International Criminal Court Bar Association

GIOVANNI CHIARINI

Giovanni Chiarini (PhD) is an Assistant Professor at Alfaisal University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he teaches international criminal law and the law of armed conflict. He recently published the book "The Evolution of International Criminal Procedure" (Routledge, 2024). Chiarini is also an International Fellow at the National Institute of Military Justice in Washington DC, a criminal defense attorney, and a Senior Associate at MEPLAW. He is admitted to the ICC list of assistants-to-counsel, and he has carried out legal consultancy for UNAKRT. He previously taught at Huddersfield University and the Royal Academy of Police in Bahrain. He has been a Scholar-in-Residence at Texas Tech University and a Visiting Professor at Mississippi College School of Law. He was also a visiting researcher at the following universities: Institute of International Peace and Security Law, Universität zu Köln; Centre for Criminal Justice, University College Cork; Université Côte d'Azur; Centre for Global Law, University of Edinburgh; Centre for Critical Legal Studies, Warwick University. His publications (https://hud.academia.edu/GiovanniChiarini) have been awarded the Gold Medal for best article by the Cork Law Review (Arthur Cox Prize), best PhD publication by the American Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and best article by the Center for Studies in International Affairs.

ASTRID ODETE ESCOBEDO BARRONDO

Astrid Odete Escobedo Barrondo is a distinguished Guatemalan attorney currently living in exile. She holds a Ph.D. in Advanced Studies of Human Rights from the University Carlos III of Madrid, two Master's Degrees in International Human Rights Law and Fundamental Rights from the same university, and a Master’s in International Criminal Law from the University of Granada. Her legal career began with a law degree from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, complemented by numerous international diploma courses. Escobedo's expertise includes litigating human rights cases within the Inter-American Human Rights System. She has also worked as a jurist for the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, handling high-impact cases involving corruption, organized crime, and drug trafficking. Since July 2023, she has been recognized as the first Central American attorney on the counsel list before the International Criminal Court. Moreover, she has accumulated experience in social services, organizing community, and union within the United States. Escobedo has been an active member of the Guatemalan Bar Association since 2001 and is affiliated with several international networks and associations dedicated to anti-corruption, human rights, and environmental governance, further solidifying her position as a leading figure in international law.

JUAN CARLOS MANRÍQUEZ

Chilean Lawyer, with 30 years of experience, Professor of Economic Criminal Law, Litigation, Cybercrimes, Data Protection and Privacy in Criminal Proceedings, and International Criminal Law in Universidad Catolica de Chile (LLM) and Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso (Chile). Lecturer and Speaker in different Congress and Doctoral and Magister Programs in Chile, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Spain, etc. Litigator, LLM (California Western School of Law, San Diego, USA, 2016); Specialist in Economic and Corporates Criminal Law (Universidad Castilla – La Mancha, Spain, 2011); Advanced Diploma in International Criminal Law and before the International Courts (The Syracuse Institute, Italy, 2018); Legal Advisor for Senate and Deputies Chamber in Chile. Former President of Valparaiso Bar Association (many periods), Chile. Full member of ICCBA, and Counsel before ICC – CPI (admitted in 2018), Member of AFBA, Member of Privacy Rules International.​

AUDREY MATEO

Audrey MATEO is currently a Legal adviser in the Defence team of Mr. Abd-Al-Rahman at the ICC. She was also an active member of the Executive Committee at the ICCBA  (2023-2024). In 1997, she completed her law studies in Aix en Provence and Montpellier, France. She then studied in Cape Town, South Africa where she obtained an LL.M. in human rights and international law at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Early in her career, at the European Commission in Brussels, she worked in the task-Force on the Future on the European Union. She then worked as a Legal officer for 10 years in Chambers at the ICTY and at the ICC in the Katanga trial. She lived two years Cambodia where she worked as both a legal and pro bono consultant for human rights NGOs and supporting victims’ lawyers before the ECCC. She was also a consultant at the at the KSC-SPO. Since 2021, Audrey works as an UNHCR judge at the Cour Nationale du droit d’ Asile in Paris, and she also gives trainings as a consultant on the prevention of sexual harassment at work. She is also an active member of the Association des Magistrats Internationaux Francophones (AMIF).

JAMES ONALAJA

James Onalaja is an English Criminal Barrister with over 19 years’ experience, practising from 187 Chambers, London. He has undertaken postgraduate studies in ICL at Columbia Law School and obtained a Master of Laws in ICL (Cum Laude) from Amsterdam University. His practise focuses on: serious, complex and violent crimes, including matters with transnational and international law complexities; military court martials and; cases involving alleged human rights violations. He is admitted to the ICC’s and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ lists of counsel.  He recently completed a posting with the ICC’s Office of Public Counsel for the Defence (OPCD), assisting with its duties representing, protecting and promoting the interests of the defence and unrepresented suspects. Here, he led the development of OPCD’s advocacy training programme for junior lawyers and the delivery of the inaugural training sessions. He is an advocacy tutor to trainee lawyers in England and is experienced at providing Continuing Professional Development training to legal professionals. He conducts international trial monitoring and reporting on compliance with IHRL on behalf of EuroMed Rights. He assisted the defence team in Case 004 before the ECCC. He has also worked with members of the United Nations Human Rights Committee in preparing them for their 122nd Session and periodic oral dialogues with States re compliance with the ICCPR.  He has served on the Amicus Committee for three terms. As Committee Chair, he led the Committee’s intervention on the Independent Expert Review and the SGG proposal to amend the ICC Statute and/or Rules to allow for replacement judges in ICC trials should a judge become unable to continue. James previously served on the Training Committee in 2020/21 and the 2023/24 Legal Advisory Committee. He looks forward to continuing to serve the ICCBA wherever required.