International Criminal Court: Chronology Last Updated 20 April 2010 Selected Events From: 2002-2005 | 2006 13 April 2010:

The ICC Registrar Ms Silvana Arbia, announces she will attend a "Meeting of registrars of final/appellate, regional, and international Courts." The meeting will be hosted by the Supreme Court of Canada and take place 14 to 16 April 2010. The event is intended to serve as a forum to discuss institutional and operational challenges affecting registrars, and to exchange best practices. During the meeting, Ms Arbia will address aspects of the ICC Registrar's duties in "servicing the Court" as established under article 43(1) of the Rome Statute, in support of all its organs. She will also address specific challenges in various fields such as the legal aid program, family visits for detainees, and the protection and support afforded to victims and witnesses. 12 April 2010: Sudanese elections are extended until 15 April 2010 because of delays in delivering ballots. 11 April 2010: Elections begin in Sudan, including al-Bashir as a candidate. These are the first multi-party elections in over twenty-four years. Many believe that al-Bashir is manipulating the election to assure re-election. 9 April 2010: International environmental lawyer Polly Higgins launches a new campaign urging the UN and ICC to accept "ecocide" as an international crime. Higgins theory is that extraction leads to ecocide, which leads to resource depletion, and resource depletion leads to conflict. 8 April 2010: Geoffrey Robertson, who formerly served as a judge on the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, publishes an article stating that Pope Benedict XVI should be tried at the ICC for "crimes against humanity" and held responsible for the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests. 3 April 2010: Kenya's parliament kicks off debate on a new law, aimed at creating a witness protection agency, to shield witnesses likely to implicate powerful politicians during their trials at ICC. Attorney-General Amos Wako told Parliament the new amendments introduced to the Witness Protection Act would give the Attorney-General absolute powers to determine which witnesses receive state protection while giving evidence both at home and abroad. The amendments to the Witness Protection Act will see the creation of a Witness Protection Agency responsible for the protection of witnesses. 2 April 2010: The Lubanga Trial goes on recess after a defense witness testified via video link (all in closed session) from Ituri province in DRC. The defense stated in the filing that "Witness 14" would give testimony that would relate to two prosecution witnesses and would provide evidence that

she was the mother of a prosecution witness who had stated in his testimony that he was sure his mother was dead. The trial will resume on 21 April 2010. 1 April 2010: The Office of the Prosecutor releases a statement today announcing it will commence a formal investigation and prosecution of crimes in Kenya. It currently has a list of 20 suspects, but the Prosecutor states that this list is not binding pending formal investigations. The cases the ICC will prosecute will be the most serious violators. 31 March 2010: Pre-Trial Chamber II grants the Office of the Prosecutor's request to commence a formal investigation into the crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Kenya. 31 March 2010: ICC launches an ICC YouTube site to create more accessibility to the Court and its activities. 29 March 2010: The resumed 8th session of the Assembly of the States Parties is held March 22 through the 25th and mainly discussed the crime of aggression, addressing primarily the following questions: Whether the alleged aggressor State would have to accept the jurisdiction of the Court over the crime, whether the UN Security Council would have to identify the aggressor state before the Court could exercise jurisdiction, and what sort of judicial safeguards could be in place absent Council approval. 25 March 2010: Elisabeth Rehn is elected chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Trust Fund for Victims 24 March 2010: Bangladesh ratifies the Rome Statute and it will come into force on June 1, 2010. Bangladesh will be the first member to the Assembly of States Parties from South Asia. 18 March 2010: The Justice Minister and a delegation from Georgia meet with Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to discuss the alleged crimes that took place in August 2008. This meeting is part of the Office of the Prosecutor's preliminary investigation into alleged crimes that happened in Georgia in August 2008. 3 March 2010: The Lubanga Trial resumes after a break to conduct research in the DRC. A witness who said he fought with the UPC, which Lubanga headed, started giving evidence. The witness testified mostly in closed session and had protective measures such as face and voice distortion. From the small bits of evidence given by the witness in open session, it was not possible to get an idea of what the gist of his testimony was. The defense asked the witness whether he maintained contact with his mother, brothers and sisters. After answering yes, the defense asked that court to go into closed session for the witness to provide details about those contacts. The witness is expected to continue giving evidence tomorrow, and then the seventh defense witness will appear. Lubangas defense team has indicated that its first 16 witnesses will show that intermediaries of the ICC concocted

evidence and coached prosecution witnesses. Meanwhile, judges today granted the prosecutions request to meet a defense witness who is expected to begin testifying this Friday. The meeting is anticipated to take place a day before the witness takes the witness stand. While granting the prosecutions application, Judge Adrian Fulford warned prosecutors against making similar applications when witnesses are about to appear in court. 3 March 2010: Ocampo gives ICC judges a list of 20 senior Kenyan politicians and businessmen accused of organizing and financing ethnic attacks after the country's 2007 election. The list of suspects, compiled from independent investigations into the post-election crisis, almost certainly includes cabinet ministers from the PNU and ODM political parties, which sit on opposite sides of the coalition government. Ocampo's submission followed a request from the judges for additional information linking individuals and state policy to the violence. 3 March 2010: Tim McCormack, a Melbourne legal expert, wins a key position at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. McCormack will be special adviser on humanitarian law to the prosecutor at the court. 2 March 2010: Human Rights Watch writes in a letter that The European Union Election Observation Mission to Sudan should consider the impact of ongoing human rights abuses and insecurity on the elections process. HRW also urged observers to insist that Omar al-Bashir, appear in The Hague to respond to the charges against him. The EU mission will be in Sudan during March and April to observe the Sudan elections process and assess its compliance with international standards. The letter described the ongoing abuses present during the pre-election process as well as the ongoing armed clashes between the government and rebel forces in Darfus, and increasing inter-ethnic violence in Southern Sudan, noting the possible impairment of the ability to reach the polling places. HRW said that the EU should refrain from direct contact with al-Bashir in view of the pending arrest warrant and that EUs silence on this issue risks tacitly endorsing Khartoum's total obstruction of justice for atrocities against Darfuris. 27 February 2010: The Office of the Prosecutpr at the ICC denies news reports that it intends to push for conducting in absentia confirmation of charges hearing for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir. While the Rome Statute allows this when the person has waived his or her right to be present, has fled, or cannot be found and all reasonable steps have been taken to secure his or her appearance before the Court, OTP states that they are not currently considering this. OTP said they will continue to work towards increased isolation of Al Bashir and ultimately his arrest. 26 February 2010: The Foreign Ministry and the ICC hold a Seminar on the First Review Conference of the ICC Rome Statute, seeking to achieve the amendment of the statute to incorporate aggression into the ICCs jurisdiction prior to the May review conference.

26 February 2010: Prosecutors in Katanga province (Democratic Republic of Congo) pledge to end possibility of early release in rape cases. Offenders will no longer be able to buy their way out of jail, as they can do at the moment once they have served at least a quarter of their sentence. It is up to the appeals courts to decide whether a prisoner is eligible for early release or not. The prisoner has to persuade the court that he is no longer a danger to society and that he will not run away and must pay a fee for early release, currently set at 50-500 US dollars for regional courts and 500-1000 dollars for the High Court. Some question the success of implementing this measure 26 February 2010: A prosecution witness in the Katanga trial, giving testimony with face and video distortion, describes how child soldiers armed with arrows and spears helped to pillage the Ituri village of Bogoro. He said that he did not see any child soldiers using rifles. The witness, a Bogoro resident who said he was of Hema ethnicity, told the court that the assailants, including men, women and children, were of Lendu and Ngiti ethnicity. The witness told the court that the FRPI and FNI forces (groups that represent the Lendu and Ngiti) had often attacked Bogoro before the final strike on February 24, in which some 200 people were allegedly killed and much of the village destroyed by fire. 24 February 2010: Fatou Bensouda, the deputy prosecutor for the ICC, says it is likely that crimes against humanity were committed in Guinea last year. Bensouda returned from a three-day visit to Guinea, and said the ICC will continue its preliminary investigation surround the September 28, 2009 event, where Guinean security forces killed more than 150 people and raped many women at a rally opposing the military junta. Bensouda indicated that if Guinea doesnt take legal steps, the ICC will. 24 February 2010: The Outreach Unit goes to the town of Sibut (Kmo Prefecture) in the Central African Republic to meet with the local authorities and representatives of various groups. Two awareness sessions were organized to explain the general principles governing the ICC to the authorities and the main representatives of civil society in Sibut and to provide them with information on the progress of the proceedings in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo. For around one third of participants, this was the first time they had heard of the ICC. In a few weeks, the Courts representatives will return to Sibut to organize an information and outreach session open to the general public. 23 February 2010: Lubangas attorneys ask for permission for one of the defense witnesses to testify via video link from Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying that traveling to The Hague would be cumbersome for the extremely vulnerable witnesses. Judges did not grant the defense request instead, they directed the Victims and Witnesses Unit (VWU) of the court to assess the matters raised by the defense, and then advise judges whether giving evidence in the Hague would be significantly detrimental to the witness and whether using a video link was a reasonable alternative for the witness. According to the defense, her evidence will relate to two prosecution witnesses. She will provide evidence contrary to one

prosecutions claim that he was sure his mother was dead. Judges will make a final ruling on the defense request after hearing back from the VWU. 19 February 2010: On the occasion of a moot court competition, the ICC welcomes two groups of participants, representing different competing universities. The students have the possibility to meet with various ICC representatives. 18 February 2010: The Lubanga trial today takes a break to allow Lubangas attorneys to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo to conduct critical research. The two witnesses called by Thomas Lubangas defense gave their evidence in closed session, thereby providing no indication of their identities or of the issues they testified about. The witnesses gave only their oaths in public. This weeks witnesses brought the total of defense witnesses to have testified with protective measures such as voice and face distortion to three. 18 February 2010: Ocampo decides to consider an urgent petition by an NGO, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The petition requests him to use his position to investigate allegations of unlawful killing of at least 326 people and perpetration of other crimes under international law during the violence this month in Jos; and the reports that the military and police used excessive force against both Christians and Muslims in responding to the violence. The ICC said that they will give consideration to petition in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute 18 February 2010: The court of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo declares a break so that the Defense counsel could visit the Democratic Republic of Congo to further their critical research. The trial will continue on March 3, 2010. 18 February 2010: The ICC judges from Pre-Trial Chamber II request additional information from the Prosecutor regarding the situation in Kenya. Under the rules of the ICC, the judges can request more information to determine if the Prosecutor can continue forward with an investigation. 17 February 2010: The Defendants counsel approaches the Court in The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo to ask for permission to share information with the counsel of Germain Katanga, another former Congolese leader on trial at the International Criminal Court. The judges have not made a decision regarding this request. Meanwhile, the fifth witness for the Defendant takes the stand. 16 February 2010: The trial of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo adjourns early because the Defense claims that there are mistakes in the English translation of the fourth witness.

