IILS CO-ORGANIZES A FORUM ON CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND THE ICC UNDER THE PHILIPPINE SITUATION

The UP Institute of International Legal Studies (UP IILS) and the UP Institute of Human Rights (UP IHR), in partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), recently co-organized a forum on Crimes against Humanity and the International Criminal Court (ICC): Nature, Procedure, Implication on the Philippine Situation on June 25, 2021, via video conferencing. The online forum was conducted to assist the public in understanding the nature of crimes against humanity and their implications on the efforts to seek effective remedies.

H.E. Judge Raul C. Pangalangan, who recently retired and was the former President of the Trial Division of the ICC, spoke on the nature of crimes against humanity and the procedural elements of its prosecution. He explained the process of filing and investigating cases brought before the ICC. Prof. Andre C. Palacios, Chairperson, IBP International Law and International Affairs Committee; Atty. Ruben Carranza, Senior Expert, International Center for Transitional Justice; and Dr. Socorro L. Reyes, Regional Governance Adviser, Center for Legislative Development, spoke on the different implications of a full investigation on the drug war under the ICC. They deliberated on the Philippine legal implications of the ICC investigation, the victim’s participation, reparations and, the limits of seeking justice at the ICC; and the EJK widows and the ICC, respectively.

UP Law Dean Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, in his opening remarks stated that the forum is an opportunity to learn the relevance of international law in the Philippines’ present situation on the war on drugs and welcomed the participants and thanked the speakers for joining the forum even if they came from different time zones. Prof. Elizabeth Pangalangan, IHR Director, discussed what the forum was about while IBP President Atty. Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa delivered the closing remarks.

The forum was also streamed live via Facebook and was well attended with more than a thousand participants who asked interesting and relevant questions.