, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov, as well as the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria and representatives of the Supreme Judicial Council. The Bulgarian officials reiterated Bulgaria’s full commitment to the ICC and the broader system of international criminal justice.
President Song and Prosecutor Bensouda expressed their appreciation for Bulgaria’s longstanding support of the ICC as one of the founding members of the Court. Bulgaria was also encouraged to continue to promote universality of the Rome Statute in the Black Sea region. ICC officials welcomed Bulgaria’s anticipated participation and active role in the discussions at the upcoming 13th session of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC, which will take place in New York from 8 to 17 December 2014.
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Carthage National Museum of Antiquities
Power and splendor of glorious exhibition in Carthage National Museum of Antiquities.
On November 27 opens in the Museum of Antiquities in Leiden ‘Carthage’, a unique exhibition about one of the most legendary port cities of antiquity. To admire over 250 archaeological pieces from including leading Tunisian museums, the Louvre and the British Museum.
The impressive marble and bronze sculptures, colorful mosaics, exquisite jewelery and valuables turned up evidence of the archaeological wealth of this once rich and powerful city on the coast of present-day Tunisia. It is the first time it shows a large exhibition on Carthage in the Netherlands.
Carthage – exhibition in Leiden
The exhibition ‘Carthago’ brings the ancient Carthaginian objects together in a backdrop of images of the ancient city and the characteristic round port. Historical and mythical personages as Queen Dido and the Trojan hero Aeneas, warlord Hannibal, the Roman consul Cato, Augustus and church father Augustine take visitors along the eventful history of the city.
The story is divided into two exhibition halls, each going to one of the great flowering periods. The first room is about the founding by the Phoenicians in the ninth century BC. and the development of Carthage to rich trading town. Gods and goddesses, daily life, rituals surrounding death and the great competition with Rome are discussed here. The second room is about the destruction by the Romans (146 BC.) And the subsequent second heyday of the city, as new Roman metropolis. The exhibition runs story in this hall through Christian and Byzantine Carthage until the seventh century, and the city slowly fell into oblivion. In addition, attention is paid to the rediscovery of Carthage’s ruins from the early nineteenth century, when the Museum of Antiquities itself also played a role.
In the exhibition, the museum organizes lectures, tours and courses. Also appearing a book (€ 19.95) and a magazine (€ 3.50). In the Temple Hall of the museum pictures give an impression of the history of archaeological excavations in Carthage since the nineteenth century. During the exhibition the museum admission applies to a charge of € 2.50 (v / a 18).
‘Carthage’ is open until 10 May 2015. More information is available at www.rmo.nl/carthago
Special thanks to the Embassy of Tunisia in the Netherlands. The exhibition is made ​​possible by the Blockbuster Fund; The Tunisian Tourist Netherlands; Tunisair (official carrier); Association Business Friends National Museum of Antiquities; AON Insurance; the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tunisia; and the Ministry of Culture of Tunisia. The National Museum of Antiquities is supported by the BankGiro Lottery.
Thanks to: République Tunisienne Ministère de la Culture, Tunis; Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunis; Agence de Mise en Valeur du Patrimoine et Culturelle Promotion, Tunis; Embassy of Tunisia in the Netherlands, The Hague; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hague. Welcome to The Hague
Welcome to The Hague – Monday, December 8th, 2014
The City of The Hague and ACCESS invite new arrivals and their families in the City and it’s surrounding areas to attend the “Welcome to The Hague” programme on Monday, December 8th 2014 at The Hague International Centre (THIC), at the Atrium of City Hall, Spui 70.
The morning’s program is designed to help give attendees an introductory understanding of the City, the Dutch culture and people, and how the services of The Hague International Centre and ACCESS can make their stay more comfortable. It also gives them an opportunity to broaden their network of contacts and to meet other expatriates.
It is perfect for any newly arrived resident and/or as a refresher for existing service providers, HR personnel and their colleagues. Participation in this programme is free of charge. To register, please email your full name and nationality to:Â welcome@access-nl.org
Registration deadline is: Friday, December 5th, 2014.
For additional information please visit:
http://www.access-nl.org/about-access/news-and-events/events/welcome-to-the-hague.aspx
We look forward to making your acquaintance – Welcome to The Hague!
Bensouda, ‘End the scourge of violence against children’
Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Fatou Bensouda, on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: End the scourge of violence against children
 On this day in 1989, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the ensuing quarter-century, nearly every state in the world joined that treaty.
In the exercise of its mandate, the Office of the Prosecutor is committed to protecting and respecting the rights of children. To ensure that we reinforce this commitment, my Office is in the process of preparing a comprehensive Policy Paper on Children; that process has already commenced, and thus far included consultations with child rights experts from, among other stakeholders, the United Nations system, civil society and academia. Crimes against children must be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The first trial of the International Criminal Court (ICC) focused on crimes against children, resulting in the landmark conviction of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, a former rebel leader in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for the conscription, enlistment and use of children under the age of 15 to participate actively in hostilities. Both the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol “on the involvement of children in armed conflict” have played critical roles in the fight to end the recruitment and use of children as soldiers.