15 February 2010: The fourth witness for the Defense takes the stand in The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. This is the second witness to take the stand with protective measures. 13 February 2010: The President of the ICC, Judge Sang-Hyun Song, visits the Lao People's Democratic Republic to participate as the keynote speaker of a conference on the ICC. 12 February 2010: Presided over by Judge Adrian Fulford, the court of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo hears from the Defenses two witnesses, who both claim the Prosecution is concocting evidence to cause the Court to find the Defendant guilty. 11 February 2010: The ICC Outreach Team speaks with Congolese women about crimes of gender violence and issues relevant to womens rights. 11 February 2010: In The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the ICC trial is delayed because the Defendants witness, Claude Nyki Django, became extremely upset while taking the stand. Because he became upset, the court is forced to halt the testimony for the day. This is the second time that this witness has halted the trial due to his emotional outburst. 10 February 2010: Continuing his testimony from the day before, twenty year-old Claude Nyki Django takes the stand in The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, as the Defendants third witness. Django claims that any boys, who fought in the Defendants military group, did so voluntarily. Djangos testimony seriously contradicts most of the Prosecutors witnesses who have taken the stand thus far in the trial. 9 February 2010: In The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the Defense calls their third witness today, Claude Nyki Django. The witness claims that he never served in the Defendants military group, but was paraded around, along with other boys who did not participate in the military group, as a former child solider. 8 February 2010: In The Prosecutor v. Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, the Pre-Trial Chamber I declines to confirm the charges made against the Defendant. The court is not satisfied with the evidence given to charge the Defendant; the court finds that there is not sufficient proof that the Defendant is criminally responsible either as a direct or as an indirect co-perpetrator for the commission of the criminal charges. 8 February 2010: In The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the witness on stand claims that the intermediaries of the ICC bribed the witness with $200 US dollars to lie on the stand. Specifically, the witness states that he was given the bribe so that he would convince his nephew to give false testimony about the Defendant.

4 February 2010: In The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the ICC Judges reprimand the Prosecutor. According to the ICC regulations, counsels have a statutory obligation to alert the opposing side when information, regarding witnesses, is discovered. Here, the Prosecutor failed to alert the Defense about certain information the Prosecutor discovered about the defense witnesses. The ICC judges made it known that this belated action by the Prosecution is unacceptable. 3 February 2010: Increasing incidents of intimidation are being reported against witnesses to the 2008 post-election violence in Kenya. Witnesses who are cooperating with the ICC Prosecutor are facing increased threats as the prospect of ICC trials becomes more likely. Testimony from one witness named Victor implicates tribal leaders in instigating the outbreak of violence, which establishes the violence was orchestrated and not entirely spontaneous. 3 February 2010: A Guinean national inquiry into violence against opposition demonstrators in September 2009 concludes that suspects should be tried by national courts. This decision conflicts with a separate UN investigation that concluded the suspects should be tried by the ICC. The UN investigation argued that any national trial would likely be biased because one of the suspected leaders of the violent crackdown is Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, the military leader of Guinea. The Guinean inquiry already concluded that Captain Camara was not responsible, and instead blames the former head of the presidential guard, who tried to assassinate Camara several months later. 3 February 2010: In the case of The Prosecutor v. Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, the Appeals Chamber renders its judgment on Prosecutor MorenoOcampos appeal and reverses Pre-Trial Chamber Is decision of 4 March 2009 to the extent the chamber decided not to issue a warrant of arrest for a genocide charge. The Appeals Chamber directs the Pre-Trial Chamber to decide again whether the arrest warrant should include a genocide charge. Judge Kourula, presiding judge on the appeal, explains that the Appeals Chambers decision addresses a question of procedural law, namely whether the Pre-Trial Chamber applied the correct standard of proof when disposing of the Prosecutors application for an arrest warrant. Kourula writes that the PreTrial Chamber required the Prosecutor to prove genocide by inference from the available evidence and to disprove other possible explanations from the evidence, which is too high a standard to apply at the arrest warrant stage. 1 February 2010: Nigerian rights group Serap writes to ICC Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo requesting that he investigate riots between Christians and Muslims in the Nigerian region of Jos in January 2010. 326 people were killed as a result of the riots and the subsequent police action to restore control. Lawyer Femi Falana, writing the letter for Serap, argues that no one has been arrested in connection with the riots and the government is too weak to conduct its own investigation. There was also religious violence in Jos in 2001 and 2008.

28 January 2010: ICC President Song meets with Rwandan Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tharcisse Karugarama to discuss the possibility of Rwanda becoming a state party to the Rome Statute. 27 January 2010: Christian Wenaweser, the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, interacts with war-affected communities in the Acholi sub-region of northern Uganda. The ASP president visits the Ugandan village of Tingkidi to spread awareness about the upcoming Conference on the Rome Statute. The president describes several goals of the conference, including an amendment adding the crime of aggression to the statute, and to discuss the impact of the ICC on victims. Villagers raise concerns to the president, such as ensuring the safety of victims who testify at ICC trials and the perception that the ICC is too focused on African situations. 27 January 2010: In the case of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the Defense provides an opening explanation setting out the main lines of the case for the Defense before commencing with its evidence. The Defense is arguing that the evidence against Mr. Lubanga is fabricated, and that witnesses testifying against him are lying. 26 January 2010: The trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga & Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui resumes before Trial Chamber II. 25 January 2010: Ms. Patricia OBrien, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs for the UN, meets with ICC leadership, including President Song and Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo. The subject of the meetings is areas of cooperation between the UN and the ICC, especially the upcoming Review Conference of the Rome Statute to be held in May in Uganda. On the subject of cooperation President Song says the UN and ICC are inherent allies because the Rome Statute has joined the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice as the third principal pillar on which the system of international justice is constructed. 20 January 2010: In a closed plenary session following their swearing in, the ICC assigns Judge Silvia Fernndez de Gurmendi, from Argentina, to the PreTrial Division, and Judge Kuniko Ozaki, from Japan, to the Trial Division. 7 January 2010: Judges of Trial Chamber I hear the testimony of Mrs Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflict, in the trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. Mrs Coomaraswamy testifies as an expert witness on the definition of conscription or enlistment of children, and on the interpretation of the term "using them to participate actively in the hostilities." 18 December 2009: The President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Sang-Hyun Song, visits Japan from 21 to 22 December 2009.

2 December 2009: Trial Chamber II decides to postpone the hearings in the Katanga and Ngudjolo case, to resume 26 January 2010. 2 December 2009: The Presiding Judge of the Appeals Chamber delivers a summary of the judgment reversing the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber II that had granted the request of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo for interim release. Among the reasons cited by the Appeals Chamber for granting the Prosecutors appeal was that no State had agreed to accept Bemba and enforce the conditions of his provisional release. 26 November 2009: The Prosecutor requests the authorization of Pre-Trial Chamber II to open the investigation into crimes allegedly committed in Kenya in relation to the 2007-2008 post-election violence. Judges of Pre-Trial Chamber II will have to consider whether or not there are reasonable grounds to proceed with an investigation and whether the situation appears to fall within the jurisdiction of the Court. This is the first time the Prosecutor has sought to open an investigation on his own initiative ( proprio motu), in accordance with article 15 of the Rome Statute. 26 November 2009: The Assembly of States Parties (ASP) concludes its eighth session and adopts resolutions on several issues, including: next years Review Conference of the Rome Statute; the establishment of an independent oversight mechanism; the partial subsidizing of family visits for indigent detainees; the establishment of an AU liaison office in Addis Ababa; the permanent premises of the Court; and the program budget for 2010. The Assembly decided that the 10-day Review Conference would be held in Kampala, Uganda, beginning 31 May 2010, and that the following would be discussed: - The possible deletion of article 124 of the Statute, which allows a new State Party to opt for excluding from the Courts jurisdiction war crimes allegedly committed by its nationals or on its territory for a period of seven years. - The definition of the crime of aggression, the conditions for the exercise of jurisdiction by the Court, as well as draft elements of the crime. - The inclusion of the employment of certain poisonous weapons and expanding bullets in the definition of war crimes in article 8 of the Statute. 25 November 2009: A senior investigator testifies that witnesses in the case against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo have been threatened and that the Court does not have the resources to fully protect them. Twentyone of the twenty-six witnesses whom prosecutors plan to call will be given protective measures in court to shield their identity to try to prevent possible retaliation. The investigators comments showed the difficulties of building cases in zones like Congo where fighting is still under way. 24 November 2009: Trial begins in the case The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui before Trial-Chamber II. Katanga and

