The road to African Justice
Over the last six years, Africa’s relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC) has deteriorated. Through the African Union, African States have criticized the Court for jeopardizing the promotion of peace and for ‘mistreating’ African Heads of State. Moreover, individual African leaders have accused the ICC of “neo-colonialism” and “race-hunting”. The court has been portrayed – and is increasingly perceived by Africans – as a selective and biased institution. This undesirable situation is the starting point for the conference, as it raises many questions about the role and status of the ICC in Africa.
Broaden the debate
At the ‘African Justice’ Congress a great variety of speakers from different disciplinary and regional backgrounds explore the complex and multi-layered perceptions of the ICC in Africa. Their contributions are an essential component in realizing the conference’s ambition, which is to generate a lively exchange of ideas and in doing so reach more profound insights into African sentiments and positions surrounding the ICC.
Legal perspectives have dominated the academic debate on the ICC. In light of the simmering tensions, it seems timely to broaden the debate and include other disciplines that provide insight into African perceptions of the court. Indeed, the objective of this conference is to engage participants in a debate that stimulates on-going interdisciplinary exchanges. Apart from prominent legal scholars, speakers studies, contemporary (African) history and cultural anthropology.
Keynote speakers Prof. Kamari Clarke, Prof. Charles Jalloh, Mr. Phakiso Mochochoko and Prof. Makau Mutua present an exciting mix of ICC expertise. Indeed, it is a rare occasion to have speakers of such high international acclaim in the field of international criminal justice together at one conference.
The program of the two day conference can be found here
