Originally published on the CGS blog on June 7, 2010.
By: Ariela Blätter
The first week was a whirlwind in Kampala at the 2010 Review Conference for the International Criminal Court (ICC). Descending on the Ugandan capital last week was a crowd estimated at 2000 or so members of State Parties to the Rome Statute, non-state parties and members of civil society. Delegates from all over the world have come to discuss the revision of the Rome Statute. The choice to host the event in Uganda has borne fruit in a large representation of African delegates and NGO representatives. Technically, at issue at the Review Conference is the process of amending Article 124, a transitional provision which allows states to basically ‘opt out’ of war crimes for period of seven years after ratification. Other business that is heavily occupying the proceedings is the crime of aggression, the so-called ‘Belgian proposal’ on war crimes and the process of taking stock of the International Criminal Court’s progress.