Ngudjolo stand accused of directing an attack on the village of Bogoro in 2003 in which more than 200 people were killed. They face charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes arising from the alleged ordering attacks on civilians, sexual slavery, rape, and enlisting child soldiers. Both deny the allegations and have expressed sympathy for the victims. Their hearings will be held until 11 December and will resume on 26 January 2010. 23 November 2009: The Prosecutor officially notifies victims of postelection violence in Kenya that he intends to request authorization from PreTrial Chamber II to open an investigation into the matter, and that they would have thirty days to send to the Pre-Trial Judges their comments on whether such an investigation should be opened. 19 November 2009: U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Stephen Rapp, leading the U.S. delegation attending the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) as observers, makes a debut appearance for the U.S. at the ICC. He said, Our view has been and remains that should the Rome Statute be amended to include a defined crime of aggression, jurisdiction should follow a Security Council determination that aggression has occurred. He also said that the U.S. was keen on gaining a better understanding of the issues being considered and the workings of the court. The issue of crimes of aggression is to be addressed next May in Uganda at a review of the Rome Statute. Most countries do not believe the Security Council's permanent members should have sole control over determining whether an act of aggression has occurred. 18 November 2009: Human Rights Watch and a leading Congolese human rights group call for the ICC to charge Lords Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony with crimes committed in the DRC, in addition to those for which he has been sought since 2005, when the ICC issued an arrest warrant in connection to LRA crimes in northern Uganda. Both the Office of the Prosecutor and the Congolese government commented that they have set the arrest of Kony at a higher priority than the addition of new charges. 18-27 November 2009: Annual meeting of Assembly of States Parties (ASP) is held in The Hague. 10 November 2009: Two judges in the trial of Thomas Lubanga are appointed to conduct the upcoming proceedings against Jean-Pierre Bemba. Judge Adrian Fulford, who presides over the Lubanga trial, will perform the same function during the Bemba proceedings. He will be joined by Judge Elizabeth Odio-Benito, who was known during the Lubanga trial for asking witnesses about the experiences of young girl soldiers. The third judge will be Joyce Aluoch. It is unclear whether Lubangas trial will be completed by the time the proceedings against Bemba begin on 27 April 2010. 10 November 2009: Howard Wolpe, U.S. envoy to the Great Lakes, says that the Democratic Republic of Congo must arrest former rebel general Jean Bosco Ntaganda, also known as "the Terminator, who is now believed to hold a the position of deputy commander of an anti-rebel offensive that is

being supported by the U.N. mission in Congo (MONUC). The U.N. says Congo has assured it that Ntaganda is not playing a significant role. He is wanted by the ICC for recruiting child soldiers, but joined the DRC army in January, after the arrest warrant was issued. 9 November 2009: Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula says that Nairobi will help the ICC to probe election violence, but that it is committed to a "local solution, after ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo failed to secure a formal referral from the Kenyan government. A bid by a Kenyan member of parliament to create of a special court to try perpetrators of last year's postelection violence was delayed on 4 November 2009 when only 19 of the members of Kenyas 222-seat parliament showed up to debate the bill (a quorum of 30 MPs is required to hold a vote). Two previous attempts to win parliamentary approval for the creation of the court have also foundered, despite the backing of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader-turnedPrime Minister Raila Odinga. 8 November 2009: Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir pulls out of the 9 November 2009 Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in Istanbul, a trip that the European Union had objected to because of his indictment by the ICC. Sudan's state news agency reported that Bashir postponed his trip to return to Khartoum to discuss a deadlock over election laws with his coalition partners, the former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement. Turkey has not ratified the Rome Statute and said it had no plans to arrest Bashir; however, the country continues to seek EU membership and had come under pressure from Brussels to drop Bashir from the guest list. 6 November 2009: During a visit to Kenya to meet with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo says that he will ask the ICC to let him start an investigation into suspected crimes against humanity committed during Kenya's post-election violence in 2008. "The presidency had received from the prosecutor a letter ... indicating its intention to submit a request for the authorization of an investigation into that situation," the Court said in a statement. Kibaki and Odinga said in a joint statement that Kenya remained committed both to cooperating with the ICC and to establishing a local judicial mechanism to prosecute those involved in the violence. 5 November 2009: Trial Chamber III sets Tuesday, 27 April 2010 as the date for the commencement of the trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. JeanPierre Bemba Gombo. 5 November 2009: In response to the 575-page Goldstone Report, the U.N. General Assembly votes to urge the Jewish state and Palestinians to investigate war crimes in the recent Gaza conflict. The Arab-drafted resolution is nonbinding and unlikely to lead to inquiries by either Israel or Hamas into their conduct during the December-January military action. Following a two-day debate, 114 countries voted for the resolution with 18 opposed including Israel and the United States and 44 abstaining. No

General Assembly country has veto power. It is unlikely the Security Council will take action as all five veto-wielding permanent members opposed council involvement. 3 November 2009: In a TV broadcast, the leader of Guinea's most recent coup, Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara, says he "bitterly regrets" the deaths of over 150 pro-democracy protesters who were gunned down by soldiers last month, that "the blood of innocent people has been spilled, and that he "prostrates himself" before their memory. He declines to say that men under his control were responsible for the killings and blames opposition leaders for having organized the demonstration. He also says that he would not stand by while foreigners try to "teach Guinea a moral lesson." 2 November 2009: Colombias ambassador to The Hague, Jose Lloreda Mera, says that the ICC will only intervene in Colombia as a "last resort," if it believes that war crimes and crimes against humanity have not been dealt with adequately under Colombian justice. The Ambassador stresses that the Court will only intervene in Colombia when there is a failure by the State to bring war criminals to justice. 2 November 2009: Guinea's main Forces Vives opposition leaders arrive in Burkina Faso to meet with President Blaise Compaore for talks over the 28 September army massacre. Four of Guinea's former prime ministers are also in the capital, Ouagadougou, for the talks, which are due to start on 3 November. Opposition leaders Alpha Conde and Mouctar Diallo along with union representatives and civil society leaders are to attend the summit as well. 31 October 2009: The ICC holds two sessions in the DRC, on 29 and 30 October, for seventy-five Congolese civil and military judges on the theme Judicial practice before the International Criminal Court: what lessons can national courts learn? The aim of these sessions is to provide information tailored to judges, mainly on the principle of complementarity, according to which the ICCs mission is not to replace national courts and tribunals, but only to intervene if national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. 30 October 2009: Bahr Idriss Abu Gardas pre-trial confirmation of charges hearing comes to an end. Legal Representatives of 78 victims participated in the hearing, and three of these Legal Representatives made closing statements on 29 and 30 October. Within sixty days Pre-Trial Chamber I will deliver its decision to: (a) confirm those charges and taking the case to the Trial-Chamber; (b) decline to confirm charges and adjourn the proceedings; (c) adjourn the hearing and request further evidence; or, (d) adjourn the hearing and request the Prosecutor to amend any charge where a crime other than the crime charged was committed. Both parties can apply before the Pre-Trial Chamber for leave to appeal the decision on the confirmation of charges. 30 October 2009: 16 heads of African states and other African leaders, meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja, recommend the establishment of a

new court for Darfur, following proposals in a 148-page report compiled by a panel headed by former South African President Thabo Mbeki. The hybrid court would consist of Sudanese and foreign judges appointed by the African Union in consultation with the Khartoum government. The summit set up another team of experts including Mbeki, former president of Burundi Pierre Nkuruziza, and ex-leader of Nigeria Abdul salami Abu-Bakr to help in the implementation of the recommendations. The team has a one year mandate. The Sudanese government formally expressed reservations on the proposed hybrid court, though President Omar al-Beshir decided to stay away from the conference, with his Second Vice-President representing Sudan in his place. A communiqu released after the summit reiterated that AU had never requested for a cancelling Omar al-Bashirs ICC arrest warrant, but only a deferral. 30 October 2009: Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announces that proposed special tribunals for Kenya's post-election violence would complement the International Criminal Court. He declined to say how quickly he might launch indictments but said he would discuss with the Kenyan government how to avoid a repeat of the violence at the next election in 2012. 30 October 2009: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announces that three prominent jurists will form the international commission of inquiry to probe last months violent crackdown in Guinea. He expects the commission should be able to complete its work within a month, once it is in the field. The commissioners are: - Mohamed Bedjaoui: Algerias foreign minister; has also served as a judge on the International Court of Justice and as president of Algerias Constitutional Council. - Franoise Ngendahyo Kayiramirwa: Burundis former minister of national solidarity, human rights and gender, as well as a former minister for the repatriation of IDPs; has also served as an adviser on the ICTR. - Pramila Patten: barrister-at-law in Mauritius; member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. 29 October 2009: President of the ICC, Judge Sang-Hyun Song, presents the annual report of the ICC to the UN General Assembly in New York, emphasizing the need to respect the Courts judicial independence and calling on the States, international organizations, and civil society to continue to work with the Court and the United Nations to further enhance this system. 29 October 2009: At a news conference in Kinshasa, Lambert Mende, a spokesman for the Congolese government, says the arrest of former rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda on war crimes charges is "not possible for the time being, and rules out arresting Ntaganda and transferring him to the ICC for now.

