People detained by the International Criminal Court

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People detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) are held in the ICC's detention centre, which is located within a Dutch prison in Scheveningen, The Hague. The ICC was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.[1] As of January 2012, it has issued public arrest warrants for 18 individuals, five of whom are currently in custody of the court. A sixth individual was released after the confirmation of charges against him was declined.

The ICC detention centre is for holding people who have been charged with crimes, not for imprisoning convicted criminals.[2] As such, all detainees are considered innocent until their guilt has been proven.[2] Upon conviction by the ICC, criminals are transferred outside the Netherlands to serve their sentences.[2]

Detention centre

ICC detention centre
Scheveningen prison complex
Location Scheveningen, The Hague
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Capacity 12
Opened 2006
Managed by The ICC registrar

The ICC currently has twelve detention cells in a Dutch prison in Scheveningen, The Hague.[3] Suspects held by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia are held in the same prison and share some facilities, like the fitness room, but have no contact with suspects held by the ICC.[3]

The ICC registrar is responsible for managing the detention centre.[4] The rules governing detainment are contained in Chapter 6 of the Regulations of the Court[4] and Chapter 5 of the Regulations of the Registry.[5] The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has unrestricted access to the detention centre.[6]

Facilities

Each individual has his own toilet and washing area.[7] Each has access to a small gym and is offered training with a physical education instructor.[7]

Detainees are provided with meals, but they may also cook for themselves, purchase food from the prison shop, and have ingredients ordered in.[2][8] However, Charles Taylor's lawyers have complained that "the food which is served is completely eurocentric and not palatable to the African palate".[8]

Each detainee has a personal computer in his cell, on which he can view material related to his case.[2] They are offered computer training, if required,[2] and language courses.[7]

Detainees' rights

Detainees are allowed to communicate in private with their defence teams and diplomatic representatives of their countries of origin.[2] They are permitted visits from family members, wives and partners, and spiritual advisors.[2]

List of detainees

The following table lists all the people who have been held at the ICC detention centre since it was established in 2006. The first person ever detained by the court was Thomas Lubanga, who arrived at the detention centre on March 17, 2006.[9]

As of March 2014, the detention centre houses ten suspects. Three former detainings have been released or transferred, including Charles Taylor, who was tried in the Special Court for Sierra Leone. His trial was held at the ICC's facilities in The Hague because of political and security concerns about holding the trial in Freetown.[8][10]

Name Arrived Departed Notes Ref.
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo 16 March 2006 Appealing sentence of 14 years' imprisonment [11]
Charles Taylor 20 June 2006 15 October 2013 Tried by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, transferred to the United Kingdom to serve his sentence of 50 years' imprisonment[12] [13]
Germain Katanga 17 October 2007 Sentence of 12 years' imprisonment [14]
Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui 7 February 2007 21 December 2012 Released following acquittal; appeal confirming previous sentence [15]
Jean-Pierre Bemba 3 July 2008 Trial ongoing [16]
Callixte Mbarushimana 25 January 2011 23 December 2011 Released following dismissal of charges [17]
Laurent Gbagbo 30 November 2011 Case in pre-trial stage [18]
Bosco Ntaganda 22 March 2013 Case in pre-trial stage [19]
Aimé Kilolo Musamba 25 November 2013 Case in pre-trial stage [20]
Fidèle Wandu 25 November 2013 Case in pre-trial stage [20]
Jean-Jacques Kabongo 4 December 2013 Case in pre-trial stage [20]
Narcisse Arido 18 March 2014 Case in pre-trial stage [21]
Charles Blé Goudé 22 March 2014 Case in pre-trial stage [22]
Dominic Ongwen 21 January 2015 Case in pre-trial stage

See also

Notes and references

  1. United Nations Department of Public Information (December 2002). The International Criminal Court. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 International Criminal Court (2007). ICC Detention Centre PDF. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Emma Thomasson (February 28, 2006). ICC says cells ready for Uganda war crimes suspects. Reuters. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  4. 4.0 4.1 International Criminal Court (May 26, 2004). Regulations of the Court PDF, Chapter 6. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  5. International Criminal Court (September 25, 2006). Regulations of the Registry PDF, Chapter 5. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  6. International Criminal Court (March 29, 2006). Agreement between the International Criminal Court and the International Committee of the Red Cross on Visits to Persons deprived of Liberty Pursuant to the Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court PDF, Article 4. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 International Criminal Court (April 2006). FAQ about detention put to Terry Jackson, Chief Custody Officer of the ICC. ICC Newsletter No. 7. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Alexandra Hudson (May 31, 2007). Warlord Taylor's home is lonely Dutch prison. Reuters. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  9. International Criminal Court (March 17, 2006). First arrest for the International Criminal Court. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  10. BBC News (June 20, 2006). Q&A: Trying Charles Taylor. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
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