By: Ariela Blatter

Within the two professional fields that I am surrounded by in Kampala, diplomacy and advocacy, there is one constant; the precise and careful use of words. Of course there are many fields that this applies to, but none with such careful craftsmanship and double entendres as you experience with the double whammy of a room full of lawyers and diplomats working towards the goal of amending the Rome Statute of the ICC.  In some cases here, words are used literally, like the use of the term "deterrence." 

By: Ariela Blätter

I captured highlights of the remarks in the afternoon, when Ban and Annan spoke at the event "The Road from Kampala and Beyond: looking back at the historic Rome Conference and forward to the future of international justice and the Rome Statute system."

VIDEO coming soon!

By: Ariela Blätter

Another first was on Monday when Chairman Wenaweser, current UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan kicked off the opening plenary. The Chairman reminded the delegates, that although state parties were here to 'amend' the Rome Statute, it was in fact a solid treaty that already guides the Court and does not need significant change.  This likely referred to his views on two main focuses of the Conference, the first being taking stock of the Court’s progress and the crime of aggression. The process of stocktaking essentially comprises a conversation among delegates and civil society about the Court and international justice, while the crime of aggression, which is technically contained in the Statute, needs text added to become operational.  In conclusion of his remarks, he made a pitch for states to pledge their commitment to giving money, time and/or resources to the ICC.