25 October 2009: Responding to the invitation extended to Omar al-Bashir's to attend an African Union meeting, four national non-governmental organizations in Nigeria write an open letter to the president expressing concern that he was invited despite Nigeria's international legal obligations under the Rome Statute (which Nigeria has ratified). An anonymous Nigerian governmental source told AFP, "I think al-Bashir is still considering the invitation, out of fear we will hand him over, but that will not happen." 24 October 2009: Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak comments that he fully trusts the IDF investigation into Israels alleged use of disproportionate force and failure to protect civilians during the 27 December - 18 January action against Palestinians in Gaza. Mr. Baraks comments are viewed as part of Israels effort to prevent the UN from debating whether the ICC should take action on the Richard Goldstone report. In a meeting with the UN SecretaryGeneral, Israels deputy Prime Minister also said he was "optimistic" about Israels request to "bury the Goldstone report. 23 October 2009: An Outreach Team completes a two-day training and capacity building session with 15 journalists and 20 members of listening clubs from the 5 territories of the District of Ituri (Eastern District of the DRC), who will use the techniques taught by the Team to accurately inform the population of Ituri on the ICC and its activities. 19 October 2009: ICC opens confirmation hearing on war crimes charges against Darfurian rebel Bahr Idriss Abu Garda. He voluntarily appeared before the ICC on charges of war crimes over the killing of 12 African Union peacekeepers in 2007. This case is the first time the ICC has tried a suspect with charges involving crimes against international peacekeepers. This hearing will continue until 29 October 2009. 17 October 2009: The United Nations Human Rights Council endorses a report calling on Israel and Hamas to conduct credible investigations of alleged war crimes by their forces or face further international inquiries and possible prosecutions. The report urges the U.N. Security Council to require both sides to show within six months that they are conducting impartial investigations; failing that, it says, the Security Council should refer the allegations to prosecutors at the International Criminal Court. 15 October 2009: Press conference is being held on 16 October 2009 regarding the confirmation of charges hearing of Abu Garda. The confirmation of charges hearing is scheduled to start on 19 October 2009. Abu Garda is a Sudanese rebel leader charged with three war crimes. 14 October 2009: The ICC is beginning preliminary examinations of the situation in Guinea. On 28 September 2009, 157 died when soldiers opened fire during an anti-government protest in Conakry. The ICC prosecutors say there is evidence women were abused or otherwise brutalized by men in uniform. The ICC is currently trying to determine whether any crimes that fall under their jurisdiction have been perpetrated.

14 October 2009: Kenya is inviting ICC chief prosecutor Luis MorenoOcampo to take part in discussions with the President and Prime Minister on 3 November 2009. If Ocampo accepts, they will discuss trying the main suspects in the post-election violence of 2008. Kenya has to date failed to establish a local tribunal to try those suspected of crimes, but has said that the ICC is free to prosecute the suspects, even though those suspects may include high ranking Kenyan Officials. 9 October 2009: ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and Integrity Vice President of the World Bank Group Leonard McCarthy sign a Memorandum of Understanding in The Hague. The agreement will allow for cooperation on areas of common interest, such as the detection, substantiation, and prevention of fraud and corruption in connection with conduct which constitutes a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court or which constitutes a serious crime under national law. 9 October 2009: The ICC announces that the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Abu Garda is scheduled to start on Monday, 19 October 2009. The confirmation hearing is being held to ensure that the case does not go to trial unless there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Abu Garda committed the crime with which he has been charged. He has the right to attend the hearing or in his absence be represented by counsel. Abu Garda is charged with three war crimes (violence to life, in the form of murder, whether committed or attempted; intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, materials, units, and vehicles involved in a peacekeeping mission; and pillaging) allegedly committed during an attack carried out on 29 September 2007. 7 October 2009: In the context of the Bahar Idriss Abu Garda case, the Single Judge denies applicants for victim status the right to file a "Response to Defense Observations on Applications for Victim Participation in the Proceedings. The pre-trial judge dismissed their filings because applicants are not yet considered as victims with procedural rights. 7 October 2009: In the Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo case, Trial Chamber II denies request for time extensions to gather additional evidence, authorizes the Prosecutor to disclose the visual representation of the 'Institut de Bogoro' and add it to its List of Incriminating Evidence, and rejects the application to add Mr. Gilles Bourgeot, Mr. Philippe Esperanca, and Professor Jean-Paul Moisan to the List of Incriminating Witnesses. 6 October 2009: Relating to the situation of Darfur, Sudan, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the Bahar Idriss Abu Garda case issues a decision on victims' modalities of participation at the Pre-Trial Stage. The court ordered that the legal representatives of the 34 victims participating in the confirmation proceedings can attend the court proceedings and have the right to access to court documents, including transcripts, decisions, motions, etc.

6 October 2009: Judge Sang-Hyun Song is appointed the Presiding Judge of the Appeals Chamber for purposes of the appeal in the Lubanga case against the Decision giving notice to the parties and participants that the legal characterization of the facts may be subject to change in accordance with Regulation 55(2) of the Regulations of the Court. 6 October 2009: The Trial Chamber I Court of the Thomas Lubanga Dyilo case issues a correction due to a clerical error in the Decision on disclosure issues, responsibilities for protective measures and other procedural matters. 5 October 2009: The Trial Chamber presiding over the case against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui decides that the Prosecutor and the legal representatives of victims have until 12 October 2009 to submit their observations on the continued detention of Mathieu Ngudjolo to the seat of the Court. 29 September 2009: U.N. Investigator presents a report on the Gaza war to the U.N. Human Rights Council. The report calls on the Security Council to refer the issue to the International Criminal Court if Israel makes no goodfaith effort to investigate. 25 September 2009: The Appeals Chamber dismisses Germain Katangas appeal of the Trial Chamber decision rejecting Katangas claim that his case is inadmissible. 21 September 2009: The ICC Outreach Team holds a training in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, with the members of the two Bars of Kinshasa. 18 September 2009: The presidency of the ICC decides that Trial Chamber III will be composed of Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito, Judge Joyce Aluoch, and Judge Adrian Fulford. The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo will be heard by this chamber. 17-18 September 2009: The Prosecutor of the ICC meets with Kenyan civil society representatives in The Hague to discuss the 2008 post-election violence in Kenya. 17 September 2009: The ICC holds a ceremony welcoming Chile as a new State Party. The total number of States Parties is now 110. 14 September 2009: Pre Trial Chamber I postpones the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Bahr Idriss Abu Garda until 19 October 2009. The postponement was considered necessary in order to allow the Prosecutor to provide the suspect with a list of evidence and the statements of witnesses in Arabic, which is the suspects native language.

11 September 2009: The ICC holds a ceremony welcoming the Republic of Chile as a new State Party. This type of celebration is a first for the ICC. All future new member states will be welcomed in this way. 7 September 2009: The ICCs outreach unit visits Kisangani, in the Orientale Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to meet with provincial parliamentarians, senior military officers of the Congolese army, military and civil judges, and prosecutors, lawyers, local journalists, and representatives of NGOs and civil society organizations and discuss the issues arising from the trials at the ICC. 4 September 2009: Pre-Trial Chamber II postpones hearings scheduled with the representatives of a number of countries on the subject of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gomboa provisional release pending a ruling from the Appeals Chamber on the decision to conditionally release Bemba. 3 September 2009: The ICC Appeals Chamber decides to grant suspensive effect to the Prosecutors appeal against the Pre-trial Chamber IIs 14 August decision to grant conditional release to Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo. The decision on interim release is suspended pending the final decision on the merits of the Prosecutions appeal. 31 August 2009: Trial Chamber II decides to postpone the commencement of the trial of Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui until 24 November 2009. The trial was set to begin on 24 September, but the chamber determined the postponement was justified because (1) changes need to be made to the prosecutors table of evidence and witnesses, (2) outstanding evidentiary issues remain including Chuis opposition to the inclusion of 290 pieces of evidence, (3) the chamber needs to rule on Katangas 30 June motion that his arrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo was unlawful, and (4) the chamber may need to change protective measures for trial witnesses. A status conference is scheduled for 30 September at 9:30 am. 26 August 2009: ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo concludes a three day visit to Colombia, during which he declared he would continue to examine the countrys investigations of perpetrators of crimes against humanity committed during the countrys civil war. 25 August 2009: ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo releases the reasoning behind his recent filing to the Appeals Chamber contesting release of Jean-Pierre Bemba. Moreno-Ocampo argues that the only change in circumstances since the judge last denied Bembas release has been the courts confirmation of charges, and this development actually increases the potential risk of Bemba both fleeing and harming witnesses. The prosecutor also requested a suspensive effect to his appeal so Bemba cannot be released before the Appeals Chamber renders its decision.

11-12 August 2009: Both Defense and Prosecution in the Lubanga case request leave to appeal the Trial Chambers decision regarding the recharacterization of the facts under Regulation 55. 30 July 2009: South Africa agrees to cooperate with ICCs arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. 30 July 2009: Uganda hosts conference, but tells President al-Bashir not to attend in order to avoid international tension regarding Ugandas duty, as a party to the Rome Statute, to arrest Bashir pursuant to the ICC arrest warrant. 30 July 2009: 161 African civil society and human rights organizations release a statement urging the African States that are parties to the Rome Statute to reject the 3 July 2009 agreement of the African Union to refuse cooperation with the ICC in the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. 28 July 2009: The Outreach Unit and the Victims Participation and Reparations Unit of the International Criminal Court begin a joint mission from 28 July to 4 August 2009 to Bni and Bukavu in the Kivus region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mission is part of the outreach campaign in the North and South Kivu region, where the Office of the Prosecutor is currently investigating crimes allegedly committed by individuals from warring factions. The mission will talk with civil society organizations, representatives of NGOs and human rights advocacy groups, students, and youth and womens associations. 28 July 2009: Republic of Portugal submits Additional Observations on Defence's Application for Interim Release of Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo. 23 July 2009: ICC receives Observations of the Kingdom of Belgium on the Defence's Application for Interim Release of Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo. Report addresses Belgiums comments on the release as well as any conditions that would need to be imposed to enable Belgium to accept him on their territory. 22 July 2009: Opposing op-eds are published in New York Times about whether or not the ICC should investigate international crimes from Israels operations in Gaza in 2008. John Dugard, South African professor of law and former chairman of the Independent Fact Finding Committee established by the Arab League wrote in favor of the investigation. George P. Fletcher, professor of jurisprudence at Columbia University, opposed the investigation. The central issue is whether Palestine can be considered a state for the purposes of granting the Court jurisdiction. 22 July 2009: The Czech Republic ratifies the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The Statute will enter into force on 1 October 2009, bringing the total number of States Parties to the Rome Statue to 110.

