On Wednesday, December 2, 2009, from 4 to 5 p.m. CET /10 to 11 a.m. EST, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) will hold a live blogging session on the opening of International Criminal Court’s second trial with NGO expert Mariana Pena, Permanent Representative of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in The Hague.

Leading victims’ rights advocate Mariana Pena will answer questions and read comments from interested Internet users on the Katanga/Ngudjolo trial which opened on 24 November 2009, including on issues of victims’ participation to the trial, outreach and communications, or fair trial.

Please note that the session will be held in English.

To follow the live discussion or read a transcript of the chat, go to www.iccnow.org/blog

To submit questions ahead of the chat or during the chat, please email communications@iccnow.org

BACKGROUND:

KATANGA/NGUDJOLO TRIAL:
Katanga and Ngudjolo are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the village of Bogoro in the Ituri district of eastern DRC from January to March 2003, including child soldier and rape charges. The Katanga/Ngudjolo trial – the second trial of the Court – will open on Tuesday 24 November 2009. The ICC is the world’s first permanent international court to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. It is also the first international criminal tribunal to allow victims to participate in court proceedings and receive reparations.
More at: http://www.iccnow.org/?mod=drctimelinekatanga

MARIANA PENA:
Mariana Pena has been representing the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) at the International Criminal Court since 2006 and in this capacity she has monitored ICC judicial and institutional proceedings and the impact of the work of the Court on the communities most affected by the crimes it investigates. Prior to joining FIDH, she was involved in advocacy for the ICC in the United States, and in facilitating victims’ access to justice within the Inter-American system of Human Rights. She an attorney at law with litigation experience in domestic affairs, and has also worked as a tribunal clerk.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS:
Created in 1922, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is an umbrella organisation for a network of 155 human rights organisations around the world. Its mandate is to contribute to the respect of all the rights defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. FIDH aims at obtaining effective improvement in the protection of victims, the prevention of Human Rights violations and the prosecution and punishment of perpetrators. Some of its main priorities are the fight against impunity for serious violations of human rights and the provision of assistance to victims of such violations before judicial and quasi-judicial mechanisms. FIDH has been a member of the steering committee of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court since its establishment, and has been closely involved in following developments in relation to the Rome Statute system.
More at: www.fidh.org/