The International Cooperation Programme of ICJ Kenya undertook various activities this past week in Dar es saalam, Tanzania, as part of a project to provide education on, promote compliance with, and engage in dialogue about the Rome Statute, the International Criminal Court, and the policies and procedures associated with criminal cases before the ICC.  ICJ Kenya was able to hold a workshop for the Media, have an educational meeting with members of the Tanzanian Parliament, and liaised with the Chief Justice of Tanzania, the Attorney General's Office, and senior members of the Judges and Magistrates of Tanzania.

Media Training

On the 17th and 18th of November ICJ Kenya conducted an intensive two day media training on International Criminal Justice, specifically focusing on the International Criminal Court. Tanzania is yet to domesticate the Rome Statute, and the media was our target group, as they are a key tool in raising public awareness on the work of the Court as well as lobbying the State to fulfill its obligations by domesticating the Statute. This was a follow up to previous meetings with the Tanzanian Judiciary and NGOs that work on Human Rights.

The training was very well received with numerous media houses carrying the International Criminal Justice and ICC agenda as part of their lead stories. This was done both in print and electronic media during our stay in Tanzania. Media houses also interviewed our team, inviting our partners for subsequent interviews. More than 8 media houses were represented at the meeting  with 32 participants being in attendance on both days. 

Parliament education

Our second two day meeting was for the members of parliament of Tanzania.  Tanzania is a dualist system and despite its promise during the 2010 ICC review conference in Kampala, Uganda to domesticate the Rome Statute by December 2011, domestication has hit a deadlock. Part of the hindrance to this domestication has been anti-West sentiments including discussions around the ICC being a tool of the West. Some discussions have gone even further to say that the United Nations Security Council is the avenue through which the ICC undermines African governments.

We therefore undertook an extensive training on the History, formation, process and procedure at the ICC as well as an analysis of the various cases before the court. An explanation on the need to ratify was also given with Kenya being used as an example. 

The reception was extremely positive, with ICJ Kenya getting an invitation to their Parliament at Dodoma to facilitate the education and explanation of the Rome Statute and the domesticating instrument to members of Parliament prior to deliberating on the bill. Heads of various parliamentary committees indicated they would facilitate the meeting at Dodoma. This is a discussion that ICJ Kenya intends to follow up on.

The MP workshop attracted 37 members of Parliament and was officially opened by the Chief Justice of Tanzania, Honorable Othman Chande, and attended by the Chief Justice of Zanzibar and the ministers for Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Meeting With the Chief Justice

On 20th November  we were granted a meeting with the Chief Justice of Tanzania Honorable Othman Chande. In attendance was the Chief Justice of Zanzibar  and respective ministers for Justice. At the meetings we were able to deliberate on several issues including :

• Tanzania’s promises during the review conference at Kampala 2010 as concerns the Victims Trust Fund, Ratification of the Agreement on Immunities and Privileges’ Act and domestication of the Rome Statute
• The Chief Justices Candidature for position of Prosecutor of ICC
• Possible  partnerships/engagements between the Tanzanian Judiciary and ICJ

Meeting with the office of the Attorney General Treaties Department

We obtained representation to both the media meeting and members of Parliament meeting from the office of the Attorney General. Further to these meetings and through discussions we have established the status of the domestication instrument to the Rome Statute and therefore are invited to submit position papers to inform the document. We have also been invited to work with the office of the Attorney General in training their prosecutors on international criminal law and the ICC. We are to have a meeting with the Attorney General to formalize these discussions.

Meeting with JMAT

Under the leadership of  Access to Justice Programme we met with the President Judge Utamwa and Secretary General of Judges and Magistrates of Tanzania (JMAT). Further to the East Africa Magistrates and Judges meeting on Electoral Reforms in Entebbe, Uganda in October 2011 , we were to facilitate the development of an election petition compendium for them as well as set up programmes  for their association. We agreed on the memorandum of association and joint research and conceptual framework for purposes the compendium.

ICJ Kenya, through its International Cooperation Programme, will continue to be a leading voice in promoting the ICC processes, as well as coordinating and educating various State and Non-State Actors on the Rome Statute and ICC policy and procedure.