21 July 2009: Trial Chamber I issues a decision in the Lubanga case: 1.) authorizing thirteen victims to act on their own behalf rather than through a legal guardian; 2.) granting legal status to the parents of six victims for the personal harm they have suffered as a result of their childrens alleged recruitment; 3.) granting legal status to two applicants; 4.) and refusing to grant legal status to one applicant as he was apparently over fifteen at the time of recruitment. 17 July 2009: Today marks International Justice Day, and the ICC and its member governments express not only their belief in the necessity of international justice but also their commitment to ensuring its enforcement. 16 July 2009: The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, receives a report on crimes committed during post-election violence and a status report on the operation of the witness protection program from Kenyan Attorney General Amos Wako. In the coming days, the Prosecutor will receive materials compiled by the Commission of Inquiry into the Post-Election Violence (known as the Waki Commission) and a list of the possible suspects by the Waki Commission, which will remain confidential. 14 July 2009: The Prosecution in the trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the alleged founder and leader of the Union des patriots congolais (UPC), finishes its case presentation. The trial began 26 January 2009, and the Defense is scheduled to start presenting evidence in October 2009. Dyilo is accused of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of fifteen and using them to actively participate in hostilities in The Democratic Republic of Congo. 9 July 2009: ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo. He plans to hold town hall meetings and speak with leaders and representatives of all communities to gain an understanding of the needs of victims. 7 July 2009: ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to meet with the African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD), led by former President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. 7 July 2009: A joint declaration is released following a round table discussion on 2-3 July 2009 of the Registrars of the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in Venice, Italy. The meeting concentrated on discussions of securing adequate funding and the efficient use of resources for each institution, including the importance of retaining qualified and committed staff. They agreed to further develop cooperation with regard to mobility of staff between their institutions and explore the possibility of common strategies for enforcement of sentences, arrangements following acquittal/interim releases, and the protection of witnesses.

3 July 2009: A high level delegation of Kenyan officials meets with the ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to explain the steps they plan to take during the upcoming year to investigate and prosecute post-election violence in Kenya. Both Kenyan government representatives and the ICC Prosecutor agreed that impunity is not an option. 30 June 2009: The Republic of Chile ratifies the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The Statute will enter into force for Chile on 1 September 2009, bringing the total number of States Parties to the Rome Statute to 109. 26 June 2009: The First Vice-President of the ICC, Ms. Fatoumata Dembele Diarra of Mali will begin her first official visit to the African States Parties of Mali, Benin, and Senegal on 28 June 2009. Ms. Diarra intends to use this opportunity to encourage dialogue and emphasize the importance of implementing the Rome Statute into domestic legislation. 24 June 2009: Pre-Trial Chamber II will hold a public hearing on Monday 29 June 2009 to listen to the parties before deciding on Mr. Jean-Pierre Bembas pre-trial detention. 19 June 2009: The Registrar of the ICC, Ms. Silvana Arbia, addresses the United Nations Human Rights Council, discussing the progress and evolution of an international criminal justice system and the importance of conducting national prosecution of serious international crimes in order to put an end to impunity. 19 June 2009: Juan E. Mendez is appointed as Special Adviser on Crime Prevention where he will advise Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo on how to maximize the impact of the ICCs work and prevent the commission of massive atrocities. Mr. Mendez will be working on a pro bono basis. 15 June 2009: Pre-Trial Chamber II confirms the majority of the charges brought by the Prosecutor against Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo for crimes committed under a theory of command responsibility in the Central African Republic from on or about 26 October 2002 to 15 March 2003, including murder constituting a crime against humanity; rape constituting a crime against humanity; murder constituting a war crime; rape constituting a war crime; and pillaging constituting a war crime. The Chamber declined to confirm charges of torture as a war crime; torture as a crime against humanity; and outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime. 12 June 2009: Trial Chamber II of the ICC issues a unanimous oral decision to reject the challenge to admissibility raised by the Defence for Germain Katanga. Mr. Katanga is currently being prosecuted concerning the 24 February 2003 attack on Bogoro in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Trial Chamber II also considered that the arrest warrant issued against Mr. Katanga on 2 July 2007 was not flawed.

11 June 2009: Professor Catharine A. MacKinnon, the Special Gender Adviser to the Prosecutor, provides a three day training course entitled Evolution of Gender Crimes, recognizing gender and sexual violence crimes as a relatively recent phenomenon in international criminal jurisprudence. 1 June 2009: ICC President Song begins his first official visit to African States Parties to the Rome Statute since taking office in March this year. He is traveling from 1 to 6 June to meet with senior representatives of governments in Tanzania, Lesotho, and Botswana. 27 May 2009: The ICC launches its school outreach campaign in eleven schools in Kinshasha, DRC, with a one-day cultural event built around the theme No to the use of child soldiers. 26 May 2009: Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet, met with President Song of the ICC and the Prosecutor, Luis Moren-Ocampo, as Chile moves closer to ratifying the Rome Statute and becoming the 109th State Party. 18 May 2009: Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, charged with committing three counts of war crimes in Darfur, voluntarily appears before Pre-Trial Chamber I pursuant to a Summons to Appear issued by the Chamber. During the initial appearance hearing, Single Judge Cuno Tarfusser informed the suspect of his rights under the Rome Statute and set 12 October 2009 as the date to begin the confirmation of charges hearing in the case. Abu Gardas counsel stated that his client waived his right to attend any status conferences before the confirmation hearing, and the suspect returned to Darfur. 13 May 2009: The ICC holds an outreach session with young people in the 2nd arrondissement of Bangui, Central African Republic. The 130 attendees received information about the four situations currently before the Court (the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Sudan, and the Central African Republic). The session also showed videos of the confirmation hearings in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, which took place in the Hague from 12 to 15 January 2009. 12 May 2009: The ICC concludes its annual seventh Seminar of Counsel in The Hague, held on 11 to 12 May 2009 with approximately 200 attendees. The Court provided an update on judicial proceedings, while influential members of the international legal profession debated and discussed issues of shared interest. 24 April 2009: Judge Fumiko Siago passes away after a brief illness. A national of Japan, Judge Siago was elected by the States Parties to the Rome Statute from the Asian Group in December 2007 and re-elected last January. She served as Judge in Pre-Trial Chamber II and Trial Chamber II. 8 April 2009: Former Kenyan MP Paul Muite writes to Chief ICC Prosecutor asking that he open an investigation into the extrajudicial killings in Kenya. Muite says his life is in danger adding that a police squad has instructions to

kill him because of comments he made in 2005 over the composition of the Presidents family. 4 April 2009: The trial of Lubanga isadjourned until 5 May to take into account the Courts judicial spring break and an official holiday. 3 April 2009: The ICC registrar completes a satisfactory visit to Chad. In Chad, she met with meet with members of the Chadian government, local authorities, representatives of United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations active in Chad as well as with Sudanese refugees. She thanked Chad for their help with the situation in Darfur and expressed her hope that Chad would help with the arrest warrant of President Bashir. 1 April 2009: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir travels to Saudi Arabia despite the outstanding ICC arrest warrant issued against him. Saudi Arabia is not a party to the Rome Statute. 30 March 2009: Moamer Kadhafi, the new chairman of the African Union claims that the ICC is a new form of world terrorism that wants to recolonize developing countries and ignores the wrongs done by Western Nations. In addition, he voiced his disapproval of the arrest warrant for President Bashir, as he believes arresting a sitting head of state is inappropriate. 25 March 2009: Despite the ICCs warrant for his arrest, Bashir is welcomed in Egypt by the government. Egypt is not a party to the Rome Statute. 20 March 2009: The Institute for War & Peace Reporting issues a statement urging the ICC to probe Ugandas role in the DRCclaiming that Uganda was a source of training and command for many of the child soldier militias that were eventually commanded by Lubanga. A video recorded in 2003 shows Lubanga accusing Ugandan troops of arming child soldiers in various Congolese militia groups. 18 March 2009: A witness explains in the Lubanga case that certain inconsistencies between prior statements and his current testimony resulted from the fact that he was initially afraid to tell the truth. 16 March 2009: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir expels thirteen aid groups for allegedly cooperating with the ICC in its investigation against him and states that he wants all other foreign aid groups who have worked with the ICC to leave within the next year. 11 March 2009: The judges of the International Criminal Court elect Judge Sang-hyun Song President of the Court, Judge Fatoumata Dembele Diarra First Vice-President, and Judge Hans-Peter Kaul Second Vice-President. All three were elected by an absolute majority for a term of three years.

