CIJA Supports Workshop on International Criminal Justice Hosted By Damascus University

On Sunday, the Damascus University School of Law hosted an International Workshop on International Criminal Justice and Prosecution Mechanisms, in cooperation with CIJA and the Syrian Emergency Taskforce.

More than 300 law students, 20 professors and university leaders engaged in the workshop which addressed the role of criminal justice for international crimes committed in Syria. Ambassador Stephen Rapp (CIJA Commissioner and SETF Board Member) and Bill Wiley (CIJA Executive Director) joined eminent Syrian speakers including Professor Mouaz Moustafa and Dr Ibrahim Daraji to share their experiences of investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of international crimes.

CIJA is honoured to have supported this crucial event, and to have shared its experiences with the next generations of Syria’s legal community, as they shape the transitional justice pathways ahead.  CIJA remains focused on offering assistance to Syria’s transitional justice institutions in this critical endeavor.

· Opening remarks by Professor Dr. Yasser Al-Huwaish, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Dr. Mustafa Sa’im Al-Dahr, President of Damascus University and Inam Ahmed Al-Awda, SETF

· The legal foundations of international criminal proceedings: Ambassador Stephen Rapp;

· The role of investigations in preparing criminal case files: Bill Wiley and Stephen Rapp

· The role of the corroboration principle in establishing judicial truth: Dr Issa Al-Makhoul;

· Open roundtable on identifying perpetrators and levels of command: Stephen Rapp, Bill Wiley and Dr Isaa Al-Makhoul

· The role of NGO’s in advancing international criminal cases (SETF experience): Professor Mu’adh Mustafa

· Is national legislation suitable for accountability for international in Syria?: Dr Ibrahim Daraji

· Investigation planning strategies and prioritising prosecutions: open discussion with Stephen Rapp, Bill Wiley and Dr Ibrahim Daraji