Association of Defence Counsel

On Sunday 22 September 2019, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals was open to the public as part of The Hague International Open Day when international organisations and courts open their doors to the public. 

President of the ADC-ICT, Dragan Ivetic, gave a presentation to around 50 members of the public on the work of the defence before the international courts and tribunals and also the role of the Association of Defence Counsel. 

A video of the presentation given by Dragan Ivetic is available here. 

On 21 September 2019, the ADC-ICT issued a statement expressing its deep concern at the killing of lawyer Derk Wiersum in Amsterdam on 18 September 2019. Mr. Wiersum was representing a witness for the prosecution in a high-profile criminal case against 16 members of a criminal organization accused of murder and attempted murder between 2015 and 2017. The ADC-ICT strongly condemns the killing and our sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time. This shocking tragedy is a reminder of the risks that lawyers have in seeking to uphold the...

On Saturday 21 September 2019, the ADC-ICT held an advocacy training day on the "Trials before the Trial". The training focused on international criminal law in its earliest stages. In depth presentations were given on preliminary examinations and investigations, arrest and transfer of suspects, initial appearances, admissibility, jurisdictional challenges and victim participation. 

The training was given by Marie O'Leary, Annie O'Reilly and Haydee Dijkstal and was attended by 30 participants.

The ADC-ICT holds regular training events, further info...

The ADC-ICT, in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the Union University in Belgrade, held a training day on "Common Law Advocacy in Hybrid International Systems" in Belgrade on Friday 13 September 2019. 

The training was attended by a number of judges, defence counsel and prosecutors and consisted of presentations and interactive audience participation. 

Several ADC members presented the training which was conducted in B/C/S language, the video from the event is available here.

In August 2019, the ADC-ICT was granted NGO Observer Status at the Military Commissions by the Pentagon’s Guantànamo Bay Convening Authority. This grants permission for qualified ADC-ICT members to travel to Guantànamo Bay, Cuba, or Fort Meade, Maryland to carry out the role as an observer at the Military Commission proceedings. There are currently only 26 participant organisations worldwide which have been granted permission to observe proceedings. Only members of the ADC-ICT are eligible to serve as observers.​

Further information on the NGO Observer Prog...