11 March 2009: Five new judges of the ICC, elected by the Assembly of States Parties in January, are sworn in. The judges are: Ms Fumiko Saiga (Japan); Ms Joyce Aluoch (Kenya); Ms Sanji Mmasenono Monageng (Botswana); Ms Christine Van Den Wyngaert (Belgium); and Mr Cuno Tarfusser (Italy). 4 March 2009: Pre-Trial Chamber III issues a decision adjourning the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of T he Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo and requesting that the Prosecutor consider amending the charges to include allegations that Bemba bears responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity under a theory of command or superior responsibility pursuant to Article 28 of the Rome Statute. The Prosecutor is to submit any amendments to the charges by 30 March 2009. The Defense and the Legal Representatives of participating victims will then have an opportunity to reply. 4 March 2009: Pre-Trial Chamber I issues a warrant for the arrest of Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, President of Sudan, for two counts of war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity. The majority of the Chamber, Judge Anita Uacka dissenting, declined to include charges of genocide in the arrest warrant, based on a finding that the material provided by the Prosecution in support of its application for a warrant of arrest failed to provide reasonable grounds to believe that Bashir acted with specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa groups. This is the first warrant of arrest ever issued for a sitting Head of State by the ICC. 16 February 2009: Judge Mohamed Shahabuddeen submits his resignation from the International Criminal Court for personal reasons. Mr. Shahabudden had been elected by the Assembly of States Parties in January 2009 for a nine year term of office as a judge, scheduled to commence on 11 March. 26 January 2009: The trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo opens before Trial Chamber I of the Court, marking the first trial to commence before the ICC. Ninety-three victims will be participating in the case through eight legal representatives. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the first person to have been surrendered to the Court, is accused of having committed the war crimes of enlisting, conscripting, and using children under the age of 15 years in armed conflict in Ituri, a district of the Eastern Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, between September 2002 and August 2003. 29 December 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber III announces that the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo will take place from 12 to 15 January 2009. 2 December 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber III postpones the confirmation of charges in the case of The Prosecutor vs. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo , which was originally scheduled from 8 to 12 December 2008. The Chamber envisages 12 January 2009 as the earliest possible date for conducting the hearing.

26 November 2008: The Appeals Chamber issues judgment holding that the Prosecutor cannot unilaterally preventively relocate witness and, in cases of disagreement between the assessment of the Victims and Witnesses Unit of the Registry and the Prosecutor, the Chamber should decide whether relocation is appropriate. Judge Pikis and Judge Ntanda Nsereko issue dissenting opinions on the matter. 26 November 2008: The Office of the Prosecutor announces the appointment of Professor Catharine A. MacKinnon as Special Gender Adviser to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. 20 November 2008: The ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, presents evidence to Pre-Trial Chamber I in support of an arrest warrant against rebel commanders for their alleged responsibility for crimes committed against African Union peacekeepers working at the Haskanita camp in North Darfur on 29 September 2007. 18 November 2008: Trial Chamber I announces a lift on the stay of proceedings in the case against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and provisionally suggests the date of 26 January 2009 for the commencement of the trial. The decision of the Chamber, which was delivered orally in a public status conference, is based on a finding that the reasons for imposing the halt have fallen away. A written opinion explaining the decision more fully will be issued in due course. Mr. Lubanga will remain in custody pending trial. 14 November 2008: The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute opens its seventh session at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague, The Netherlands. The session will run through 22 November 2008. 6 November 2008: The prize-winners of the architectural competition for the construction of the new permanent ICC facilities are announced. Three architectural firms were selected from the 19 firms that submitted designs: 1) Ingenhoven Architects, Dsseldorf, Germany; 2) Schmidt Hammer Lassen / Bosch & Fjord, rhus, Denmark; and 3) Wiel Arets Architects & Associates, Maastricht, The Netherlands. The building's construction will be overseen by Hans Heemrood of the Netherlands and the ICC may now negotiate with one or more of the prize winners to determine the winning design and the next steps into the buildings construction. The final winning design will be made public in early 2009. 31 October 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber III decides that the confirmation of charges hearing against Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo for five counts of war crimes and three counts of crimes against humanity in the Central African Republic will take place from 8 December to 12 December 2008. 24 October 2008: The ICC Presidency refers the case against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui to Trial Chamber II, which is composed of Judges Fatoumata Dembele Diarra (Mali), Fumiko Saiga (Japan) and Bruno

Cotte (France). Katanga and Ngudjolo are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. 22 October 2008: Trial Chamber I requests the Prosecution, Defense and Legal Representatives of Victims to make submissions on Lubangas pre-trial detention by 31 October 2008. 21 October 2008: Appeals Chamber issues judgment affirming the Trial Chambers decision to stay the proceedings against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, but overturning the Trial Chambers conclusion that the release of the accused was required as a result of the stay. Instead, the Trial Chamber must determine whether the continued provisional detention of the accused is warranted in light of all relevant factors, including the likelihood that he will appear for trial in the event the stay is lifted, the possibility that he will obstruct or endanger future proceedings in his case, and whether detention is necessary to prevent the accused from continuing with the commission of the charged crime or another crime within the statute of the Court. 16 October 2008: ICC judges ask the Prosecutor for additional material regarding the request for an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmad al Bashir. 6 October 2008: In light of serious and converging information on attacks by the LRA against civilians in the DRC, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo calls for renewed efforts to arrest LRA leader Kony and his top commanders. 1 October 2008: Public redacted version of the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I confirming the charges against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui is released. 26 September 2008: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I confirms all but three of the alleged charges in the case against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, sending the case against them to trial. Pre-trial judges found sufficient evidence to try Katanga and Ndgudjolo for seven counts of war crimes and three counts of crimes against humanity. The evidence was insufficient to try Katanga and Ngudjolo for inhuman treatment, outrages upon personal dignity and inhumane acts. The alleged crimes were committed from January to March 2003 in the village of Bogoro in the Ituri district of eastern DRC. The trial is expected to start in 2009. 22-26 September 2008: ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo meets with United Nations and African Union officials to discuss how to further the protection of civilians in Darfur, stop the crimes, and ensure the execution of the Court's judicial mandate and decisions. 21 September 2008: The ICC participates in an open exhibition at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague.

3 September 2008: Trial Chamber I rejects the Prosecutors application to re-commence proceedings in the Lubanga case. While noting that some progress had been made in respect to the Prosecutors inability to disclose potentially exculpatory documents to the Defense, a fair trial could not be guaranteed unless the Trial Chamber, and possibly the Appeals Chamber, were able to review the relevant documents and ensure that the accused would be given access to any documents material to his defense. 16 July 2008: The confirmation of charges hearing in the Katanga & Ngudjolo case concludes. The Pre-Trial Chamber indicates that it will issue a decision confirming or denying the charges by 26 September 2008. 11 July 2008: Appeals Chamber issues judgment on appeals by the Prosecution and the Defense of Trial Chamber Is 18 January 2008 decision on victim participation in the Lubanga case. The Appeals Chamber reverses the Trial Chambers holding that victims may participate in a case even if that victim is unable to show that his or her harm resulted from the crimes for which the accused has been confirmed for trial. Rather, according the Appeals Chamber, the harm alleged by victims wishing to participate in a particular case must be linked with the charges against the accused. At the same time, the Appeals Chamber affirmed the Trial Chambers holding that it is possible for victims participating in a trial to lead evidence pertaining to the guilt or innocence of the accused and to challenge the admissibility of relevant of evidence. 7 July 2008: Appeals Chamber grants suspensive effect to the Prosecutions appeal against Decision on the release of Thomas Lubanga, meaning that the accused will remain under custody of the ICC pending a final decision on the appeal. 3 July 2008: Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo is transferred from Belgium to the custody of the ICC. He will make his initial appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber III on 4 July 2008. 2 July 2008: Trial Chamber I orders the release of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, holding that there was no justification to hold the accused in provisional detention in light of the Trial Chambers stay of the proceedings. However, since an appeal may be filed within five days, the order granting release will not be enforced immediately. 27 June 2008: The confirmation of charges hearing commences in the Katanga & Ngudjolo case. 24 June 2008: Trial Chamber I holds that it would be premature to consider at this stage the release of the accused in the Lubanga case. 23 June 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber I determines that an individual expected to testify as a witness for the Prosecution during the confirmation of charges

hearing in the Katanga & Ngudjolo case could also participate as a victim in that case. 18 June 2008: Appeals Chamber, with Judge Song partly dissenting, grants the 11 applicants who have victim status in the Darfur Situation the right to participate in the pending appeals by the Office of the Prosecutor and the Office of Public Counsel for the Defence regarding whether the Pre-Trial Chamber may grant applicants a procedural status of victim at the situation stage of proceedings before the Court. 13 June 2008: Trial Chamber I renders a decision indefinitely staying the proceedings against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo on the ground that a fair trial was impossible in light of the Prosecutions inability to disclose potentially exculpatory documents obtained under conditions of confidentiality. 11 June 2008: During a public hearing in the Lubanga case, Trial Chamber I announces that the trial will not commence on 23 June 2008, as planned. 10 June 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber I issues decision on 97 victims applications to participate in the Katanga & Ngudjolo case. Fifty-one of the applications are granted. 24 May 2008: Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, who is believed to be a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is arrested by Belgian authorities following a warrant of arrest issued under seal by the International Criminal Court. Bemba, who is President and Commander in Chief of the Mouvement de Libration du Congo, is alleged to be criminally responsible for four counts of war crimes and two counts of crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic from 25 October 2002 to 15 March 2003. 28 April 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber I unseals the warrant of arrest against Congolese national Bosco Ntaganda, who is also known as the Terminator. Ntaganda, who is still at large, is alleged to have committed the war crimes of enlistment and conscription of children under the age of 15 and of using them to participate actively in hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 28 April 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber I postpones the confirmation of charges hearing in the joint case against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui from 21 May 2008 to 27 June 2008. 17 April 2008: Silvana Arbia is sworn-in as the Registrar of the International Criminal Court. 14 March 2008: Madagascar deposits its instrument of ratification to the Rome Statute, which will enter into force for Madagascar on 1 June 2008, bringing the total number of States Parties to the Rome Statute to 106.

