On 5 October 2017, ICCBA Secretary Xavier-Jean Keïta, along with Francesca Anzovino (Chair, Counsel Support Staff Committee) and Anand Shah (member of ICCBA Secretariat and Legal Advisory and Amicus committees), represented the ICCBA at The Hague Municipality’s annual NGO network reception. The reception was hosted by UNICEF at its offices in The Hague, and attended by local and international NGOs with a presence in the city.
Following opening remarks by the Deputy Mayor of The Hague, Ms. Saskia Bruines, and Unicef Netherlands Director, Ms. Suzanne Laszlo, three ‘break-out’ sessions were held, each focusing on a different theme – “Legal”, “Security”, and “Innovation”.
The ICCBA was invited to co-host the “Legal” break-out session with the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), which was represented by Ms. Kirsten Meersschaert. Xavier-Jean Keita provided the audience with an overview of the respective mandates of the Court and the ICCBA, followed by a discussion of the areas in which the ICCBA could help strengthen and further develop the Rome Statute framework, with particular emphasis on positive complimentary and outreach in non-state parties.
A reception was held after the conclusion of the break-out sessions to provide the gathered NGO representatives an opportunity to discuss the work of their respective organisations and ways in which cooperation and collaboration might be fostered.
The ICCBA thanks The Municipality of The Hague, and especially its Department of International Affairs, as well as UNCIEF, for their kind invitation to and hospitality during this important gathering.
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