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CONTACT: Susie P. Gonzalez
Oct. 19, 2005
Trinity University to Take Part in 'Eyes On The ICC' to Promote Justice and Human Dignity
SAN ANTONIO - Brian Steidle, a former Marine and member of the African Union monitoring team in Darfur, Sudan, will discuss the issues involved in the Darfur genocide as part the International Criminal Court's (ICC) "Eyes on the ICC" event taking place in multiple places in San Antonio Oct. 24-26. The three-day event is presented by Trinity University, the World Affairs Council, and St. Mary's School of Law.
Mr. Steidle worked with Mohamed Yahya, founder of the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy (formerly known as the Representatives of the Massaleit Community in Exile), and student activist Caesar Ricci, medical student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, who has been organizing the Darfurian refugees. The Darfurians, who recently immigrated to Texas, will also speak about their personal experiences of the violence. This discussion, entitled "The International Criminal Court in the World: Testimony from Darfur," will be held at Trinity University Tuesday, Oct. 25 in Northrup Hall, Room 040, at 7 p.m.
The ICC is designed to demand accountability for human rights violations by holding individuals - rather than governments - responsible for the crimes they perpetrate. Because the court issues indictments against individuals, it has the unique position of being able to place political pressure on governments harboring individuals who violate human rights. The series of events involves communities such as the UT Health Science Center, University of Texas San Antonio, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio College, University of the Incarnate Word, and St. Mary's University. The hope of the program is to lead to a local alliance comprised of supporters of the ICC and the values of justice and human dignity it promotes.
On Monday, Oct. 24, the St. Mary's School of Law will host a discussion "In Search of Justice: The Evolution of International Law and the ICC" at 7 p.m., which will be preceded with a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Law Quadrangle, Room 103. The ICC's place within the legacy of the United Nations and the evolution of international and human rights law will be discussed. Speakers will be Robert Summers, professor at St. Mary's Law School, and John Washburn, convener of the American Non-Governmental Organizations Coalition of the ICC.
A debate on a U.S. ratification of the Rome Statute and the effects of the ICC as an international and legal institution will take place at a luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel. Speakers will be Mr. Washburn and Jeffrey Addicott, associate professor of law at St. Mary's and director of its Center for Terrorism Law. The topic of the debate is "The International Criminal Court: Pros and Cons."
The events will conclude with a "Building the Alliance" workshop hosted at Trinity University Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Holt Conference Center at 5 p.m. to create a permanent local alliance for the ICC. A closing reception will take place at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Trinity's department of political science at (210) 999-8318.
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