13 March 2008: Trial Chamber I postpones the starting date of the Lubanga trial from 31 March 2008 to 23 June 2008. 10 March 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber I issues decision joining the cases of The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga and The Prosecutor v. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui.The hearing on the confirmation of the charges in the joint case is scheduled to start on 21 May 2008. 28 February 2008: Judges of the ICC elect Silvana Arbia of Italy as Registrar of the International Criminal Court for a five-year term. 26 February 2008: Trial Chamber I grants the Prosecution and the Defense leave to appeal certain aspects of the Chambers 18 January 2008 decision on victim participation in the Lubanga case. 13 February 2008: The Registrar of the International Criminal Court, Bruno Cathala, submits his resignation to the President of the Court, to take effect on 9 April 2008. 11 February 2008: Congolese national Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui makes his first appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber I. The arrest warrant issued against Ngudjolo was read aloud and the Chamber satisfied itself that Ngudjolo was informed of his rights under the Rome Statute, including the right to apply for interim release pending trial. 7 February 2008: Congolese national Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, who was arrested by the Congolese authorities yesterday, is surrendered to the custody of the ICC. Ngudjolo is alleged to have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 30 January 2008: Pre-Trial Chamber I postpones the confirmation hearing in the Katanga case, which was provisionally scheduled to start on 28 February 2008. The Chamber explained that the delays were due to outstanding issues relating to disclosure of evidence from the Prosecution to the Defense. 18 January 2008: Trial Chamber I issues decision regarding victim participation in the trial phase of the Lubanga case. A majority of the Chamber, Judge Blattmann dissenting, held that, in order to meet the criteria for participation in a case, a victim need only show that he or she is affected by an issue arising during the trial; the victim need not show that he or she suffered harm as a result of the specific charges confirmed against the accused. The Trial Chamber also held that it is possible for victims participating in a trial to lead evidence pertaining to the guilt or innocence of the accused and to challenge the admissibility of relevant of evidence. 4 December 2007: The Assembly of States Parties elects Bruno Cotte (France), Daniel Nsereko (Uganda), and Fumiko Siaga (Japan) to fill judicial vacancies arising from the resignations of Maureen Harding Clark (Ireland) on

10 December 2006, Karl Hudson-Phillips (Trinidad and Tobago), effective 30 September 2007, and Claude Jorda (France), effective 12 August 2007. 30 November - 14 December 2007: The Assembly of States Parties holds is annual meeting in New York. Items on the agenda include elections to fill judicial vacancies, discussions concerning the Court's permanent premises, adoption of the budget for the sixth financial year, and reports from committees and working groups. 22 October 2007: Germain Katanga appears before Pre-Trial Chamber I. A confirmation of chages hearing is scheduled for Fenruary, 2008. 17 October 2007: In the Democratic Republic of Congo situation, Germain Katanga is surrendered by Congolese authorities and taken into custody in The Hague. The warrant of arrest for Katanga, the alleged commander of the Force de rsistance patriotique en Ituri [Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri] (FRPI), lists three counts of crimes against humanity and six counts of war crimes. He is the ICC's second suspect in custody. 1 October 2007: The Rome Statute enters into force in Japan, bringing the number of States Parties to the Rome Statue to 105. 14 June 2007: Serge Brammertz, Deputy Prosecutor for Investigations, submits his resignation to the Court. 22 May 2007: The Office of the Prosecutor opens an investigation into crimes of sexual violence occurring in the Central African Republic between late 2002 and early 2003. In a press release, Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo states, The allegations of sexual crimes are detailed and substantiated. The information we have now suggests that the rape of civilians was committed in numbers that cannot be ignored under international law. The investigation is the first in which the Court will focus primarily on allegations of sexual crimes, rather than killings. 9 May 2007: Citing issues of poor health, Judge Claude Jorda resigns from the ICC. He was assigned to the Pre-Trial Division and was a member of PreTrial Chamber I.Judge Jorda served as presiding judge in the case of the Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. 2 May 2007: In the Darfur situation, the Pre-Trial Chamber issues warrants of arrest for crimes against humanity and war crimes for Ahmad Muhammad Harun, former Minister of State for the Interior of the Government of the Sudan, and Ali Kushayb, a leader of the Janjaweed militia. 22 March 2007: In the Kony et al. case, the Prosecutor requests the PreTrial Chamber to order that the warrant of arrest issued for Raska Lukwiya be withdrawn and rendered without effect because of the changed circumstance of Lukwiyas death.

14 March 2007: Judge Karl T. Hudson-Phillips (Trinidad and Tobago) submits his resignation from the Trial Division for personal reasons. His resignation will take effect on 30 September 2007. 27 February 2007: In the Darfur situation, the Prosecutor presents evidence to the Pre-Trial Chamber showing that Ahmad Muhammad Harun, former Minister of State for the Interior of the Government of the Sudan, and Ali Kushayb, a leader of the Janjaweed militia, jointly committed crimes against the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan, including 51 counts of alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, and requests a summons directing them to appear before the Court for initial proceedings. Although Ali Kushayb is also being investigated by the government of Sudan, the Prosecutor has determined that those proceedings do not address the same incidents or conduct that are the subject of the ICC case. 29 January 2007: In the Lubanga case, the Pre-Trial Chamber confirms the three war crimes charges against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and refers the case for trial the first scheduled to be held before the ICC. The three-judge chamber finds substantial grounds to believe that Lubanga is responsible for enlisting children under the age of fifteen, conscripting children under the age of fifteen, and using children under the age of fifteen to participate actively in hostilities. International Criminal Court: Chronology 2002-2005 | 2006 | Current 14 December 2006: In the Darfur situation, Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo submits his fourth report to the Security Council. His says that his office is moving to the completion of the investigation and presentation of evidence in relation to the first case and is continuing to investigate other crimes, in particular those hampering efforts to bring peace to the region. His office has found evidence of crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Court, including crimes against humanity (persecution, murder and willful killing, rape and other forms of sexual violence, inhumane acts, beatings and deprivation of liberty, torture, imprisonment or sever depravation of liberty, destruction of property, and forcible transfer of civilians) and war crimes (willful killings, extra-judicial killings, rapes, intentional attacks on civilians, inhumane acts, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, and pillaging). His office is also looking into crimes that have spilled across the border into Chad and the Central African Republic, both ICC state parties. 10 December 2006: Judge Maureen Harding Clark resigns from the Courts Trial Division effective immediately in order to serve on the High Court of Ireland. In accordance with the Rome Statute, the Assembly of States Parties will elect a judge to fill the vacancy. 23 November 1 December 2006: The Assembly of States Parties (ASP) holds its fifth session, during which it adopts four resolutions. The resolution

on strengthening the ICC and the ASP includes, inter alia, provisions on cooperation between the Court and the United Nations system, on the outreach activities of the Court, on the arrears of States Parties, and on the preparation for a Review Conference of the Rome Statute. The resolution on the 2007 program budget approves a budget of 88,871,800 and a staffing level of 647. It also decides that the Court shall adopt the scale of assessments for the apportionment of expenses of the UN. In the resolution on a permanent premises for the Court, the ASP requests the Court to focus on purpose-built premises on the Alexanderkazerne site, without prejudice to the prerogative of the Assembly to make a final decision on where to permanently house the Court. On the resolution on the strategic planning process of the Court, the ASP recommends that the Court focus on the concrete implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Court, including the location of the activities of the Court, the position of victims, the outreach and communication activities of the Court, and the relationship between the Strategic Plan and the budget. The ASP will hold its resumed fifth session January 29-31, 2007. 9 November 2006: In the Lubanga case, the confirmation of charges hearing of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo begins despite a request for further postponement by the defense. The hearing is expected to last until November 28, after which the judges will have 60 days to decide whether to proceed with a full trial, dismiss the charges, or order the Prosecutor to amend the charges. 7 November 2006: In the Kony et al. case, the Office of the Prosecutor confirms that LRA commander Raska Lukwiya, charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes, was killed during fighting with government forces on August 12, 2006. 15 October 2006: In the Darfur situation, two American attorneys working with the Darfur Rehabilitation Project report that they have submitted the first applications on behalf of victims who wish to participate in the proceedings. 9 October 2006: ICC President Philippe Kirsch presents the ICCs second annual report to the United Nations General Assembly, focusing on the Courts urgent need for cooperation from States, the UN, and regional organizations. 4 October 2006: In the Uganda situation, in response to a query from the Registry the Ugandan government acknowledges the positive impact the ICC warrants have had in encouraging the LRA leadership to attend peace negotiations and clarifies that it seeks to find a permanent end to the violence that serves the need for peace and justice, compatible with [Rome Statute] obligations. 20 September 2006: In the Lubanga case, the Pre-Trial Chamber postposes the confirmation of charges hearing and announces that it will choose a new

date after consulting with the parties at a status conference meeting on 26 September. 28 August 2006: The prosecutor formally charges Thomas Lubanga Dyilo with enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities. 12 August 2006: In the Uganda situation, it is reported that LRA commander Raska Lukwiya, the subject of an ICC arrest warrant, has been killed. 6 July 2006: In the Uganda situation, the Pre-Trial Chamber unseals DNA results showing that the purported corpse of indicted LRA commander Dominic Ongwen is not his. 28 June 2006: In the Lubanga case, the Prosecutor informs the Pre-Trial chamber and Defense that he has decided to temporarily suspend the investigation of other potential charges against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo until the close of proceedings pertaining to the charge of conscription, enlistment or use in hostilities of child soldiers. 20 June 2006: The Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties elects by consensus Arthur N.R. Robinson, former President and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, to the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims. 14 June 2006: In the Darfur, Sudan, situation, the Prosecutor reports to the Security Council on the status of the OTP investigation. He informs the Council that the OTP is investigating the situation from outside of Darfur due to the continuing insecurity in the region and that crimes that he has documented thus far include a significant number of large scale massacres during which particular victims were targeted as a consequence of their group membership, as well as hundreds of rapes. The Prosecutor has identified specific cases for full investigation and possible prosecution and anticipates that due to the scale of the crimes and complexity of identifying those most responsible the investigation and prosecution will proceed as a sequence of cases. At the present time, there is no indication that national authorities are investigating and prosecuting those cases on which the OTP is now concentrating its efforts. 1 June 2006: In the Uganda situation, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issues Red Notices requesting the arrest and detention of the five indicted Lords Resistance Army commanders. The notices, which will be transmitted to 184 countries, are the first to be issued by Interpol following a request by the Prosecutor. 26 April 2006: The ICC Prosecutor confirms that his office is examining the admissibility of an application filed by the Central African Republic (CAR). The application relates to crimes committed by former President Ange-Felix Patasse and four others, including Jean-Pierre Bemba, currently a vice-

