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ICC Prosecutor to visit Democratic Republic of the Congo

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo arrived in Bunia this week for a three-day visit of the Ituri region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He will meet with leaders and representatives from all communities. Through a series of town hall meetings, he will meet with victims, representatives of civil society and the local population. He will also participate in a public meeting to be broadcast through radio.

 

The Prosecutor stressed that his visit was not about the suspects he was prosecuting or about obtaining more evidence. "The evidence should be discussed in the Court room - I came here to listen to the population," he emphasized. "This visit is all about understanding the needs of victims and learning how I can best use my prosecutorial mandate to help affected communities rebuild their lives." The Prosecutor reflected how it was not individual groups that had fallen victim to the conflict, but all of Ituri.

 

Highlighting the potential of the ICC for contributing to the achievement of justice, peace and reconciliation in the DRC, the Prosecutor said: "We are prosecuting those most responsible for the crimes committed in Ituri, but our mission is also to end impunity to prevent the commission of future crimes." With the trial of former militia leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo progressing well and Germain Katanga's and Mathieu Ngudjolo's trial starting in September, the Prosecutor said he was proud of the Court's achievements to date: "These trials serve to unveil the victims' sufferings and can contribute to the healing of an entire population affected by war. But we must not feel complacent. Witnesses have been threatened for testifying in The Hague. This cannot be acceptable to community leaders - the meaning of justice is not revenge, but to allow all citizens to coexist."

 

The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. After the DRC referred the situation in the country to the ICC, the ICC Prosecutor opened the Court’s first ever investigation on 23 June 2004, into grave crimes allegedly committed on the territory of the DRC since 1 July 2002, initially with a focus on crimes committed in the Ituri region.