The OAS Permanent Council’s Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs (CAJP) held the tenth working meeting on the International Criminal Court on Thursday, March 15, 2018, pursuant to the resolution on the promotion of international law [AG/RES. 2909 (XLVII-O/17)].

Introductory remarks were offered by the CAJP Chair, Ambassador Hugo Cayrús, who explained the General Assembly mandate and noted the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Rome Statute. Dr. Dante Negro, Director of the Department of International Law, the General Secretariat office that serves as a point of contact with the Court, then outlined the activities to promote international law being pursued by the Department as one of its primary means of fulfilling the April 18, 2011 “Exchange of Letters for the Establishment of a Framework Cooperation Agreement with the International Criminal Court.” He also explained the background to these working meetings, which have helped to raise awareness about the progress made by OAS member states with respect to the legal instruments regulating the action of the International Criminal Court.

Two panel discussions were held during the meeting: the first, during the high-level dialogue segment, was led by the International Criminal Court’s Deputy Prosecutor, James Stewart, who spoke about the work done by the Office of the Prosecutor, the main challenges facing the Court, and the importance of strengthening cooperation with the Court.

The second panel, meanwhile, brought together Ms. Antônia Pereira de Sousa of the Secretariat of the Court; Deputy Jorge Luis Cálix, representing Parliamentarians for Global Action; Ms. Michelle Reyes, of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court; Mr. Christopher Harland, legal advisor at the International Committee of the Red Cross; and Mr. Felipe Michelini, member of the Board of Directors of the Court’s Trust Fund for Victims, who delivered his presentation by videoconference from Montevideo.

The Department of International Law will prepare a report on the working meeting. It will include the presentations delivered, and may be viewed on our website, at: http://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/international_criminal_court.asp.

📷 Photo Gallery - CAJP Meeting

For further information on this matter, please contact the Department of International Law of the Secretariat for Legal Affairs of the OAS +1 202 370 0743.