president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, during a failed coup attempt in October 2002. On April 13, the CAR Court of Appeal ruled that national courts were unable to handle the case and confirmed a December 2004 lower court ruling recommending its transfer to the ICC. 10 April 2006: The European Union signs an accord with the ICC in which it promises full cooperation with the Courts activities. 20 March 2006: Thomas Lubanga Dyilo makes his initial appearance before the Court, at which time the Pre-Trial Chamber verifies his identity and satisfies itself that he has been informed of the crimes of which he is accused as well as his rights under the Rome Statute. 17 March 2006: In relation to the situation in the DRC, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the alleged founder and leader of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (UPC) militia, now registered as a political party, becomes the first accused to be transferred to the ICC. Lubanga, who has been in the custody of the DRC government since March 2005, is charged with the war crimes of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of fifteen years and using them to participate actively in hostilities. The Pre-Trial Chamber granted the Prosecutors request to issue the arrest warrant against Lubanga on February 10th. 9 February 2006: Responding to information received by the Office of the Prosecutor on alleged crimes in Iraq, Chief Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo determines that, although there a reasonable basis to believe that the war crimes of willful killing and inhumane treatment have been committed by persons under the jurisdiction of the Court, it does not appear that this situation meets the admissibility criteria of the Statute at this time. He notes that, in determining if a situation is admissible, one factor he must consider is its gravity, with a key consideration being the number of victims of particularly serious crimes. While the information available indicates that there are around 20 victims of these crimes in Iraq, the other situations currently under investigation or consideration by the Court involve hundreds if not thousands of victims of large-scale violence. 26 January 2006: Six judges are elected to the ICC bench during the first round of elections at the resumed session of the 4th Assembly of States Parties: Ekaterina Trendafilova (Bulgaria), Anita Usacka (Latvia), Erkki Kourula (Finland), Akua Kuenyehia (Ghana), Sang-hyun Song (Republic of Korea), Hans-Peter Kaul (Germany). Trendafilova is the only judge who has not previously served, replacing Tuiloma Neroni Slade (Samoa). States Parties were required to vote for at least one female, one African, one Asian and two Eastern European candidates. These criteria were all met in the first round, in which all six judges were elected. The ICC bench is now comprised of eight women and ten men. 17 January 2006: With regard to the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pre-Trial Chamber I rules that the Rome Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence allow victims to present their views and concerns,

file documents, and request the Pre-Trial Chamber to order specific measures at the investigative stage of a situation. It further finds that all six applicants requesting the right to participate meet the necessary criteria under Article 68(3) to be accorded the status of victims at this stage of the proceedings. International Criminal Court: Chronology 2002-2005 | Current 31 October 2005: Mexico becomes the 100th ICC State Party. 27 October 2005: The ICC announces that Austria is the first State Party to enter into an Enforcement of Sentences agreement with the Court. Under the agreement, the Court would be able to send prisoners to Austria to serve their sentences. 13 October 2005: Pre-Trial Chamber II unseals arrest warrants for five senior leaders of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda: Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya. They are charged with crimes against humanity under article 7(1) of the ICC statute, and war crimes under article 8(2)(c) and (e), relating to conflicts not of an international character. The warrants were issued on July 8, 2005.

Joseph Kony is charged with 12 counts of crimes against humanity (sexual enslavement, rape, enslavement [4], murder [4], inhumane acts [2]) and 21 counts of war crimes (inducing rape, attack against a civilian population [6], enlisting of children [2], cruel treatment [3], pillaging [5], murder [4]). Vincent Otti is charged with 11 counts of crimes against humanity (sexual enslavement, enslavement [4], murder [4], inhumane acts [2]) and 21 counts of war crimes (rape, attack against a civilian population [6], enlisting of children [2], cruel treatment [3], pillaging [5], murder [4]). Okot Odhiambo is charged with three counts of crimes against humanity (murder [2], enslavement) and seven counts of war crimes (murder [2], enlisting of children, attack against a civilian population [2], pillaging [2]). Dominic Ongwen is charged with three counts of crimes against humanity (murder, enslavement, inhumane acts) and four counts of war crimes (murder, cruel treatment, attack against a civilian population, pillaging). Raska Lukwiya is charged with one count of crimes against humanity (enslavement) and three counts of war crimes (cruel treatment, attack against a civilian population, pillaging).

7 October 2005: Ugandan Defense Minister Amama Mbabazi announces that Dominic Ongwen, a senior member of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), was killed by Ugandan troops on September 30.

29 June 2005: The Prosecutor addresses the United Nations Security Council on his actions in regard to the situation in Darfur, Sudan, pursuant to Resolution 1593. 6 June 2005: The Prosecutor announces that he has decided to initiate an investigation into the situation in Darfur, Sudan, after concluding that the requirements of the Rome Statute have been satisfied. The Prosecutor says that, "[t]he investigation . . . will form part of a collective effort, complementing African Union and other initiatives to end the violence in Darfur and to promote justice." 4 April 2005: ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo receives the sealed list of persons suspected of serious crimes in Darfur, Sudan, compiled by the UN International Commission of Enquiry from Secretary General Kofi Annan. 31 March 2005: In Resolution 1593, the UN Security Council, acting under its UN Charter Chapter VII peace and security authority, "decides to refer the situation in Darfur [Sudan] since 1 July 2002" to the ICC Prosecutor. Rome Statute Article 13(b) allows the Court to exercise jurisdiction over a situation arising in the territory of a non-State Party (such as Sudan) when referred by the Security Council. However, the Prosecutor says that before initiating an investigation he must assess additional statutory jurisdictional and admissibility requirements. This is the first situation referred to the Court by the UN Security Council. 31 March 2005: The ICC Prosecutor asks Colombia for information on alleged atrocities committed within its territory. 15 March 2005: The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber convenes a status conference with the Prosecutor on the investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss issues related to the protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence. This is the first time the Chamber has convened. 15 February 2005: The Registrar confirms that the Republic of Cte d'Ivoire has accepted the exercise of jurisdiction of the Court with respect to crimes committed in its territory since 19 September 2002. The declaration was sent in accordance with Rome Statute Article 12(3) and is the first such declaration by a non-State Party. The text of the declaration has not been disclosed. 5 January 2005: The Office of the Prosecutor announces that the Central African Republic (an ICC State Party) has referred to the Court the situation of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court committed anywhere on the territory of the CAR since July 1, 2002, the date of entry into force of the Rome Statute. The Prosecutor will now proceed to determine whether there is reasonable basis to initiate a formal investigation. 6 - 10 September 2004: The ICC Assembly of States Parties (ASP) holds its third session, meeting for the first time in The Hague.

29 July 2004: The Prosecutor determines that there is a reasonable basis to open an investigation into the situation concerning Northern Uganda. 23 June 2004: The Prosecutor announces the opening of the first ICC investigation into the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 19 April 2004: The Office of the Prosecutor announces that the Democratic Republic of Congo (an ICC State Party) has referred to the Court the situation of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court committed anywhere in the DRC since July 1, 2002, the date of entry into force of the Rome Statute. The Prosecutor will now proceed to determine whether there is reasonable basis to initiate a formal investigation. 29 January 2004: The Office of the Prosecutor announces that Uganda (an ICC State Party) has referred the situation concerning the Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda to the Court. The Prosecutor will now proceed to determine whether there is reasonable basis to initiate a formal investigation. 12 September 2003: A Board of Directors is elected for the Victims Trust Fund of the ICC, which will administer reparations to victims. The Directors include Queen Rania Al-Abdullah (Jordan), Oscar Arias Sanchez (Costa Rica), Tadeusz Mazowiecki (Poland), Simone Veil (France), and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (South Africa). 8 - 12 September 2003: The ICC Assembly of States Parties (ASP) holds its second session in New York, NY. 3 July 2003: Bruno Cathala (France) is sworn in as the first ICC Registrar. 16 June 2003: Luis Moreno Ocampo (Argentina) is sworn in as the first ICC Prosecutor 21 - 23 April 2003: The ICC Assembly of States Parties (ASP) holds a second resumed session in New York, NY. 11 March 2003: The first 18 judges of the ICC are sworn-in: Ren Blattmann (Bolivia), Sylvia Steiner (Brazil), Philippe Kirsch (Canada), Elizabeth Odio (Costa Rica), Georghios M. Pikis (Cyprus), Erkki Kourula (Finland), Claude Jorda (France), Hans-Peter Kaul (Germany), Akua Kuenyehia (Ghana), Maureen Harding Clark (Ireland), Anita Usacka (Latvia), Mauro Politi (Italy), Fatoumata Dembele Diarra (Mali), Sang-Hyun Song (Republic Of Korea), Tuiloma Neroni Slade (Samoa), Navanethem Pillay (South Africa), Karl T. Hudson-Phillips (Trinidad And Tobago), Sir Adrian Fulford (United Kingdom). 3-7 February 2003: The ICC Assembly of States Parties (ASP) holds a resumed session in New York. 3-10 September 2002: The ICC Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the Court's governing body, meets in New York, NY for the first time.

1 July 2002: Rome Statute enters into force.