When I assumed Office as Prosecutor in 2012, I emphasised that in addition to focusing on “children who are forced to carry arms,” we must also address the issue of “children who are affected by arms.” The Lubanga trial had highlighted such issues, including the impact of crimes against children on whole communities, the specific issue of girl soldiers, and the devastating effect such crimes can have on the right of children to education. This broader focus has been extended in a pending case: earlier this year, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC confirmed charges against the accused, Bosco Ntaganda – not only of conscription, enlistment, and use of children, but also of sexual slavery and sexual violence against children who formed part of his own militia – and committed him to trial.
A crime against a child is an offence against all of humanity; it is, to be sure, an affront to our most basic tenets of human decency. As we mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, my office pledges its firm commitment to advance the rights of children within the framework of the Rome Statute. We look forward to continuing to work in concert with the international community to end the scourge of violence against children in and affected by armed conflict.
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Mohammed Al Thani led a charitable expedition to Kilimanjaro
By Baron Henri Estramant
The Sharjah-based, Qatari sheikh, Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Thani led a charitable expedition of twelve young Qataris and expatriates to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The noble goal? To raise funds for rebuilding schools, and financing the education of young Palestinians.
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Mohammed Al Thani is a well-known philanthropist in Qatar and the UAE. The sheikh is normally based in the Emirate of Sharjah (UAE) whence his mother hails, yet he belongs to the Ruling House of Thani (Qatar) through his father, Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani. He is known as the Director General for Sharjah Statistics Centre, but most prominently as a businessman and top athlete. On 22 May 2013 he became the first Qatari to climb Mount Everest in Nepal, the world’s largest mountain. In doing so Sheikh Moe Al Thani (as he is colloquially known) raised one million dollars for education projects in Nepal. Sheikh Moe is father to a the little Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani.
The climbing expedition team included also the very first Qatari women to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and others, that is Mohamed Fakhro, Mohamed Al Naama, Aisha bint Ahmed Al Naama, Yacoub Al Yacoub, Bashaer Al Mulla, Dana Al Anzy, Sheikha Noor Al Thani, Nasser bin Marzooq, Bader Al Madani, Masoud Kalafchi, Raed Zidan, Sheikha Asma Al Thani, Shaima Sherif and Sheikh Sultan Al Thani. The mentor and motor behind the expedition was Sheikh Moe Al Thani serving as a brand ambassador for Reach Out To Asia, a non-profit organisation based in Doha that raises funds for developmental projects in Asia.
The challenge was successfully completed on 8 October 2014. The main financial backers were El Jaish Sports Club as the principal sponsor, in addition to Qatar Financial Centre, and Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum as platinum sponsors. Gold sponsors featured wre QNB, Zidan Real Estate, Qatar Academy, Al Jazeera Academy and the Qatar International School.
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 H.E. Mr Gabriel Edgardo Aguilera Peralta, Ambassador of Guatemala
H.E. Mr Gabriel Edgardo Aguilera Peralta is a Guatemalan lawyer, notary and diplomat. He carried out several high level positions in the political as well as academic field. From now His Excellency will serve as Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Ambassador Aguilera completed his studies in Guatemala, held a Master’s degree in Germany and accomplished several post-graduate degrees in Guatemala, Spain and The United States of America. In fact, His Excellency is fluent in English and German, in addition to his native Spanish.
Before embarking on the diplomatic career, Ambassador Aguilera was a professor and university researcher performing high-level academic duties, inter alia, he was a former UNDP and UNESCO consultant and Director of the Central American Institute for Political Studies, from 1975 to 1978. Finally, he has contributed with several publications, books and articles in Latin America, the United States and Japan.
Ambassador Aguilera joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala and served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in two different periods: from 1996 to 1999 and four years later, from 2003 to 2004. He was named Ambassador of Guatemala in Germany (non-resident to Poland, 2008-2010), Peru (non-resident to Bolivia, 2010-2014), and the Netherlands. Among other government functions, H.E. Aguilera was appointed as Presidential Secretary of Peace and Presidential Delegate for the elaboration of the White Book for the National Defence.
During his honourable career, H.E. Aguilera received multiples awards and recognitions.
Holiday Bazaar 2014 – The American Women’s Club
The American Women’s Club of The Hague will host their traditional Holiday Bazaar; a great experience of an outstanding variety of high quality products; the perfect place for Christmas shopping. All your holidays shopping in one convenient venue.   Join us at the beautiful Carlton Ambassador The Hague, for a unique holiday shopping experience!