4 December 2000

Footage from a meeting of the NGO Coalition, an umbrella group of some 800 organizations from around the world, at the 5th Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court in June 2000. There are short interviews with participants prior to the start of the meeting. The audio is very poor. Dr. Ahmed Ziauddin from Brussels Catholic University, and Director of the Bangladesh Center for Genocide Studies, and the Convener of the Asian Network for the International Criminal Court (ANICC) explains the work he does for the ICC in relation to genocide. He discusses his concerns with the new statute, especially the American position on the ICC. He also talks about the Bangladesh government's support of the ICC; it is likely to ratify it soon. He also discusses the responses of various countries to the ICC, including the need to strengthen the Indian coalition. He talks about the work of the NGO Coalition. Next there is an interview with Dorothea Beane, a professor of law at Stetson University and a non-governmental observer from the National Bar Association. One of their purposes to analyze the issues and inform the bar association membership about the ICC process. She discusses the American response to the ICC, stating that the coalition is working to educate the professional bar associations so that people can make their own decisions, which may differ from the government's position. She states that there needs to be more internal debate, and different approaches may also be needed to help end brutality across the world. She concludes that the US military influences the government too much and that more voices need to be heard. The next interview is with Felix Ronkes Agerbeek, a member of European Law Student Association (ELSA). ELSA has been involved in the ICC and the CICC since the beginning of the negotiations in 1995. He explains that they are monitoring the Prepcom sessions and provide legal assistance to the CICC. He states that he is impressed with the coalition and feels that they are making progress. He describes the future plans of ELSA. People begin to the enter the room for the start of the meeting. An unnamed asks about the status of recent legislative decisions and voicing disappointment. Discussion begins about voting. A woman then talks about a ruling. After more discussion, the tape skips to later in the meeting, where questions about voting continue. A man comments that the coalition needs to approach delegations to ascertain how they will vote. More members voice their confusion and disappointment of the ruling. Plans to continue conversations in the NGO coalition are discussed, and there is a call for people to continue working toward their goals and not to give up. The meeting closes with some administrative messages.