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                  Senegal Law Students Debate ICC Africa Focus

   by Ricci Shryock

   Senegal was the first country in the world to ratify the Rome Statute -
   the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC) - that
   in 1998 gave court the power to prosecute individuals for international
   crimes such as genocide.

   Today, the Netherlands-based court has come under fire from some
   critics for its record of only going after African leaders.

   In fact, since the ICC officially entered into force in 2002, every
   target of prosecution has been an African leader.

   About 60 Senegalese law students, along with activists from the country
   and experts from the Netherlands, gathered recently at the Dutch
   embassy in Dakar to discuss the ICC's strengths and shortcomings.

   Eight African countries have come under investigation and eight
   non-African countries have investigations pending.

   Cheikh Fall, a Dakar cyber-activist and journalist familiar with
   international law, said every investigation has focused on Africa, and
   there is a good reason for that.

   Why are African leaders tried by the ICC?
   "Countries say that ICC judges (prosecute) only African countries,"
   said Fall. "Yes, okay. But often, when you take stock, you realize that
   most of the genocides and war crimes are committed in these countries."

   Fall added a focus should be made on strengthening democratic
   institutions in these countries[DEL: , :DEL] to make sure these crimes
   don't occur in the first place.

   "There is maybe a democratic effort that must be made in Africa, and
   consolidated in these countries, to allow Africa to put itself in a
   position to prevent having to drag our leaders to this court."

   He also said the seminar touched on how Africans can take more of the
   reigns at the ICC level by becoming more involved as lawyers and
   judges.

   Fatou Bensouda from Gambia is the current prosecutor at the ICC.

   Dutch Ambassador Pieter Jan Kleiweg De Zwaan said he knows there are
   some public opinions that the ICC is a court founded where "Europeans
   judge Africans," but approximately half of the cases have been brought
   to the attention of the court by Africans. He says instead, the court
   is a place where those who have committed human rights crimes and have
   not been judged in their own country will meet justice.

   During the seminar, the Senegalese community was asked to weigh in via
   social media with their thoughts.

   Many said the ICC had no credibility with them - whether because of its
   sole prosecution of Africans or the fact that countries such as Israel
   and the United States are not parties to the treaty.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/senegalese-law-students-debate-icc-fo
   cus-on-africa/1801844.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/senegalese-law-students-debate-icc-focus-on-africa/1801844.html